She didn’t know whether the smack with the tray or her immediate resignation had surprised him more.
Mara dried and put away her equipment. She’d already scoured the surfaces, so she knew there was nothing for Mr. Clean to complain about.
That didn’t stop her from double-checking after she cleaned the sink. All good.
She added the tray of muffins to the Danishes already in the middle of the table. “Help yourself.”
Seth hadn’t said another word after asking about coffee. He’d taken the last of the pot and made a new one. The scent told her he liked it strong, too.
He moved to the table and snagged a Danish. As a chef, he’d know a lot about baking. She wasn’t surprised to see his eyes roam over the pastry, probably automatically checking for appearance. She did the same with everything she ate. Part of the food’s job was to be visually appealing. Food that looked terrible would never work, even if it tasted great.
Her lips curved as Seth nodded at the Danish before taking a bite. His eyebrows shot up, and his eyes flashed to hers. He nodded again, and that praise sent shivers over her skin.
The man stalked to the fridge and opened it with the hand not holding the Danish. “Fruit?”
Apparently, the man didn’t waste words. “Good idea.”
They worked together quickly to slice and plate a variety of fruit for the table. Between that and her baking, they’d have enough for everyone.
The door swung open, and Thea and Knox entered the kitchen. Knox grinned as he spotted the food. “I knew I smelled deliciousness. Mara, you’re officially my favorite Evans sibling.”
She laughed, knowing Ford and Knox had been best buddies for years.
The door to the outside opened, and suddenly the kitchen was full. Ford and Jolie returned with Amber, Gray, Nash, and the rest of his family.
Nash smiled at them all. “Mara and Seth, I’d like you to meet my family. Olivia, Charlie, and Ella Mae.”
The little girl smiled at them and snuggled into Nash’s shoulder with a yawn. Charlie shook their hands. “We’re making different cider flavors for the farm. Would it be okay if I asked both of you about more flavor combinations? We’ve tried a bunch. Some are fantastic, but others are gross. Do you think you can use some of our cider in the things you make?”
Mara exchanged a small smile with Seth. They both nodded.
Charlie grinned. “That’s awesome. And the food smells delicious.”
Mara gestured at the table. “Help yourselves. It’s going to be fun trying out new recipes with apples, cider, and honey. I’m going to need taste testers.”
The boy’s grin widened. “I’m in. How about you, Seth? Will you need taste testers, too?”
Mara watched the man’s eyes soften, and his lips quirk to the side. Mr. Clean liked people a lot more than she’d expected. Maybe he was gruff on the outside with a squishy center, just like a crispy donut with apple filling.
Soon, the table was full. Watching people enjoy food was one of her favorite parts of being a baker. There was no point in doing it if you couldn’t make people’s days a little brighter.
Talk at the table turned to plans for the day. Gray smiled at her. “I’m hoping you and Babs want to tour the No Phailed Apples Inn and check out the kitchen. I’m looking forward to our place smelling as good as this.”
Amber nodded. “We can find out what equipment you both need.”
Mara grinned. “I can’t wait to check it out.”
From beside her, her brother laughed. “I’m surprised you weren’t knocking down their door when you woke up. But I’m glad you spent the time baking instead.”
She laughed even as she flushed. “It was a tough call.” And if she’d known the couple better, she might not have been able to resist the temptation.
Everyone stacked their plates in the dishwasher and thanked her as they headed off in different directions to go about their work for the day.
The four of them, five including Amber’s dog Boomer, walked along the farmhouse road toward the inn. The field between the farmhouses was glorious. Flowers she didn’t have names for bloomed everywhere, along with bushes and trees. Apple trees were mixed in with a bunch of other species. “You’ve created an incredible garden, Gray. It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks. We’ve had fun planning it. We’re going to keep adding to it over the next few years, but the bones of our vision are there.”
Beside her, Seth grumbled. “Tell me you have a vegetable and herb garden back there.”
