Page 103 of Forbidden to Fall

Mia jumped up and down, tugging on his hand until he broke his gaze away to respond.

I shut my eyes in consternation while James continued serving Mrs. Perry, blissfully unaware.

It was probably time for me to head back to the bakery booth.

I restocked the blondies, then glanced up, my heart shooting into my throat.

Ryan was approaching. Alone.

I wanted to warn James, but anything I could do, Ryan would see.

James gave me a playful nudge with his elbow, letting his body rest against mine. “Get back to work.”

I swallowed, my eyes on Ryan.

James’s gaze followed mine, and he stiffened.

Ryan bypassed the line and stopped in front of the booth. The people waiting to buy baked goods looked at him. “Business looks good.” His voice was colorless.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to respond.

James didn’t say anything either.

Ryan’s eyes moved from James to me and lingered there. I wanted him to yell at me. At us. To tear into us.

But he didn’t, and the hurt in his eyes made me feel like I was breaking inside.

He turned and walked away, hands in his pockets.

I took in a shaky breath.

“Can I get a box of blondies?” the man at the front of the line asked.

James cleared his throat. “Of course.”

“I’m going to head back,” I said, my stomach swimming.

James nodded. “See you later?”

I nodded, then hurried back to the bakery booth, Ryan’s pain-filled expression hovering front and center in my vision.

Morgan brought me up to speed, then headed back inside, leaving me to my conflicted thoughts. I wasn’t with them for long, as just two minutes later, Mrs. Keller appeared.

She smiled at the stranger buying an apple cider donut but waited to talk to me until the transaction was complete.

“Perhaps we should shutter the store and run a booth out here,” she joked. “We’d sure save a lot on rent. Though, I did think there would be more people in line given how quiet it’s been inside.”

“It ebbs and flows,” I reassured her, though I didn’t care much about selling products at the moment.

“Just as it always has. Well”—she looked down the street—“since you and Morgan have things covered, I think I’ll go take a gander at the other booths for a bit.”

“Enjoy.”

She smiled and went on her way.

I pushed a breath out through rounded lips as I watched her fade into the crowds, wondering what she’d think when she saw the line at the Carver Maple Farm booth. That one didn’t seem to ebb much. At the rate things were selling there, I’d be up at three again to bake.

With James, if I had any luck.