“Little late to be taking a nap.”
My eyelids fluttered. I hadn’t even heard the truck enter the drive. I had cleaned up from the fruit stand earlier, and instead of going inside to wait for Logan to pick me up for our date, I made my way into the orchard instead, throwing down a blanket and lying on the grass between the trees.
“What time is it?” I asked, turning to watch Logan approach.
“Late. Sorry. I got held up talking with Nate. I sent you a text though.”
“I fell asleep,” I said.
The melancholic sense of the orchard felt different the moment he lay down next to me, his arm brushing past mine briefly before he moved it, settling in. The space became alive, the air thumping, the hairs on my arms…charged.
“Have you heard from Jake?” I asked. “I thought he said he would plan this one?” We usually heard from Jake by Saturday afternoon, but the airwaves today had been silent. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t texted and asked, but the fact that Logan showed up anyway was better than any date Jake could have planned.
“Jake’s been dating a girl from Challis the past couple of weeks. He’s been pretty scarce. I’m guessing he forgot.”
“He’s dating somebody? Have you met her?”
“Nope, but he was gone last weekend and now this weekend.”
“Hmm. So, what do you want to do?” I asked, my elation at his being here kicking up about five thousand notches.
“I’m trying to figure out what it is you’re looking at. The stars aren’t out yet.”
“They’ll be here soon. How was work today? Has my brother been a pain?” The ‘How was work?’ question made it seem like we were an old married couple, and I loved it.
“He’s as bossy as you but a lot harder on the eyes.”
I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back a smile. “What’s he been complaining about now?”
“He’s not complaining so much as he can’t make up his mind on any of the colors or fixtures for the cabinets. He should have given me his picks a week ago, but I talked to him today, and he’s still analyzing the best color scheme.” He held his hands up in the air like a chokehold, pretending to throttle him.
I laughed. “I’m sorry. He asked me for ideas, but I was no help.”
“It’s fine. All part of the job.” He gave me a pointed look. “He does bring a pretty intense big-brother energy to the site.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m scared to accidentally bring up your name for fear of my head getting chopped off.” He nudged me in the arm. “How was work for you today, honey?”
I grinned. “Some guy dropped off this amazing fruit stand this morning, and then I was busy taking compliments for it all day long. Really overshadowed the brownies I made today.”
His head shot up. “The caramel ones?”
“Yup.”
“Any left?”
“Chad was right. Friends and family will run you right out of business.”
“I didn’t teach you to sell today’s baked goods tomorrow.”
“I already have a plate with your name on it.”
He lay back down and sighed. “You’re playing fast and loose with my heart, Jailbait.”
I eyed him. “I thought that was under lock and key?”
He said nothing. But I detected a smile playing on his lips as he moved his arms behind his head and stared up at the sky.
