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He accepted the plate from me, and his fingers brushed mine along the edge of the plastic wrap. The contact lasted no more than a second, but warmth moved through me anyway.

“Thank you,” he said. “Sienna will probably make sure I don’t get more than one.”

“That depends on how fast you are,” she said.

Duncan looked down at her. “Apparently I’m raising a thief.”

“You’re raising someone who likes pumpkin.”

His mouth finally curved into a real smile.

Unfortunately, it made him even hotter.

I decided leaving while I still remembered why I had come was probably wise.

“I should get back. I have a crew expecting an entirely new plan tomorrow morning.”

Duncan nodded. “I hope it works. Whatever I feel about the Factory, the town needs a good weekend, and it sounds like you’ve given the crew something they can actually execute.”

“I intend to make sure they do.”

“Then drive carefully. It gets dark fast under the trees.”

I started down the porch steps while Sienna carried the flyer toward the kitchen, already telling her father she had bookmarked the costume-page information for him.

I had reached the SUV and put my hand on the driver’s door when Duncan called my name.

I turned.

He was still standing on the porch with my muffins balanced in one hand. Sienna hovered just inside the doorway with the Fall Fest flyer.

“You said foam rollers would work without heat?”

“Yes.”

Duncan glanced back at his daughter before returning his attention to me. “Would you mind writing down what I should buy before you leave? I have a feeling she’s going to want an answer before tomorrow afternoon.”

Sienna called from behind him, “I definitely am.”

I looked at Duncan, at the plate tucked against his broad palm, and then at the girl waiting hopefully behind him.

I closed the SUV door.

“All right,” I said, walking back toward the porch. “Let’s start with the rollers.”

Chapter Two

Goldie closed her SUV door and started back toward the porch.

A gust swept dry leaves across the gravel around her ankle boots and tugged at the loose ends of the floral scarf over her tan coat. I opened the door wider as she came up the steps.

“Come on in. Sienna, take the muffins to the kitchen for me, then grab a notepad and pen.”

Sienna took the covered plate with both hands and headed down the hall. Goldie stepped into the foyer, and I shut the door against the cold behind her.

She stayed near the entry, clearly expecting this to be quick. The warmer light caught the coppery shades in her curls and the soft red left on her lips. When she smiled at something Sienna called from the kitchen, heat settled low through my abdomen.

Sienna returned carrying a small notepad and pen and passed them to Goldie.