“Might work.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “You’ve had my brownies. Of course, it’ll work.”
He grinned. “Did you make them?”
Taryn raised her chin. “It’s my recipe.”
“Do you think anyone using it would be able to replicate yours?”
She bit her lip. The question was harder to answer than she thought it would be.
“Not a simple answer,” he said.
“No, because if someone followed the directions, they should come out the same. But that doesn’t always happen.”
“I’ve messed up many recipes. It doesn’t matter how careful I am.”
“Everyone has, including me,” she admitted. “Sometimes it’s the recipe’s fault, but more often than not a person skips a step or changes something, not realizing it’ll make a difference.”
“That would probably be me.”
“My grandmother showed me how to cook, and my grandpa taught me how to bake. They paid for my baking and pastry arts degree so I could take things to the next level, especially with cakes.”
“A forward-thinking couple.”
“They were.” She missed them, but working in the bakery kept them close to her heart. “My dad wasn’t happy I spent two years there and did an internship elsewhere, but he knew I’d return to Silver Falls, and I did.”
A top restaurant had offered her a full-time job following her internship, but she’d turned it down without a second thought. Her grandparents had invested in her to bring new skills to Lawson’s. She’d never once considered not returning.
“And I’m still here.”
For how much longer remained to be seen.
Nope. Not going there today.
She forced a smile. “What are you up to?”
“Seeing if you need anything.”
Taryn touched her chest. No heart melting. Except it might be a little too late. “You really are sweet.”
He leaned closer.
As his warm breath caressed her neck, tingles trailed down her shoulder to her arm.
“I am,” he whispered. “But people need to think I’m the egotistical attorney, not a nice guy.”
She raised a brow. “So the shark in the courtroom is all an act?”
“An award-winning performance.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” She tried not to laugh and kept her voice low. “Promise.”
All Taryn had to do was turn her head slightly, and she could kiss him. She wanted to, but did she dare with everyone she knew nearby, not to mention his sister and Margot at their booths or somewhere around here?
“Be sure to save me a portion of marionberry pie.” Once again, his breath might as well be his hand. It caressed like a touch.
She swallowed a sigh. “I will.”
