A guy ran up and grabbed a brownie from the table. “Love these.”
Garrett handed him a coupon. “They’re available every day at Lawson’s Bakery on First Avenue.”
His voice was firmer than usual. The tension from earlier in the week was back, and she hated that when things had gotten so comfortable between them. She bit her lip.
The man picked up another brownie before walking away.
“Hear me out before you say anything else,” Garrett said before she could tell him he was out of his mind for accusing Brecken of this.
She took a breath. “Go ahead.”
“If his family is struggling that much, he has reason to sell your recipes and designs.”
Taryn shook her head. “I understand what you’re saying, but it makes no sense. Why would he buy expensive shoes instead of putting aside money for rent and groceries? Unless they were gifts.”
Garrett nodded. “That would make things less traceable to whoever gave them.”
Nick Baxter was implied.
Taryn wrapped her arms around herself. It didn’t take away the sick feeling in her stomach.
“I can’t believe it…” Her heart ached. Brecken loved the bakery and wouldn’t hurt it or Taryn. “He’s a sweet kid, who likes to make jokes, and he’s never late for work or missed a shift. He wouldn’t steal from Lawson’s.”
Garrett’s jaw tensed. “You only know what you’ve seen or been told. You can’t look behind a door or into someone’s heart.”
That was true.
“All we have to do is talk to him and listen to how he answers.”
“You’re the experienced one with this, but I still don’t like it, and you’ll see you’re wrong.”
“I hope I am.”
She studied him. “You sound as if you mean that.”
“I do,” Garrett admitted. “I would rather find out Baxter paid someone to break into Lawson’s and steal things.”
An unpleasant, violated sensation crawled along her spine. “I suppose that would be better.”
But not by much. She shivered.
“The Silver Falls Summer Fair is now closed,” a woman announced over the loudspeakers. “Thanks for attending. Don’t forget to shop locally at the First Avenue shops. We’ll see you next year.”
Garrett rubbed his hands together. “Let’s clean up.”
“What about your brothers?”
“They headed over to Callie’s place to do a few things for the wedding.”
She packed the remaining dessert samples and the leftover coupons. They would recycle those.
Garrett cut the zip ties holding decorations in place on the pop-up tent, and she packed them into boxes. She folded the canopy’s top while he removed the tree trunks from the front poles. Together, they collapsed the tent’s frame.
“Wow.” Openmouthed, Brecken approached, staring at them. “You guys are fast.”
“Takedown is always faster.” Garret motioned to the tent. “Do you mind putting that in its case?”
“Happy to do it.” As Brecken bent over, something dropped onto the ground.
