“I’ll be wearing one of those at the Christmas parade, but not on my wedding day.”
Taking a large spoon out of a drawer, Katie divided the muffin batter into the paper cases. “You didn’t take anything home with you from Kalispell, so I’m guessing you found something on the Internet. I hope you’ve remembered what happened to Barbara.”
Diana took a banana out of the fruit bowl. “I didn’t buy it off the Internet, either. If anyone’s looking for me, I’m taking the Williamsons to Bigfork.”
Katie looked through the kitchen window. “Don’t be too late coming home. It looks as though a storm’s on the way.”
“I’ll be careful. Good luck with your date.”
Barbara turned a wide-eyed stare toward Katie. “You’re going on a date?”
“Don’t get too excited. I might have scared Peter off.”
“How?”
“She hugged him,” Diana said as she left the room.
“I didn’t mean to, but it burst out of me.” Katie carried the muffins across to the oven. It was better than seeing the frown on Barbara’s face.
“Did he seem upset?”
“I didn’t stay around long enough to find out.”
Barbara poured some cereal into a bowl. “If he turns up for your date, you’ll know he didn’t mind.”
That was true, but it wasn’t what was worrying her the most. Feeling anything other than friendship toward him was a complication she didn’t need.
* * *
Peter stoodin the entryway of The Fairy Forest. For the tenth time, he checked his watch. Still another few minutes until Katie was due to meet him. Whether she turned up was an entirely different story.
Yesterday, she’d left the dining room so quickly he didn’t know what he’d done to offend her. In hindsight, he could have said something to make her feel less embarrassed about hugging him. But that would have assumed he was able to string two words together—which he wasn’t.
With Katie’s arms wrapped around him, he’d imagined what it would be like to be close to her all the time. But those thoughts were dangerous and would only lead to heartache. She had a life away from Sapphire Bay, just like he did. Within the next few months, they’d both leave the small Montana town and return to their normal lives.
Even so, he hated to think that being around him would make her feel uncomfortable. From the first day he’d met Katie, he knew she liked hugging people. Even people who didn’t like touching anyone couldn’t be offended by the good-natured way she expressed herself.
“Hello. Can I help you?”
Peter looked over his shoulder. The young woman who’d spoken to him was dressed like a fairy. Her bright red dress and gold wings sparkled under the fluorescent lights. “I’m okay. I’m waiting for a friend.”
“That’s all right. If you’d like any information about The Fairy Forest, I’ll be in the main events room.” She pointed toward a door shaped like an oversized tree trunk. “It’s through there.”
“No one’s ever told me to walk through a tree to get into another room.”
“You probably don’t meet too many fairies and goblins, either. I’m Daniella. I own The Fairy Forest.”
Peter shook the hand she held toward him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The door to the outside world opened and Katie stepped into the entryway. With her red hair hidden beneath a fluffy orange hat and a purple ski jacket wrapped around her body, she looked like she was ready to hit the ski fields. For a split second, her gaze focused on him before moving to his right. A knot tightened in his chest, reminding him that what she felt about him shouldn’t matter so much.
“Hi, Daniella.”
“Welcome back. I was just thinking about you.”
Katie’s eyes widened. “You were?”
“One of my suppliers sent me their latest catalog. They have some amazing ‘Just Married’ lights that would look lovely at Diana and Ethan’s reception. They could be a surprise for when they arrive.”
