What else could he say? Especially now they would work together. But that gave him an idea. He would try to finish the booth in two days. That would be better than three.
“I chose Callie and Brandt’s favorites along with a couple of our top sellers. I picked ones that complement each other and appeal to a wide range of tastes.” Taryn didn’t miss a beat. “Rather than have you try them in any specific order, I’d like you to each pick one to start. You can use the water to cleanse your palate in between bites.”
“I’d like to try the miniature pie.” Margot peered closer. “Number five.”
“That’s a mini-marionberry pie. I can make any flavor of pie if you have a favorite.”
Margot shimmied her shoulders. “Oh, I love marionberries.”
“Marionberries?” he asked.
“They were first grown in Marion County in Oregon but are becoming popular all over these days,” Taryn explained. “I use them when they’re in season, which is now, and I keep some frozen or canned during the winter.”
“For Mr. Jones’s birthday?” Margot asked.
Taryn laughed. “He loves them, and a person should have their favorite dessert on the day of their birth.”
Now, this was the woman Garrett remembered. Warmth spread through him. The confident baker never forgot details about her clients and went out of her way for them, even if it meant watching an anime show so she could create a custom cake for a kid’s fourteenth birthday. She’d done that in December.
Taryn stared at him.
His heart jolted as if a 7.0 earthquake struck.
Whoa.That was unexpected.
“Did you pick the one you wanted to try first?” she asked.
Garrett hadn’t because of his attention on her. He swallowed.
“Number three.” He picked that one because he assumed if there were a five, the first four numbers would be there, too.
Taryn raised a brow. “I didn’t think you liked mousse.”
Busted.Garrett glanced at the plate. Number three turned out to be a chocolate shell filled with pink mousse. “It looks like something Callie would enjoy.”
There. He’d saved himself.
Taryn eyed him suspiciously. “It’s one of her favorites at Christmastime. Only since it’s July, I replaced the peppermint mousse with raspberry.”
“I don’t need to taste it.” She’d given him an out, and he would take it. “Callie will love it. Especially if you add chocolate shavings and a raspberry on top.”
“Oh, perfect additions.” Margot picked up her pencil. “I’ll write those down. I had no idea you knew so much about desserts, Garrett.”
“Me, either.” Taryn’s laughter-filled gaze, however, told another story.
Did she remember making him a similar dessert at her house? Or that he’d scooped out the mousse and eaten the shavings, raspberry, and chocolate cup, instead?
“It’s a gift.” One Garrett hoped got him through the next few days of helping Taryn, or his sister’s wedding might become an uncomfortable try-to-avoid-each-other event.
Chapter Six
After Margot leftto pick up her dogs, Taryn sat with Garrett. His blue polo shirt and khakis made him look more like someone taking a late lunch during his workday than a person on a summer vacation. The way he dressed so well had caught her eye in December. Most guys in town thought dressing up meant showering and wearing aftershave.
Not Garrett.
The only differences between winter and summer were the short sleeves and his hair, something she hadn’t noticed yesterday. Ends curled and brushed his collar. The style wasn’t as corporate as before. It suited him.
Not that she cared how he dressed or looked now.
