Page 13 of Follow My Heart

“How could we go anywhere else when we know the shop owner of this place?” Ryder’s eyes practically danced with mischief.

My heart fluttered.

“I didn’t have a chance to look around the last time I was here.” Ryder moved over to the freezers on the back wall that held local wares for sale: milk, lemonade, iced tea, cakes, Daphne’s pies, farm-fresh eggs, beef, and frozen pizzas. “You’ve got quite the variety here. You even use the old-fashioned glass bottles for milk.”

“Customers pay a deposit for the bottles and can exchange them for a new one each time they come or return it for a refund. I prefer serving milk in glass, and the customers like the novelty.”

“It’s a unique option.”

Was he impressed, or did he think it was frivolous? “When I decided to open the shop, I wanted to serve more than ice cream. I wanted a strong connection to the community, and I thought what better way than to offer options from local farmers and bakers.”

Ryder nodded as he perused the freshly baked bread, muffins, the Ocean-City-style popcorn, and local spices and oils. “You thought of everything.”

I moved around the counter so that I stood next to him. “They make great gifts for the tourists if you want to buy something from the area that you can continue to use and doesn’t just sit on the shelf. I use this spice for chicken, and this one for fish.” I picked up the respective bottles to show him. “Do you like to cook?”

“I don’t. But I’m trying to learn. We’re going to figure it out together.” Ryder gestured at Faith.

It was sweet that he was going to learn how to cook with his daughter. I told my heart to chill out though. This particular single dad wasn’t ready to date. “Oh, that’s so nice. I’ve been taking a cooking class at the local library. They just put in a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen.”

Ryder raised a brow. “At the library?”

“And it’s free. You should take a look at the classes.”

Ryder turned slightly to face me. “Which one do you go to?”

“I do Mondays at six. The store is closed that day.” Would Ryder come to the class with Faith?

“Faith is with her mother then. Maybe there’s a class on the weekend that could work.”

I nodded even as my heart sunk at the news. “I bet there is.”

“I have off of school next Monday. Maybe we could go to that one?” Faith asked hopefully.

“I’d have to take you home afterward.”

Ryder seemed to be working it out in his head, if it was physically possible and maybe even whether Faith’s mother would approve. I couldn’t imagine raising a child with a parent who lived out of state. It must have been difficult.

“Can we?” Faith asked, and I wondered if Ryder was able to say no to a pleading twelve-year-old, especially when it came to something like a cooking class.

“I’ll make it work,” Ryder said, and my heart melted even more.

I couldn’t wait to see Ryder with his daughter at the cooking class. It was going to be difficult for me to pay attention to the instructor. Whatever we made that day was sure to be burned.

“Can I try a few flavors?” Faith asked.

“Of course.” I hustled behind the counter to grab the sample spoon. “What looks good?”

Faith tapped her lips with her finger. “You have so many different options to choose from.”

I was acutely aware that Ryder had come to stand next to his daughter, but his gaze was on me. “I offer the traditional vanilla and chocolate, but I wanted to stand out a little.”

“Fruit Loops?” Faith asked as she read the sign, and I swiped the small spoon in the colorful mixture.

I grinned. “It was my favorite cereal growing up, even though it’s not the healthiest.”

“It would tear up the roof of my mouth,” Ryder said.

I met his gaze over the top of the case. “Yes. But I still ate it.”

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