Page 78 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

Maple Falls had been good for her. Good for him too, if he was being honest. Slower days. More community. Less noise in his head.

And now… this.

Tyler carefully eased his arm out from under Robyn’s pillow, the mattress indenting from his effort not to disturb her. Robyn made a soft sound—more sigh than word—and shifted closer.

His chest tightened.

He sat up quietly, propping himself against the ivory suede tufted headboard. Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, turning the room a pale gold. Robyn’s hair was a dark spill across her pillow, her glasses on the nightstand, lips parted slightly, one hand tucked under her cheek.

She looked… safe.

Tyler let himself watch her for a moment. He couldn’t stop cataloging the details, this softer version of her. The one which didn’t look like she had to solve all the world’s problems.

His phone buzzed faintly on the nightstand.

A text from Chloe’s mom: Girls are awake. Dropping Emma off at ten if that’s okay.

He glanced back at Robyn, debating whether to let her sleep. She’d been up late—he’d seen her on the couch at some point, laptop open, that determined look on her face.

But Robyn, of course, chose that moment to blink awake.

Her eyes found him almost immediately, hazy with sleep. For one second, she just stared at him. If her morning was anything like his, the memories of last night were rushing through her brain.

Her cheeks pinked. And Tyler knew the feeling.

“Hi,” she whispered.

Tyler’s grin came easy. “Morning.”

Robyn stretched, slow and catlike beneath the blankets, then groaned and pressed her face into the pillow. “What time is it?”

Tyler nodded toward the clock. “Brace yourself.”

Robyn peeked at the clock. “Oh my gosh. That’s… late.”

“We’re basically teenagers again,” he replied.

Robyn laughed quietly.

He leaned down and brushed a kiss to her temple, keeping it light. “Mrs. C. is covering the bookstore this morning, right?”

Robyn nodded, blinking as her brain caught up. “Yeah. She insisted I take the morning off to write.” Robyn made a face at that. “I don’t have to go in until three.”

“How’d it go last night?” Tyler asked, knowing she’d planned to write after he’d gone to bed.

“AfterHoursAuthor is back in business.” Robyn beamed. “But I’m feeling a bit brain-dead writing-wise at the moment.”

“Well, if that’s the case…” Tyler said, already hearing how hopeful he sounded and deciding he didn’t care. “Do you want to hang out with me and Emma today?”

Robyn propped herself up on her elbows. “What did you have in mind?”

Tyler shrugged like it was no big deal, even though his heart was thrumming. “I was thinking Winding Creek. Liam and Jackson’s family’s farm. Pumpkin patch. Hayride. Kettle corn. The full fall fun family experience.”

“Now that sounds like a perfect day,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her mouth. She hesitated briefly—like her instincts wanted to say no, that she should stay home and write, even though Tyler knew that was the last thing she wanted to do. Then she let out a breath.

“Okay,” she said. “Yes. Let’s do it.”

Tyler’s grin widened. “Yes?”