Oops. He didn’t want to go there. “Taryn’s employees need to be at the bakery. Her parents are out of town. She has no one else.”
Margot wagged her finger. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed she’s attractive, smart, and single.”
He held up his hands. “I won’t deny it, but it’s no different from me walking the dogs or running errands for you.”
She harrumphed. “Well, it should be.”
That made him laugh. “No matchmaking.”
“I remember, but I don’t like it.”
His cell phone buzzed. He glanced at it.
Taryn:Awake. Guess I needed the rest.
Garrett reread the message.
“That must be from Taryn, your friend.” Margot emphasized the last word. “Based on the goofy grin on your face, you define friend differently than I do.”
He wasn’t about to answer that. The phone went into his pocket. “I have some time before I help her. Need anything done?”
“Now that you mention it, I’d love for you to take the dogs to Callie’s. That’ll save me a trip.”
“I’ll do that.” He would also pick up coffees for them from Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans. Not iced ones this time. But the caffeine would be a nice pick-me-up to start what would likely be a long day.
But a good one. Any day he got to spend with Taryn would be.
He only hoped the fair worked out the way she planned.
*
On Friday atnoon, Garrett helped Jayden load everything into a borrowed pickup truck. Taryn had left for the park with all the smaller décor pieces, ice chests, cases of water bottles, and other smaller items. “That should be all the booth parts.”
“Great.” Jayden closed the gate. “Carl is bringing the baked goods over.”
“You guys are a well-oiled machine.”
“Yep, and this is nothing compared to putting together a Christmas window. We start after we close on Saturday and work all day Sunday. But we finish, while others keep at it for a few days or more.”
Garrett climbed into the passenger seat.
Jayden slid behind the wheel. “Thanks for helping Taryn. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Okay, fine, but she’s like a sister to me.”
“I get it. I do the same with Callie.”
“Please be careful.”
“We’re friends.” The words shot out a little too quickly, but Garrett didn’t know if Jayden noticed.
“Friends can still hurt each other without meaning to.”
“We’ve talked.” And kissed before talking. “I won’t make the same mistake again.”
Though the ending would be identical after he returned home. There was no way around that.
