by Betty Bolte
Images of working in the kitchen with her mother floated through Tara’s mind. She’d assisted more than led, but together she and her mom had whipped up some amazing recipes. Her role fell to pulling together the ingredients for Peggy to use when she needed them. Tara had watched, fascinated and proud, as her mom stirred, fried, blended, kneaded—whatever the recipe demanded. They had been like a well-oiled machine. She knew the moment her mother would need the next bowl or spoon, so she barely had to pause in performing her kitchen magic. Suddenly, Tara understood why her efforts had fallen short.
“I helped my mother, but I never made anything on my own.” Tara peered at Grant, willing him to understand. “I didn’t learn to make anything. I learned to be the assistant.”
He smiled at her, a brief twist of his head to regard her before turning forward. “I can help you this time so that you’re doing the main part and I’ll assist you. Together we can rule the dessert world.”
“Would you?” She didn’t have to do it alone. Beth had already told her that, but she’d ignored her sister’s advice. What had Beth seen when she’d touched Grant that one time in the kitchen? She’d said for Grant to follow her lead. As in to offer to assist Tara? A chill flashed through her as she realized her sister’s vision proved true. She stared out the windshield for a heartbeat, as Grant turned onto her street. “I’d love to cook with you.”
“We can shop tomorrow morning for what we’ll need, and then spend the rest of the day baking up a storm.” He halted the car in front of the Golden house, the engine idling. “How about if I pick you up at ten?”
“I have to work in the morning.” She leaned over to pull her backpack onto her lap then took hold of the door handle. “How about one?”
“Noon at the bookstore and I’ll take you out to lunch before we go shopping?”
“Perfect.” She leaned over to give him a kiss before opening her door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. And Grant…”
“Hmm?”
“Maybe we should keep the whole Raven Hollow escapade our little secret?”
He laughed, a burst of deep merriment and relief. “Fine by me.”
“I kinda thought so.” She kissed him again. “Who’d believe it anyway?”
“Right. Love you.” Grant gripped the steering wheel as his eyes widened and he swallowed hard. He blinked helplessly at her for several moments.
“Was that an oops?” She leaned down, one hand holding the passenger door open with a death grip. “Or are you serious?”
He regarded her for a moment, lips pressed together, and then a slow, sexy smile grew on his tempting lips. “After all we’ve been through, how could I not love you? You’re incredible and beautiful. Yes, I mean it. I love you.”
His words zoomed into her heart and held firm, starting a slow fire simmering in her core. The season of joy and hope began with three simple words that meant so very much when spoken with sincerity.
“Then you should know…” She hesitated, not from fear of her next words, but to relish the feeling consuming her. Swimming in her veins and fizzing up her belly like a draft of fine champagne. “I love you, too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Best date ever.” He grinned at her, and then flicked a wave at her. “But no repeats, okay?”
“Absolutely. Bye.” She closed the car door and watched her new boyfriend drive away. Then she remembered. He planned to go home after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of miles away. The very reason she’d attempted to resist his allure. She’d failed on one hand, but succeeded on the other. Her heart fell the more she thought about the obstacles a long-distance relationship faced. Not just miles, in fact, but also the length of time between seeing each other, talking in person, and between kisses. How did one date long distance? His car slowly drove along the tree-lined street, taking a huge chunk of her heart with him.
Chapter 24
The next morning, Tara hurried through her morning ritual with an eye on the clock. A sleepless night at least afforded her time to settle on exactly what she wanted to make for dessert. Now that she had Grant’s help she could think clearly and make the necessary decisions. After a quick breakfast of a protein bar and cup of coffee, she pulled out the requisite cookbooks and made a list of the ingredients she’d need. As she stuffed the list into her purse, Roxie and Beth strode into the kitchen wearing matching khakis and dark green polos, ready for work.
“You’re up early.” Roxie snagged two mugs from the cupboard, handed one to Beth. “A right busy bee this morning.”
“I didn’t sleep well so thought I’d go to the store and get those boxes unpacked and the books in their proper places.” Tara pushed to her feet, turned to snatch her purse from the shelf. “I’m meeting Grant for lunch and then shopping for what I need to make dessert for tomorrow.”
“A second date?” Beth grinned as she poured coffee into her mug.
“Something like that.” Tara shoved in her chair and slid her purse strap onto her shoulder. “I’ll see you at the store.”
No way would she say much about the whole first date. About the freaky fall, the terror in the dark, and then the puzzling test in Raven Hollow. Nor about the way they’d discovered a mutual attraction they couldn’t deny no matter how hard she’d tried. She just wasn’t sure if she could follow her heart down the path it wanted to go. Fraught with obstacles and potentially hurt feelings. She loved Grant. No doubt. Enough to not want to leave him with a broken heart when she couldn’t move to the big city life he craved.
“Go ahead and open when you get there.” Roxie cradled her mug in both hands as she peered at Tara. “I’ll be right behind you. The holiday shopping season has arrived earlier than we’d predicted.”
“Will do.” Tara slipped on a light jacket over her forest polo and khakis, and fled the house.
She hurried down the quiet sidewalk along the tree-lined street she’d lived on all her life, glad of the mild temperature and light breeze. Past the huge oak standing on the corner where she’d fallen learning how to ride her bike. Past her childhood best friend’s house, where they’d played with dolls and jumped rope. Past the local drug store where she’d embarrassed herself buying her first female products. She smelled rain in the air and hoped for a pretty day for their big dinner the next day. She turned onto Main, and the amount of traffic picked up on both the street and the sidewalks. Slipping her keys out of her purse, she selected one as she approached the door to the shop.
“Tara, got a minute?”
Startled, she addressed the source of the deep voice behind her when she halted and glanced over her shoulder. “Hey, Max. How are you?”
“Fine. I was hoping to grab breakfast from the Golden Owl, but I see you’re not open yet.”
“If you’ve got a minute, it won’t take long to start the coffee.” Tara poked the key into the lock and swiftly opened the door.
Max consulted his watch. “That’ll work. I don’t have to be in my office for an hour.”
She pushed open the door and hurried inside. Flipping on the lights, she waited for Max to step over the threshold and then closed the door. “Are you looking forward to tomorrow?”
She hustled to the coffee bar section, turning on lights as she went. First over the local authors display, then to illuminate the jewelry and stationery on consignment from local artisans. Two more switches to shed soft reading light throughout the stacks and shelves of books in the entire store. Finally, she flicked the switch for the lights over the coffee bar and pastry display case. A quick perusal of the area assured her all was ready for her to set out the bagels and buns on clean plates and start the coffee. She worked while Max took a seat at a café table in the front window nearby.
“Absolutely. Meredith and Paulette are both happy to have been invited. So am I and Zak, of course.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles, leaning back in the chair while he observed her quick movements.
“Grant said he’d help me make dessert this afternoon.”
She glanced up from laying paper doilies onto the pedestal plates to look at the strikingly handsome older man. “I didn’t know he knew his way around the kitchen.”
“He’s a renaissance man in many regards.” Max chuckled and tapped a finger on the table. “Hey, since we’re talking about Grant, maybe you can answer an off-the-wall question.”
She stilled, holding the doily in front of her like a shield. She barely knew Grant. Not really. Her neck prickled with discomfort as she recalled snuggling with him. “I doubt that.”
“Since you’ve been dating him…”
“Once.”
Max inclined his head with a wry grin. “True, but I think you know him well enough to answer this question. Or I can just ask Zak?”
“Why don’t you ask Grant?” Tara finished placing the doily on the last plate, pulled out the container of buns delivered the night before from a lady who baked them special for the store and started arranging them on the lacy paper. “He’d be your best source.”
“I could, but since I’m here with you, let me ask you what you think.” Max drummed his fingers once on the table and then laid his hand flat on the surface. “I’ve been working with a new environmental group moving into town. Do you think Grant would have any interest in relocating to Roseville for a job as a consultant?”
Grant move to town? He’d never given any indication he’d considered such a drastic change in his life. His career. She set the filled plate in the display case and wiped her hands on a paper towel. Delaying answering the question. Then she met Max’s gaze.
“I don’t think so. He loves the city life and the hustle and bustle too much to be happy in this sleepy town.” Sad to say. Her heart couldn’t take the highs and lows of the relationship, such as it was. Barely started and already causing pain. She heard the coffee brewer gurgle the last of the brew into the pot. Grateful for the distraction, she spun to fill a to-go cup with the hot liquid. Snapping a lid on, she turned to address him. “Even if he were to consider such a move.”
“You may have a point. Oh well.” Max pulled his feet under him and stood to cross to the counter. “I’ll take one of those onion bagels, too.”
“Did you want me to ask him when I see him?” Tara finished putting the bagel and a pack of cream cheese into a bag and sealed the top. Setting it beside the cup, she rang up the purchase. “He’s stopping by later.”
“No, there’s no need. You’re probably right.” Max fished out the money to pay for his breakfast and handed it to Tara. “I’ll ask around, see if anybody else might be interested.”
She handed him the change. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
With a wave of his hand, Max turned and strode quickly out of the store, the bell jangling into silence. She let her gaze drift around the cozy store. She loved her job, her home, her life. Most of all her sisters. She loved Grant, too. It was a shame she couldn’t have both without sacrificing something or someone. What was she going to do?
Keep busy and focus on what she could control. She set to work, first putting out more of the pastries and cookies to go with the hot tea and coffee. As she wiped the counter, she envisioned the trajectory of a long-distance relationship with Grant. How they’d start out phoning frequently, texting perhaps. Then it would fall off to email exchanges every few days with a weekly call to chat and catch up. But time and distance would surely make their conversations fewer and less frequent. She couldn’t give him her whole heart to have it shredded again.
The door opened to admit Roxie and Beth, bustling in with a rush of cool air accompanied by several customers trailing behind them. Not simply customers, but friends and neighbors she’d known all her life. She’d shared holidays and community events with them and in return, they supported the Golden Owl, not merely as paying patrons, but as people helping each other to survive in a crazy economy and uncertain times. Roseville was more than a small town. Roseville was her extended family. Simply put, she couldn’t leave her family to strike out for parts unknown with a man she barely knew even though her heart begged her to consider making such a drastic change.
Beth took up her usual post at the coffee bar and began waiting on the line of people clamoring for buns and bagels to go with their morning brew. “I’ve got this, Tara.”
“I’ll be in the back.” Tara wiped her hands on a paper towel and pitched it into the trash. “Yell if you need me.”
Beth nodded but chatted with the next lady in line as Tara slipped out from behind the counter and ambled toward the work room. Late Monday afternoon, several large boxes of mysteries and romances had arrived from distributors. Big sellers during the holiday season. Her priority for the morning was to put them out on the shelves for sale. Tara saw Roxie across the store, winding through the round tables piled with books and other merchandise, finally stopping next to Tara.
Tara motioned toward the boxes visible through the open door to the work room. “I’ll put out the new books before Grant comes at noon. Then we’re going to be baking this afternoon.”
“Sounds like a plan. Beth and I have our plan laid out for tomorrow’s cooking fest.” Roxie straightened a stack of bookmarks on the counter. “If you’ll handle setting the table and such, and stay out of the kitchen, you’ll live well and prosper.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Tara grinned as she headed toward the stock room. Best to keep her mind on her work and her family.
She only had a few hours before Grant arrived. When he did, she’d relish every minute in his company that day and the next. Try to stay focused on the time they’d share, the memories they’d make. Then she’d have to find a way to tell him goodbye.
Chapter 25
If only time flowed as fast outside of the hollow as in it. Grant checked his watch again. Ten minutes had elapsed. Finally. He got out of his car and hurried to the Golden Owl. Pushing inside, the bell above the door announced his arrival. Tara smiled as she walked toward him, purse in hand. He returned the grin. She’d anticipated when he’d show up to take her to lunch.
“Hey, beautiful.” He clasped her hand, glad to make contact after all the hours they’d spent apart. “Where do you want to eat?”
“Hey, handsome.” She slipped the strap onto one shoulder as she considered his question. “We could grab something at the deli at Edna’s while we pick up the ingredients we need. Take it home and eat?”
“Or I could take you to the Hideaway?” Grant had only eaten there once, and then it was a quick grab and go lunch with Zak. Sharing the intimate old jail cell turned into a dining room with Tara sounded like a better way to enjoy the noon meal. Surrounded by history in the company of the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with.
“I’d rather carry a sandwich or something home so we can start baking.” Tara gripped the strap on her shoulder, fingers pale against the dark brown leather.
“So you’ve decided what we’re making?” She seemed tense, but he chalked her reaction up to the whole baking concept. She had more ability than she wanted to admit, and he couldn’t wait to help her discover that fact.
“Finally.”
“Good.” Grant pulled open the door, holding it for Tara to slip outside. “Let’s go.”
The bell jangled until the door thumped shut behind him. He caught up to Tara, helping her into his vehicle. Jogging around to the driver’s side, he yanked the door open and practically leaped inside. Sitting next to her again, breathing in her perfume, seeing her lovely eyes and long, temptress locks, was heaven on earth. He’d not slept, tossing and turning, longing to snuggle with her again. To touch her, feel her silky skin beneath his hands.
He turned in his seat to look at her more closely. “So, what do you want to make?”
She snapped her seatbelt into place and then ticked off the items on one hand. “Pecan pie. Lemon meringue pie. And the best of all, angel food Waldorf cake.”
“Impressive. I assume you’ve made the list of ingredients we need to buy?” He started the car, pr
epared to pull out to drive the few blocks to the grocery.
Tara tapped a forefinger to her purse. “All here.”
They did the shopping in record time, selecting lunch from the deli’s offerings. Back at the Golden house, he followed Tara up the sidewalk, carrying the several plastic bags of groceries hanging on both wrists. He dropped the sacks on the center island and rubbed the red marks on his skin.
Tara pulled out the bag of pecan halves and one of slivered almonds, dark brown sugar, confectioner’s sugar, fresh lemons and strawberries, and a host of other items. He lifted the pecans and looked at Tara.
“What do you want to start with?”
“Lunch.” She chuckled as she handed him a wrapped sandwich and bag of chips. “Tea?”
He nodded and carried his food to the table and sat. He glanced at Tara, sensing a restraint he’d not noticed previously. The sandwiches reminded him of their picnic, which in turn recalled how they’d ended up in Raven Hollow. Thinking about the sinkhole caused the horrible memories from his childhood to wash over him. Jeremy. He’d let him down, and although he’d attempted to assuage his guilt, he never had truly forgiven himself. He couldn’t. He’d been the one at fault, and his friend had paid the price. He watched Tara pour sweet tea into two glasses and then carry them over to place them on the table. How had he found such a remarkable girl? His search for answers yielded much more than he’d ever imagined. But would she balk at tying her fortune to his wagon when she learned of his culpability in Jeremy’s death?
She unwrapped her sandwich and then glanced up at him. Paused, her hands still on the wrapper. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Grant studied her, becoming aware she somehow could sense his feelings. Part of her gift. “Not really.”
“You look upset. Tell me what’s on your mind.” She reached out with one hand, offering it to him like a lifeline. “Please?”
