Nate just lifted his glass in a conceited salute. Preachers could be jerks too. Especially ones who acted like her brother!
“Lord, have mercy.” Granny D fanned herself with her napkin. “That man’s got a voice as attractive as his roast beef.”
Jack shot her a look. Nate choked on his tea. Daphne considered moving to Alaska.
“His accent has a certain... appeal, there’s no denying that. But we’re just competitors,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as anyone else.
“With chemistry,” Jack added.
She kicked at his shin, but he dodged like a practiced older sibling.
“Whatever you are, y’all are putting this little town on the map,” Nate said, pointing his half-eaten biscuit at her like he didn’t even notice her death glare. “I heard Mrs. Applebaum say she checks both your Instagram accounts every night before bed.”
“And Mrs. Meadows down at the library has seen a run on cookbooks,” Granny D added, plopping another helping of potatoes on her plate. “Ain’t nothing wrong with inspiring a little culinary curiosity.”
Daphne blinked. That... was actually kind of sweet.
“Half the town’s wearing your merch,” Jack added, eyes twinkling. “And one of the elementary classes turned it into a science lesson.” He turned to Nate. “Didn’t we see a T-shirt that said something about baking and romance?”
Daphne groaned. “Don’t even—”
“Oh, right!” Nate said with a snap. “Was it Whisks, Winks, and Wedding Rings?”
“No, I think it was You Bake Me Crazy,” Jack added helpfully.
“I hate you both.” Daphne rolled her eyes, cheeks heating to a broil.
“No, no...” Nate shook his head, sending a peripheral look to Daphne. “Hot Buns and Hotter Feelings?”
Jack’s laugh erupted. “Wait, what about Whisked Off Her Feet?”
“You are both fired!”Daphne half shouted.
“I don’t even work for you,” Nate said, laughing.
“I do,” Rosemary called as she strolled in with a pan of apple crumble in her hands and a smug grin on her face. “But I’m not fired until after dessert.”
“Just in time,” Jack said with a flourish. “We’re conducting a relationship intervention.”
“Which is so unnecessary,” Daphne mumbled.
“Absolutely necessary.” Rosemary plopped into the empty chair beside her and grabbed a roll. “It’s either this or we make you write your feelings in icing.”
Daphne gave her the driest look she could muster. “Traitor.”
“I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
“Like a warning label?” Daphne tried.
“Like a woman who’s thinking romantic thoughts during scone prep.” Rosemary grinned and elbowed her. “And I’m pretty sure he’s thinking the same from the way he looks at you.”
“I think he looks at everyone like that,” she said softly. Then more loudly added, “It’s just who he is.”
“No, it’s not,” Nate said, shifting into his pastoral discernment face. “He saves the ‘heart-eyes emoji in real life’ look for you.”
“Heart-eyes emoji—”
“It’s totally different with you.” Jack nodded. “It’s like his flirt filter malfunctions when you’re around.”
