by Olivia Miles
Well. Okay, so that was unexpected. And she didn’t quite know what to do with it. She could smile back, or she could just wave to acknowledge him and be on her way. But he was cute. And there wasn’t anyone else around. It would be rude to just run off…
“Cookies made it all in one piece today?” he asked, grinning a little wider.
Kara narrowed her eyes but then decided to make light of their awkward first encounter. “Since I was able to walk over without being body-slammed, yes.” She grinned as she motioned to the pile of logs he carried, wondering why she didn’t just turn on her heel and leave then and there, get back to the bakery. God knew she had work to do if she was going to be ready for the bazaar tonight. She told herself it had nothing to do with the fact that he was the sexiest guy to cross the Briar Creek border since… well, ever. She could look. But she couldn’t touch. The guy was arrogant. A city boy who thought he was better than them all, more sophisticated, more knowledgeable. “Your aunt put you to work, I see.”
He softened a bit, but there was a new edge to his voice when he said, “I don’t mind hard work.”
Kara held his sharp gaze, wondering why he had grown so defensive. “That makes two of us, then.”
“Everyone needs a hobby,” he said, shrugging.
Kara tipped her head. “Excuse me?”
“I just meant I admire your efforts,” Nate said simply. He wasn’t smiling anymore, and she didn’t like the way his eyes lazily roamed over her face.
“It’s not an effort,” she corrected him. “It’s a business. And one I need to get back to, if you’ll excuse me. Please tell your aunt the cookies are on the console in the dining room.”
Honestly! This man may have an MBA and, according to his doting aunt, a Lexus and some fantastic apartment with sweeping skyline views, but one thing he certainly didn’t have was any charm. Clearly, Mrs. Griffin’s opinion of him was even more biased than she’d always thought. He was handsome; she’d give the innkeeper some credit there. But that’s where it stopped.
“Be careful of the ice,” Nate cautioned again as she hoisted her tote higher on her shoulder.
She said nothing but kept walking down the brick path, eager to be on her way, anger heating the blood in her veins, making her forget the snow and the wind and the fact that it was winter at all. From the looks of it, the gossip mill had already gotten around to him, regaling him with all her previous failures: the stint at the stationery shop, the week or two at the pub, the whopping six months at the insurance office. He clearly looked down on her. Successful businessman and small-town shopgirl. He didn’t need to be such an ass about it.
She lifted her chin, reminding herself he’d be gone soon and that her life in Briar Creek would continue as it always had and that when he came back to visit—if he ever came back to visit—he’d be surprised to see that her bakery doors were still open, her cookies still fresh, and her spirit far from crushed.
He wanted to call her bakery a hobby? She suddenly had an urge to turn Sugar and Spice into a national chain and open one on the corner of the street where he lived.
She smiled at the thought, and she was just getting to the part of imagining his expression when he saw her face on the cover of some national business magazine, when her boots hit something slippery, she felt her legs come out from under her, and the world went into slow motion as she dropped onto her butt, her eyes now level with the boxwood hedges that lined the inn’s front path.
Under any other circumstance, she would have yelped. Loudly. But given the knowledge of Nate standing behind her, no doubt watching the entire thing, she’d managed to keep her lips pressed tightly even though pain shot through her tailbone, hot as fire.
“Told you to be careful,” he said, approaching, but there was a hint of concern in his voice.
Gritting her teeth against a comeback, Kara struggled to pick herself up, already feeling the sting of a bruise on her left hip. Her cheeks flared with heat and she was aware of a soggy mark on her butt and thighs. She brushed at her backside quickly, letting her hair fall over her face as she struggled against the slick pavement.
A hand appeared in front of her. She hesitated and then, cursing silently, set her hand in it. She’d forgotten her gloves at the bakery, and she was surprised by the warmth of his skin, despite the cold temperature. His palm was smooth, his grip firm, and she was so busy anticipating the awkward moment when she released his hand, and the gratitude she would have to project, that she didn’t even notice the patch of ice near her left heel. No sooner was she halfway up than she was going down again. And this time, she was taking Nate with her.
She caught the surprise in his eye as he tipped to the side, struggled with his footing, and landed with a heavy thud beside her.
Horror washed over her body as she lay next to him outside the Main Street B&B, staring up at the gray sky. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear children squealing as they played in the snow on the town square, but otherwise, the street was quiet, the world still, punctured all at once by a rumble of laughter.
Nate’s chest rose and fell as his amusement cut through the wind, and Kara joined in, too, though a little less enthusiastically.
“Good thing you didn’t have any cookies on you this time, or I never would have heard the end of it.” Nate’s grin seemed a little easier as he picked himself up and then, more carefully this time, helped Kara to her feet.
“Consider us even,” she said, still hot with embarrassment. She motioned to the birch logs that had spilled into the snow, no doubt now wet. “I hope there’s more dry wood in the pile.”
Nate glanced at the logs and gave a good-natured shrug. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he met her gaze. “Gives me something to do. I’m not really used to keeping idle.”
“Well, there’s lots to do in Briar Creek,” Kara said. “And I’m sure your aunt would be thrilled to have you spare her an insurance claim and salt the walkway. I know I’d be grateful…” She looked up at him, grinning slowly.
What was she doing? If she didn’t know better, she’d say she was flirting with the man! But no, no, she was just giving him the benefit of the doubt. She couldn’t punish him forever, after all. And he had helped her up. And she had pulled him down… And he was a visitor. She should show him a little hospitality, at least.
Nate barked out a laugh. “Good point. But that will take all of five minutes. What else do people do around here?”
“Oh…” Kara shrugged. She’d been locked in her kitchen for so many hours these days that she almost couldn’t remember what she used to do for fun. “There’s a gym. And a few restaurants on Main Street. Some shops. There’s always a lot going on in town during the holidays.”
Nate’s lip curled a bit. “So I’ve heard. My aunt is very passionate about this town.”
Now it was Kara’s turn to laugh. “That she is. But we all are, I suppose.”
“You’ve lived here all your life then?” Nate asked as he bent down to pick up some logs.
Kara reached for one that had rolled near her foot, careful not to slip again. “Born and raised. I left for college, though.” She took satisfaction in saying that. Even if she hadn’t figured out her life until recent months, she had earned a degree. She wondered if that surprised him.
“And now you run the bakery.”
“Now I own the bakery,” she said proudly.
“Hmm.” Nate took the last log from her and turned slightly back to the house. “Well, good luck with it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked sharply. Maybe she was being sensitive, but his attitude bothered her, and she didn’t appreciate it.
“I just mean that most new businesses don’t make it past the first year. You could love what you’re doing or selling, but if you don’t know how to properly manage your business or balance the budget, you could get yourself into trouble. A good product isn’t enough.”
“And you know this because…”
“Be
cause it’s what I do for a living,” Nate said simply. “I go in, analyze practices and procedures, and put together an action plan to keep a business going.”
“People pay you for your opinions?” She supposed she should be happy to have gotten free advice, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel grateful. She just felt ticked. This was her business, and if she needed help, she’d ask for it.
“Quite a bit, actually.” He tipped his head, his mouth slipping into a crooked grin.
“Well, I’m doing just fine,” she said briskly.
He had the nerve to look amused. “If you say so.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Was there something he knew that she didn’t? Something beyond her glaring oversight not to offer any coffee or tea? “I do. I’ve put everything I have into that bakery, and I believe in it.”
“Everything you have, huh?” He let out a low whistle.
“Well, it wasn’t that much to begin with!” Kara was blinking rapidly, feeling a sudden urgency to get back to her bakery, to bake, to make hot chocolate, to add to her plans for tonight’s bazaar. Was there time to toss in a few dozen snowflake cookies, individually packaged? Her heart was racing. There would be. If she hurried. She could put them in the oven while she finished up the gingerbread houses, decorate them right before she left. Since she’d taken the apartment above the bakery with the lease, she wouldn’t need to worry about finding time to freshen up. Not that she needed to primp for anyone.
All she needed was to make this business work. Not just for herself, but for her father… She’d spent every dime of her inheritance on this endeavor. It was the last gift he’d ever given her, and she’d wanted to make it grow, to turn it into something that could last, that would remind her of him. The thought of losing it would be like losing a bit of her dad all over again.
She blinked back the tears that suddenly stung her eyes.
Nate was just a jerk. He was under her skin. He knew how to rile her up. How to press every button.
“I should go,” she said, and this time she managed to get off the property without falling on her bottom.
Or falling too hard for Nate.
The Holiday Bazaar was held in a large meeting hall in the town’s library, made almost unrecognizable by the decorations and lights and holiday music that streamed from speakers. Briar Creek’s decorating committee had really outdone themselves this year by creating a village feel in the room, with winding paths allowing a flow of people to peruse the stalls, hot chocolate stands, and popcorn vendors, and beautifully decorated Christmas trees spread throughout.
Kara’s booth was ideally located in the center of the room, with other edible gifts. She glanced around at the competition, even though most were hobbyists, as Nate would say, women who liked to bake at home and sell their goods at school bake sales and community events. Someone sold fudge, another pies, and another beautiful ribbon candy in glistening holiday colors. But no other cookies. Or gingerbread.
Kara eyed the room carefully, looking for her mother, who said she’d be here tonight. Sure enough, there, one aisle away, was Rosemary, talking animatedly with one of the dancer’s moms, no doubt about the upcoming show.
Catching Kara’s eye, Rosemary held up a finger and quickly ended the conversation before making a beeline for Kara’s stand. Kara blew out a breath. Oh, boy.
“You haven’t set up yet?” her mother remarked, staring quizzically at the table.
“I just got here,” Kara said. She checked her watch. She wasn’t even late.
“But most of the other stands are already set up. Why didn’t you come earlier?” Rosemary’s ruby-painted lips were pinched, her blue eyes bright with expectation.
Kara counted to three. There was no use losing her temper. She’d just make a scene. Besides, this was nothing new.
“I had to work.” Kara sighed. “A few customers lingered.” And I’m not even late, she said firmly to herself. I have plenty of time to set up.
Rosemary just shrugged, her eyes widening slightly. “Well, what are you offering?”
At this, Kara perked up. She popped the lid on a few boxes, feeling proud as she did so. Rosemary leaned forward with interest and then, pulling back, said, “That’s all? I would have thought you’d be offering twice as much. If not more!”
Kara swallowed back her anger, but she could feel a heat rising in her cheeks. “I didn’t want to let anything go to waste. Besides, it’s my first time selling anything here. I don’t know what to expect.”
“Well, hopefully you’ll do well.” Rosemary gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and with a tight smile, she was off.
“Hopefully I’ll do well?” Kara repeated once she was out of earshot. She turned to inspect her cookies, wondering what her mother saw that she did not. They were all perfectly baked and decorated. Each uniform in size.
“You know what she meant,” Molly said, coming to stand close. “She doesn’t like that phrase ‘break a leg,’ so she comes up with alternatives.”
Kara slanted her sister a glance that showed she didn’t agree. “More like she’s being cautiously optimistic about my potential.” More like she doesn’t believe I can be successful.
“She’s just concerned,” Molly said, setting a gentle hand on Kara’s back.
“Maybe,” Kara said, biting her lip. She couldn’t even look at her sister, or she feared she would burst into tears. She felt rattled and out of sorts. She’d been so confident about her selection tonight, and now…
Kara let out a shaky breath as she began setting up her table. Molly had offered to help, and Kara now wasn’t sure how she’d ever thought she could have transported the items herself. While her kits were carefully packaged, her constructed gingerbread houses needed special care. She tentatively lifted her favorite from its box and examined it from all sides, making sure none of her decorations had fallen off.
Satisfied that everything was intact, she set it at the front of the table. “We’ll put the cookies on this tiered tray,” she instructed Molly. “The rest can stay in the boxes until I need to restock.” If she needed to restock. The bazaar was busy—busier than she’d even thought it would be—but that didn’t mean people would be running over to buy up her goods. The gingerbread houses were really for decoration, but as for the cookies—whatever she didn’t sell tonight would be donated to the Forest Ridge Hope Center, where she and her family helped organize a food drive each holiday season. At least then she would know her efforts had not been in vain.
“Did you say Ivy has a stand here tonight?” Molly set the individually wrapped snowflake cookies on the top tier of the tray. With their glistening sugar and festive shape, they certainly were the prettiest of the offerings.
Kara nodded. “I saw her when we came in. She’s near the front of the room, near the big Christmas tree.”
“I’ve been meaning to congratulate her on her engagement to Brett,” Molly said, referring to their cousin. “Everyone’s getting married it seems!”
Kara looked up from unpacking a box and stared at Molly until her sister’s smile slipped a bit. “Not everyone,” she grumbled, reaching for another handful of wrapped cookies.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just, well… Your time will come!” Molly’s grin was as enthusiastic as her tone, but her words were empty. It was the condolence she’d heard too often these days when friend after friend, or now, sister, announced their upcoming nuptials, and Kara didn’t even have a boyfriend in sight. Heck, she didn’t even have a date for New Year’s Eve.
“Will it?” She wasn’t so sure. The local dating pool was limited, and it had been ages since she’d even had a dinner invitation. She’d spent years waiting for that spark, and no one had ever come along and made her feel it. Except Nate. Nate with his glossy good looks and shiny degree and endless unsolicited advice. No use falling for him in the romantic sense, despite that perfect grin and those classic good looks.
“Sure it will. Look at me an
d Todd. A year ago I thought I’d never see him again, and now we’re engaged.” Molly blinked rapidly, then let her eyes fall to her ring finger. That thing really was blinding.
“Imagine that.” Kara pressed her lips together. Still, her sister’s situation was proof that anything was possible. She’d remember that on the days she felt pessimistic about the future of her love life. “For now, though, I’m too busy for a boyfriend. The bakery takes up enough of my time. I don’t see how I could juggle a relationship and a new business.” But it would be nice to have someone special in her life, like the men all her friends had found. Especially during the holidays. It seemed like everyone was walking hand in hand now or shopping for something for their special someone.
She pushed away the pang of self-pity. She was getting sentimental when what she really needed to get was focused.
“Tell Ivy I said hello,” she said to Molly as she set the last gingerbread kit on the table. “And while you’re walking around, see if you come up with any good ideas for what we should buy Mom for Christmas.”
Molly’s face blanched. “Do I have to?”
Kara had to laugh. It was a running joke in the family that their mother had returned nearly every gift she’d ever been given. Notoriously difficult to shop for, she’d returned clothes and jewelry, let gift cards go unused, and claimed to have everything she really needed while sitting on the edge of the love seat in high expectation as her adult children handed over their gifts, the store receipts always slyly tucked under the tissue paper.
“It was much easier when we were younger. She was perfectly happy with a homemade ornament or card.” Kara smiled wistfully.
“That’s because Dad took over the real gift giving,” Molly said, her mouth pulling into a frown. “She even returned the candle I got her last year. Who doesn’t like a candle? I guess it wasn’t her favorite scent.” Molly leaned forward, lowering her voice. “And in my bedroom closet I found a stash of bracelets Luke and Grace got her for Mother’s Day last year. Knowing Luke, he hadn’t included the receipt.”
