Live music echoed faintly, weaving between tents and booths. Streamers wrapped around lampposts. Balloons bobbed overhead.
And the center gazebo had been turned into the town’s culinary battlefield. Two booths stood side by side, one trimmed in pale pink ribbon with “Team Tea” written in delicate script, and the other bold and bright with gold streamers spelling out “Team Pub.”
He scanned the booths and spotted her. His lovely opponent.
She stood behind her counter, pink shirt tucked into jean shorts that did a criminal sort of justice to her legs. A matching ribbon held her ponytail back. She leaned over a tray of delicate tea cakes, laughing with a little girl holding a glitter-covered notebook.
His grin took a slow journey from one corner of his mouth to the other. Oh, helikedher.
Her humor. Her grit. Her intelligence and kindness.
He liked the way she didn’t let him off easy. But he also—if hewere being honest—liked the way she looked with the sun painting her cheekbones and that wild sparkle in her eyes when she laughed.
She was sunlight and spice andeverythingnice, and she tangled herself around his heart in a way that felt part fairy tale, part rom-com, and all permanent.
They hadn’t talked much in the few days since he’d carried Lucy from her apartment. Business had been good—which meant hectic—but he’d caught glimpses. Short ones. Teasing exchanges in the café. Brief hellos when Lucy stopped by Tea Thyme right after school on Monday for, heaven help him,teaand—evidently—some princess talk.
But none of those had been enough to gauge where Daphne stood. Not enough to ask the important questions: Did she feel it too? And how about a more-than-friendship option?
“Ah, finally,” Daphne said, placing a hand on her hip as he approached. “I was beginning to think you’d chickened out.”
Heaven and earth! Once she’d given way to the banter, she’d gone all in.
And he was happily here for it.
“Not a chance. I’ve got a town to win over, a reputation to defend, and”—his gaze slid slowly over her ensemble—“a rival to distract.”
“You wish.” Her eyes narrowed, but her smile gave her away. “I’ve got the town’s sweet tooth in my back pocket.”
“Maybe.” He leaned a little closer, catching a whiff of cinnamon. “But I’ve got short rib sliders on cheddar brioche, espresso salted caramel brownie sundaes, and a T-shirt that’s already trending on social.”
“Salted caramel brownie sundaes?” she squeaked, her bottom lip dropping into a fetching look of surprise.
“Swoon-inducing, even.” He searched those eyes, allowing the heat between them to kick up a few degrees.
She blinked and stepped back, shrugging as if he hadn’t caught the slight hitch in her breath at his nearness. Ah, perhaps he did have a chance. “Where is your much more adorable sidekick this evening?”
If she’d hoped to deter the attraction, her wit only enhanced it more. “Margaret took her to the pony rides, and how could I ever compare to ponies?”
She fought her grin for a moment, her cheeks still a lovely shade of rose, and then tilted her head as if trying to see the back of his shirt. “So, what doesyourshirt say?”
With a wiggle of his brows, he turned slowly, just enough for her to read it.
Her laughter burst out. “Oh wow. Jodie at the general store sure clocked you, didn’t she?”
He whipped back around to see her grin, and then his gaze fell to the logo on her shirt. #TeamTea? Ah, one of Jodie’s creations too.
“Your go. Turn around.”
Her golden brows arched in challenge, and she mimicked his slow rotation. His laugh erupted as he read: “No coffee necessary to roast the competition.”
And in that very moment, his heart gave way to the pull completely and entirely. He was in love with Daphne Austen, and there was no going back.
“Touché,” he said, watching her continue to battle with her smile. “But actions speak louder than T-shirt quotes, so we’ll just have to see what the town has to say.”
“Good luck then.” She offered her hand, and as soon as his fingers wrapped around hers, she gave his hand a squeeze and said, “You’re gonna need it.”
Chapter 16
