“Yep.”
He stepped in front of the booth to see if the quilt hung straight. “Looks good.”
Brandt nodded. “So, you and Taryn?”
“Huh?”
“You’re together.”
Garrett flinched. Brandt spoke as if it were a done deal, too. “We’re…friends.”
Brandt grinned wryly. “Very friendly, based on how close you sat at dinner last night.”
“It was crowded,” Garrett blurted. He wasn’t trying to hide anything. Other than a few kisses, nothing had happened. “I mean…Margot’s house was packed.”
He was reaching, and he didn’t know why. Maybe because this time with Taryn was no different from in December. And he didn’t want anyone to think the two of them might turn into a couple.
“Hey, it’s not a big deal. Callie mentioned it to me this morning. She’s happy because she likes Taryn and she loves you. The only thing better would be if you were interested in Anna.”
Anna Kent was the dog groomer who worked with Callie and would be his sister’s maid of honor next weekend. “Both are nice. Taryn and I had fun working on her booth, but…”
It would never work.
“…nothing’s changed since December.” There. He’d said it. “She lives here. I don’t.”
“True, but Taryn seems…I don’t know…happier this week, even with all the stress.”
Garrett didn’t want to take credit, but he stood taller, hoping he’d improved her mood. “The patio’s open, and she finished the booth. Both must be a relief to her.”
“If you and Taryn are just friends, let’s see if she and Keaton hit it off. He’s more on the quiet side and will be in town for a month, watching Rex while we’re on our honeymoon.”
Garrett’s muscles tensed. His hands balled into fists. “You sound like your aunt.”
Brandt’s face reddened. “Well, I have a reason.”
Better be a good one. “What?”
“A baker in the family, even as someone’s girlfriend, would be awesome.”
He had a point. Only if that baker wasn’t Taryn. “Hate to tell you, but Margot has a woman in mind for my little brother.”
Someone who better not be Taryn.
Garrett would have to make sure Margot didn’t wave her matchmaking wand or shoot cupid’s arrow or whatever she used to pair couples in Taryn’s direction. She didn’t need a relationship to distract her from the bakery. After she figured things out with Lawson’s Bakery though…
His stomach churned.
Stop.Turning around the bakery and dealing with her father would take time. Besides, what Taryn did in the future wasn’t Garrett’s business. Still, that realization didn’t make him feel any better.
Brandt sighed. “I told my aunt to stop matchmaking. Otherwise, someone will get hurt. I should have known she wouldn’t listen.”
“She gave me a reprieve during this visit, but I have a feeling Margot will be up to her old tricks during my next trip.”
Brandt laughed. “My aunt’s a force of nature. When she sets her mind on something, she’s unstoppable, but I’ll talk to her again. The heart is nothing to toy with, especially when it’s someone else’s.”
“Good luck. And please convince your aunt to retire from matchmaking.” If Brandt succeeded, Margot wouldn’t set up Taryn with some random guy after Garrett left Silver Falls.
“I’ll do my best.” Brandt glanced at the Wags and Tails booth. “I want to check on Callie.”
