He hadn’t pushed her, hadn’t done anything to make her feel like he wanted only a one-night stand. Those hazel eyes held more than lust. And that desire made her feel better in her own body than she ever had.
Setting her lustful thoughts to the side, Mara grabbed the garlic mashed potatoes and followed the others to the dining room.
A dining room that would be full of guests the following day. Exciting, and a bit scary. It would be incredible, but it was always nerve-wracking doing something for the first time.
In the dining room, everyone settled into their usual spots. Like at the other farmhouse, they gravitated to the same places. Couples sat beside each other, leaving her and Seth as their own couple—something she wanted to be real.
Once they’d passed around platters and filled their plates, Gray lifted his glass. “Amber and I would like to thank you for everything. You’ve all helped in so many ways. I don’t think we’d be here without you.”
Amber lifted her glass as well. “Here’s to Jay and Fox for bringing us all together. Without them, Knox wouldn’t have had the crazy idea to rejuvenate an old apple farm, bring our family together, and grow our family in the very best of ways. Thank you all for being here.”
Her voice trembled, and tears misted her eyes. That was the longest speech Mara had ever heard from the quiet woman who worked relentlessly behind the scenes to make life better for everyone.
Gray hugged her to his side and kissed her hair. In a stage whisper, he grinned at the group. “That’s not even all pregnancy-induced emotions. We’re really grateful to Jay, Fox, and Knox for being the impetus for bringing us all here. And to everyone for supporting the inn. Cheers.”
“Cheers.” Mara joined the group, raising their glasses and offering well wishes. She had to blink away her own tears, and she most certainly wasn’t pregnant. She’d have had to have had sex in the past year to be pregnant.
The thought of having her own baby, Seth’s baby, filled her with longing. Living here on the farm, sharing a kitchen, and raising a family with the man beside her sounded like the very best kind of dream.
Andy Williams’s The Impossible Dream ran through her mind. Was her dream impossible, or was there a way to make it happen?
Seth nudged her shoulder with his, and she turned to find him studying her with concern. Yep, she was definitely falling for him.
She managed a smile and swallowed back the emotions, the yearning for a new family here. “I’m okay.”
His warm eyes studied her, and he nodded. She wondered what he saw.
Ella Mae distracted them when she tossed the delicious honeyed carrots onto the floor. She pouted at Seth and then picked up some broccoli with a grin.
“Message received, kid, but I’m going to find a recipe you won’t be able to resist.”
The talk at the table turned to the guests who would arrive and the final preparations that needed to be completed.
The rain was supposed to finish overnight, leaving a clear day for the opening. The guests wouldn’t arrive first thing, but Mara planned to have plenty of pastries and treats for them when they did. Amber had loved her suggestion that she place a selection of goodies in the rooms before each guest arrived. Her friend had found cute wicker baskets for her to use. Lined with the apple-themed cloth napkins Amber had purchased, they would be perfect.
While the group finished the main course, Mara slipped into the kitchen with an empty serving dish. She’d found what she thought was the perfect recipe for the inn’s apple fritters earlier in the day, and wanted to surprise everyone with this version tonight.
When she brought them out, Charlie grinned at her. “Another apple fritter recipe? They’re my favorite. I can’t believe I never tried one before I came here.”
Mara laughed and passed him the platter. “This is my favorite so far. Don’t eat them all; let everyone try one.”
The boy grinned, took one for himself, put the smallest one on Ella’s plate, and passed the platter.
Seth turned to her. “Do you think this is the one? The No Phail Fritter?”
Mara laughed. “That’s the perfect name. I love it.”
He held up his fritter, and she tapped it with hers, just as she would a champagne glass.
Groans of appreciation erupted around the table. Knox turned to Mara. “They’ve all been delicious, but there’s something extra-special about this one. I think you’ve found a No Phail recipe.”
The others chimed in, and Charlie said to everyone. “Seth called it the No Phail Fritter.”
Amber nodded. “Perfect. The guests are going to love these.”
Her brother sighed dramatically. “We have to share them with the guests? How are we going to survive?”
Mara’s heart filled. “There will always be enough for you. For all of you.”
