“You’re not smiling.” His gaze narrowed. “And two little lines above the bridge of your nose show up when you’re unhappy or upset.”
“I…” She touched the spot between her eyebrows. “There are lines.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Taryn blew out a breath. “Remember how I stored the summer fair booth in the storage shed I bought last September?”
“The used one you found in an ad online?”
She nodded. “Turns out it leaks. Moisture has ruined everything inside. The pieces are warped or covered in mold or both. I have to start from scratch.”
Jayden glanced at the calendar—a fundraiser for the local fire department—hanging on the wall. “Isn’t that—”
“This coming weekend.” Taryn’s stomach churned. “We’ve lost so many customers to the Summit Ridge Bakery I need to win.”
“One summer fair won’t make a big difference.”
“It will remind people about Lawson’s Bakery. That it’s the place to buy bread for dinner, cookies for lunches, and cakes and pies for special occasions and has been for decades.”
She could visualize her theme with the Shakespeare title so clearly. Of course, that was because she’d created it ten months ago. Now…
“The fair will give us exposure. The same as the outdoor patio is doing.” The other bakery had only a small seating area inside. For two nights, customers had packed her patio. “But starting over with the booth will take time I don’t have.”
Her shifts, management stuff, life… Something would have to give—likely sleep—for her to finish by Friday.
Jayden added donuts to the top shelf of the case. “Hire someone.”
That was one solution, except she needed to cut expenses. “I have to replace all the materials for the new booth. I can’t afford to pay someone.”
“You’re running on fumes.” Concern laced each of his words. “You can’t keep up this pace.”
“That’s what coffee is for.” It had become her lifeline. She couldn’t rely on caffeine indefinitely, but it wouldn’t be forever. “I need to do whatever I can over the next three weeks.”
He raised a brow. “Before your mom and dad get home?”
She nodded. “They hate change. But neither my parents nor my grandparents faced any competition. If the booth wins, they might see my other ideas for the bakery are solid.”
“Could work.”
“Will work.”
“With that optimistic outlook, it will.” His grin spread. “Too bad I’m worthless with power tools. Now, give me a mixer, and I’m your guy.”
“That’s why you have Rachelle,” Taryn teased.
“I married a firefighter for a reason. She’s not afraid of heights, either, so she cleans the gutters.”
The couple complemented each other well. They didn’t worry about gender roles and laughed at stereotypes. They’d been trying to have a baby for years. Taryn hoped that happened for them sooner rather than later. “Lucky.”
His gaze softened. Any minute, heart eyes would appear. “Very. It’s too bad you don’t have a boyfriend who’s handy with power tools.”
“Yeah, but I’m on a sabbatical from dating.”
“It’s been what?” He refilled the tray of croissants. “Five months?”
Over six, but who was counting? “I don’t have time to date, anyway.”
Jayden snickered. “You made time before that hotshot attorney…”
