I laugh, a little too loudly, and quickly cover my mouth, embarrassed. “I, uh, I wish it could. But no, it’s notthatmagic.”
“Fair enough,” he says, giving me that smile. “I’ll take a jar of Morning Sun.”
“One Morning Sun for the local hero,” I say, and reach for a paper bag before I can overthink it.
I try to ignore the way my fingers tremble just a little as I pull the jar toward me.
“Local hero, huh? Gonna have to add that to my résumé. Single dad, ranch hand, occasional honey catcher.”
“Very impressive skill set. Should open a LinkedIn account.”
“Is that the website with all the people in suits?” He shudders theatrically. “Nah. I’ll stick to flannel and fixing fences.”
I can’t help but smile. “Good. Colter Creek would riot if you showed up in a suit.”
He leans his elbows on the table, far too close for my heart’s safety. His eyes flick across my display, taking in the candles, soaps, and honey sticks with a kind of quiet pride that makes my chest ache.
“You added new ones,” he says. “Didn’t see these last weekend.”
I brighten. This is territory I understand. “Oh. Yeah. Those are Forest Dawn and Creekside Bloom. New infusions. I, um… I used blackberry blossoms and a little wild mint in the steep for the Creekside Bloom. Smells a bit like standing by the river in early spring.”
His gaze comes back to me. “You always make it sound more than honey.”
I shrug, suddenly shy. “It’s… memories. In jars, I guess.”
He looks like he might say more, but a shrill, excited voice pierces the air.
“Daddy! Daddy, look! They blew it up!”
We both turn. Eliza and Caleb are weaving through the crowd toward us, identical grins practically splitting their faces. They skid to a stop beside Jesse, cheeks flushed and eyes bright.
“The bounce house is open!” Caleb announces, practically vibrating. “It’s a dragon this time!”
“It roars,” Eliza adds seriously. “Like this…”
She makes a tiny, ferocious growling sound that would be terrifying if she weren’t six and missing her two front teeth.
Jesse chuckles, ruffling her hair. “That so? Dragon bounce house, huh? That explains the screaming I heard.”
“It’s not screaming,” Caleb insists. “It’s battle cries.”
“Right, my mistake.” Jesse turns back to me, tipping his chin toward the far end of the market where the bright inflatable bobs above the crowd. “You see what I’m up against? Impossible to resist the call of the dragon.”
I smile at the twins. “Sounds very serious. Warriors need their energy, you know.”
Both sets of blue eyes swing to me. I’m being pinned by twin sweetness.
“We have honey sticks,” I tell them, pulling open the small wooden crate by the side of the stall. “One per warrior, or the dragon might get jealous.”
Eliza gasps. “Dragons like honey?”
“Everyone likes honey,” I say solemnly. “Even dragons.”
Caleb bounces on his toes, peering into the crate. “Can I have the purple one?”
“Lavender,” I tell him, handing it over. “Helps you stay calm in battle.”
“And I want the yellow,” Eliza says, pointing decisively.
