And somehow, Garrett would do the same. But shutting down his brain and thoughts about Taryn wouldn’t be easy-peasy tonight. “Text me when you’re ready for me to come over tomorrow.”
*
In the morning,Garrett woke early and took the dogs for a walk. His phone remained silent—no text notifications or calls from Taryn. She must have slept late. Good, because she needed it. Now, he wanted to make sure she didn’t overdo it during the fair.
Not his job.
Not really.
But while she looked out for the bakery, someone needed to watch out for her. He was happy to take on the task.
“It’s what friends do.”
Sadie stopped sniffing a bush and glanced at him.
“What?” Garrett didn’t appreciate the dog’s head tilt. “We’re friends. Friends kiss.”
Sadie remained unconvinced. Another scent must have caught her attention because she stuck her nose against the grass.
“Fine, be that way.”
He grinned, thinking about kissing Taryn again. But beyond kisses, he enjoyed being with her. Only next week would be crazy busy. At least they would have this weekend. His brothers arrived tomorrow, and they would help Callie. But come Monday, his sister’s needs were his priority. Garrett prided himself on his time management skills. They would need to be dialed in if he was to see Taryn and not only at the wedding.
The dogs led him up the walkway to Margot’s house. Their tails wagged faster.
He laughed at their excitement. “You guys know it’s treat time.”
Inside the entryway, he unclipped their leashes and hung them on hooks next to the door. They darted to the kitchen.
“Give Mama a minute, and I’ll get your treats.” Margot called to the dogs from the dining room, where she laid out a quilt.
“New project?”
“It’s our booth’s giveaway for the summer fair. Our theme is Homespun and Heartfelt.” She ran a fingertip over the colorful fabric as if it were a precious work of art. “The employees at the quilt shop contributed squares, and I pieced them together. It turned out well.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks. And thank you for taking Angus and Sadie on a walk. I’ll drop them off at your sister’s before I head over to the park.”
“Do you need help?”
“No. My manager and her husband have it all covered. This is the first year I haven’t done it myself, and I must admit it’s a relief only to have to deliver the quilt and candy.”
“Callie mentioned her booth would have dog biscuits and magnets to giveaway, but she didn’t make it sound like she spent much time on it.”
“Her theme is Dog Days of Summer. It’ll be cute. Some First Avenue business owners put a lot of effort into their booths and windows at Christmastime. Others don’t. Pippa, who recently purchased the flower shop, hasn’t competed in an event, so everyone’s curious about what she’ll do.”
“A dark horse.”
“Exactly, but it’s the perfect way for a florist to showcase their skills, so I expect Pippa won’t disappoint. The same as Taryn with her summer theme.”
“Given the circumstances, the bakery’s booth turned out great.” He took pride in that and contributed to her theme name, which he would let her unveil, but it was all Taryn. He was only an extra pair of hands. His smile grew. “She is amazing.”
“You’re sweet to help her.”
“It’s the least I can do while I’m here.”
Margot’s gaze sharpened. “Why is that?”
