“Thank you.” Natalie handed the waitress her menu. “Do you know where the cherry pie contest is being held?”
“I sure do. It’s in front of the Cove Deli and Pizza. The judges announce the winner at midday.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I’m hoping my sister finals. She entered a chocolate-glazed cherry-pecan pie. It tastes incredible.”
Natalie’s taste buds were watering just thinking about the chocolaty treat.
Gabe laughed. “I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth.”
“It’s a family trait,” Natalie said. “Mom’s just as bad as me.”
“It’s true,” Kathleen said. “There’s nothing that makes either of us happier than a big box of chocolates.”
“I’ll have to remember that.”
The warmth in Gabe’s eyes made Natalie blush. She was fast learning that spending time with him was just as addictive as the sweetest dessert.
* * *
After lunch,Gabe waited beside Natalie and her mom. Standing on a raised platform in front of them were the judges of the cherry pie contest.
A woman in a red polka dot dress held a chocolate-glazed cherry-pecan pie in front of her. It hadn’t won the pie contest, but it was creating quite a stir in the post-contest auction. Each of the pies that made it to the final round of judging was being offered to the highest bidder.
Natalie was desperately trying to outbid a man in a cotton plaid shirt and blue jeans.
“One hundred dollars,” the stranger yelled.
Gabe’s eyebrows rose. He turned to Natalie, expecting her to shrug and walk away. He was wrong.
“One hundred and twenty dollars!”
“What are you doing?” Kathleen whispered. “We already have enough pies to last the summer.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Natalie whispered back. “Besides, the waitress said her sister’s pie was delicious.”
Gabe looked at the cherry pie. Even though it was drizzled in dark chocolate and would probably melt in your mouth, it wasn’t worth more than sixty dollars, let alone a hundred.”
The cowboy wearing the plaid shirt raised his arm. “One fifty.”
Half the audience gasped. The other half clapped and cheered. It looked as though the Polson Literacy Program was about to get a large donation.
Kathleen shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Let him have the pie. He looks as though he needs it.”
Gabe smiled. “Your mom’s right. Heisa little skinny.”
Natalie’s gaze shot across the room. The cowboy in question lifted his hat and winked.
That’s right—winked! Straight at Natalie.
Gabe moved half a step closer. “Two hundred dollars.”
“What are you doing?” Natalie gasped. “You were the one who told me not to bid.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Gabe muttered. Although it wasn’t the same good cause she thought he meant.
Kathleen stood on tip-toes, trying to peer over the heads of the people in front of her. “Has the other man raised his hand?”
