The asshole mentioned tomorrow. He’s staying somewhere close enough to return to Huckleberry Springs, and he’s planning to come to the Taste of Springs tomorrow.
I’ll be watching for him.
Elodie
I’m packing away my goods for the night when a shadow falls over me. Before alarm can spike in my veins, Cruz takes one of the cases I loaded the cookies in. “I can haul this for you.”
My grin has to look as tired as I feel. “Thank you. I just have to get these inside and tie my tent shut.”
“In the back?”
“Yes, please.”
I admire the width of his shoulders as he holds his load. He makes it look easy. I catch his eye in the reflection of my window, and he smirks. Doesn’t stop me from staring at his tight ass in his blue jeans. The denim is a darker blue, like his eyes.
He ducks inside and it’s me staring back at myself. I’m wearing my cupcake shirt and skirt, and my hair is in a sloppy bun. Comfortable enough clothing. Loose and airy to keep me as cool as my cupcakes. He fucked the sex siren in the distillery, but he wanted this first. Shoving my glasses up with a satisfied grunt, I finish my closing duties.
Once I’m done securing my little stand, I heft two totes loaded with more sweets and my tablet and cash. Cruz appears and grabs those from me too. “Some of the booths are still shutting down. Want to walk around and see them?”
My excitement surges. “I’d love to. I was hoping to go around when I had Kinley here to help, but we were too busy to leave her alone.”
“Be right back, and then we’ll take a stroll.”
After he returns, I lock the front door. He slips his hand around mine and we start down the sidewalk.
The couple who owns Wok and Rolls are kicked back in their camp chairs with a plate of food in their hands. A platter of my lemon drop cookies is between them on a small table. We exchanged a serving of lo mein and sweet-and-sour chicken for my cookies and two cupcakes. The portable buffet they set up is empty, and steam wafts from the open settings. They wave, unsurprised to see me holding Cruz Foster’s hand.
People have seen him coming and going from Dee’s Sweets for weeks. And there were our two dates outside of the bakery and his place.
I smile. “See you tomorrow.” And I hope we can make the same food swap.
In between them and the corner is a booth for a butcher from out of town. They have packs of frozen steaks and hamburgers to sell, but they’ve already loaded up and cleared out for the evening.
Cruz continues to lead me the long way around. Most booths have their shades drawn for the night, but I get to see the setup and what’s available. It’s exactly as Campbell said. A small but busy affair. She thinks more visitors will be here on Saturday. All the cabins and rentals in and around Huckleberry Springs are full. Our lone motel is booked out, and I had one couple stop by from Texas. They’re escaping their heat for ours.
This is what I want. A quiet evening with my guy, enjoying our small community and the people in it. I have connections with other business owners. They trust me—as long as I keep giving them a reason to.
“How was your day?” Cruz asks.
“It was good, but I hope it’s busier tomorrow. How was yours?”
“Fine.”
I glance at him. A five-o’clock shadow covers the hard slash of his jaw, but there’s an ominous glint in his eyes. Everything was not fine. Will he talk to me when we’re alone?
We reach the Foster House booth. Their sign with the yellow logo is eye-catching and inviting. The whole tent is yellow and three times the size of mine.
Haven and Durban are packing up crates.
“Was it a good night?” Durban asks, leaning over the counter. Haven joins him. Two dark-haired country boys who happen to run a distillery.
I should take a picture of them like that and send it to Campbell. If all five of the guys lined up for a photo shoot and we put it on the flyers for next year, attendance would triple. “I moved a lot of cookies, but it was mostly one-off desserts. Hopefully, tomorrow there’ll be orders by the dozen or half dozen. You?”
Haven grins. “Whiskey was flowing.”
“And gin and vodka.” Durban squints up and down the street. When his eyes fill with heat, I don’t have to look to know Campbell’s heading our way. “I expect tomorrow will be slower until the evening.”
Campbell’s skirt swishes a little harder around her knees when she notices Durban and she rushes over. He pushes back to wrap an arm around her and plant a big kiss on her.
