Page 38 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

“I made you a pie.” She holds it out, then pulls it back, maybe realizing I’m not wearing oven mitts and steam is spiraling from the middle of the pie. “Where should I put it?”

I point to a table. “Apple? Why?”

She winces. “You don’t like apple?”

“No.” I wave my hands to erase every dumb thing that has come out of my mouth. “I mean yes. I love apple. But why did you make it?”

“To thank you.” She sets down the pie and pulls off the oven mitts. “The food you left was delicious, and I would have starved without it. But also, thank you for taking me on an antler hunt.”

A smile tugs at my lip. I almost let it out. Evie liked my food.

“It smells fantastic.” Maybe a little too cinnamon-y, but that’s okay. It’s pie. I’ll eat it.

“Do we get some too?” Bear and Sebastian circle us and both take in deep breaths at the same time.

“No,” I say at the same time Evie says, “of course.”

Bear and Sebastian shoot me smug grins. “I’ll get some plates,” my brother says, walking toward the kitchen.

“I’ll get the knife.” Sebastian follows close behind.

“You didn’t have to do this.” I look at the pie. I look everywhere but in her eyes. If I do, she’ll see how hard my heart is pounding.

“And you didn’t have to take me on a search for antlers when I could buy them on the internet. Or make me granola and crackers with goat cheese and give me chocolate.” Her voice draws me closer, and I get caught in her gaze. “I probably owe you a lot more than a pie.”

I shake my head. “Not after I snapped at you. I’d understand if you never spoke to me again.”

“Don’t think I didn’t consider it.” Her mouth breaks into a smile. I try to keep my eyes on her lips, which are only slightly less tempting than her eyes. But I look up.

And I get caught. I can’t move. Every cheesy line I’ve ever doubted from every romance novel I’ve ever read floods my brain. Instant attraction is real. I’m a believer.

Sebastian and Bear come back with everything we need to eat the pie, including vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Bear nudges me out of the way and slices into Evie’s beautiful pie.

“Smells good.” I can’t remember if I’ve already said that. And I’m not just talking about the pie. Evie has that same crisp, sweet scent that she had the first time we met. It dances with the aroma of cooked apples, creating a feeling I can only describe as ...

home.

“Am I the only one who’s going to point out the obvious here?” Sebastian asks, bringing me back to my senses. I blink hard. The spell I’m caught in is broken.

“What?” Evie looks around, confused.

“No one knows what you’re talking about, bro.” Bear slides a piece of pie onto a plate and hands it to Evie. Evie hands it to me.

“You first.” I shake my head and try to push it away. She resists and pushes it back.

“I brought it for you. You first.” She grabs my wrist, flips it over, and sets the plate in my hand.

“Yeah, Adam.” Sebastian smirks. “You know you can’t resist. Take theapplepie Evie brought you.”

Everyone stops and looks at Sebastian. Then we all groan together. Except for Sebastian, who’s laughing like an idiot.

“Really? No one else noticed Evie bringing Adam an apple in The Garden of Eatin’? I’m the only one who thinks it’s ironically funny?” Sebastian takes the next slice of pie before Bear can hand it to me.

Evie’s cheeks go pink. “I didn’t mean…”

“It’s not that funny, Seb,” I growl before shoving a bite into my pie hole to keep from laughing.

“I mean, it’s a little funny.” Evie’s lips twitch. “Except the part where you’re implying I’m a temptress. Or that Eve is.” Bear hands her a piece, and she stabs the pie with her fork. “I’ve always hated that Eve is blamed for getting Adam kicked out Paradise. How great could the Garden of Eden be if it had snakes? Eve was no dummy. She did Adam a favor giving him that apple, or whatever fruit it was.”

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