Page 38 of Forbidden Flame

Lori stopped at our table. “I heard that these amazing pies are yours.”

I smiled at her, nerves fluttering in my belly. “That’s right.”

“I’m pleased you agreed to provide them for Knox and Sarah’s wedding.”

I wondered if she was thinking of Emmett and Cole protesting the pies. “I’m happy to be part of their special day. I’m glad everyone seemed to enjoy them.”

Lori tipped her head to the side. “Is there any way we could convince you to sell them in our shop?”

I sucked in a breath. This was huge, but I couldn’t accept. “That’s flattering, and I’d love to say yes, but my brothers want me to sell exclusively on our farm. I’ve been trying to get in more catering and restaurants. But there’s no way they’d be okay with me selling in your store. I’m sorry.”

“The feud between our families isn’t your fault.” Lori gave Cole a pointed look. “Do you have a store on your farm?”

“We just have my pie shop. It’s a small shed that’s just big enough for me to cook and store the pies. There’s no room for anyone to sit and eat.”

“Well, wouldn’t that be something? If you had a few tables and chairs outside the building, or inside?”

“That sounds wonderful. I hadn’t even considered it.” Mainly because my brothers were worried about more people coming onto the property when I set up my pie shop. Right now, we only had to deal with pickups. Most of my orders were online or over the phone.

“I’ll keep you in mind for the future. Your pies are to die for.” Lori continued on, but I was still shocked by the conversation.

When she walked away, I said, “That was kind of amazing.”

“It’s more than amazing. I can’t believe it. Your pies speak for themselves.”

“Emmett didn’t want them here.” I was curious why Lori had gone over his head to request them in her shop. Surely, he wouldn’t approve.

“Emmett will come around. He’s a big old teddy bear underneath all the gruff.”

I raised a brow. “My brother, Teddy, isn’t soft underneath, and I doubt Emmett is either.”

“They are with the right people. The girls.” Cole nodded toward Addy and Ember who were dancing together, and then to Ireland who swayed in Emmett’s arms.

“If you were mine, they’d come around.”

“That’s a lot of what-if and speculation,” I said.

“And we promised not to do any more talking tonight.”

Marley placed her hands on the table. “If you two can tear yourselves away from each other, we’re wishing the newlyweds off.”

“I didn’t realize,” I said as I stood and followed her outside.

I hadn’t grabbed my jacket and realized immediately my error. It was still winter despite the warmth inside. A jacket fell over my shoulders that smelled like Cole. “You’re always rescuing me.”

“I’d like to call it taking care of you, and I’m happy to do it.”

Gia handed each of us a bubble container and we blew bubbles as Knox and Sarah walked down the make-shift aisle.

They got into Knox’s work truck that had been decorated at some point for the occasion. There were white Christmas lights lining the bed. When they waved and pulled away, I saw the Just Married sign on the back of the window, and the sound of the cans hitting the ground.

“Did your cousins do this?” I asked him.

“It looks like their work.” He looked slightly uncomfortable.

“Did you want to be included?” I asked him, wondering if I should have asked about it at all.

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “This is a brother thing. I get it.”

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