She nodded just slightly in Cara’s direction. “Yeah. So, we just came to get some sweets. What’s been the hot item today?
“The lemon and strawberry rolls. All the rolls. The cinnamon rolls, too. We can’t keep them in stock. I keep thinking I should make more, but then it feels like it’s just too many, but it’s never too many. Eventually, the newness of the place has to die down.”
“I’m going to need one of each,” Cody said.
“There’s no way you can eat both of those,” Marlowe said, tapping him on his rock-hard stomach, and then realizing that had been a little bit too intimate a gesture to do in a public place. But it was crowded, mostly with people who had just come to stay at the ranch, and a few from town, which meant they either didn’t know her, they didn’t know Cody, or they didn’t know both of them.
“I work hard,” he said, clearly unperturbed that she had touched him in public.
“I’ll put together an array for you. But I have to be careful with my stock. I don’t want to sell out before the rush dies down.”
There was already more of a line behind Cody and Marlowe.
“When does it slow down?”
“When we turn the sign to closed.” But she could see that Cara was very pleased.
“Come here for a second, Marlowe,” Cara said. “I want to show you something.”
Her voice was very laden with meaning.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
She stepped away from Cody’s side and went into the kitchen with her sister-in-law. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s just been the last few days, and everything opened up, and it’s been crazy. You know that.”
“Yes. But I want to know everything.”
“Sunday night. Girls’ night. We’ll drink a bottle of wine at the Painted Ridge Dining Room.”
“That sounds great. But don’t let me cock block you.”
“I haven’t had this much sex in years. My body needs a break.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. If ever I am tempted to forget that my brother sucks, things like this remind me.”
“I’m not trying to make commentary about your brother, that’s the thing. Just about this.”
“But everything’s good. He’s not holding your job over your head.”
“No. He’s actually a really great guy. He’s… A little bit surly, sure, but he’s good.”
“He seems like it.” Marlowe’s gaze drifted behind Cara, toward a plate with a strawberry roll on it that was wrapped in Saran Wrap.
“What’s that? Is it a to-go order?”
“Kind of. I always set something aside for Zane. He’s always doing odd jobs around the building. And he won’t come in the front door because it’s too crowded.”
Marlowe lifted her eyebrows.
“It’s not like that. Trust me. He’s not interested.”
“Did you ask him?”
“No. I did not ask him. Because as I’ve already said, I couldn’t handle that.”
“You didn’t say you didn’t want to.”
