Page 12 of Baking Spirits Bright!

“You don’t have to stay because of me.”

“No, it’s fine. I was going to eat at home while I worked on the computer. My cousin was in here eating, so I sat with her while I waited on my order.”

“The girl in scrubs?”

“Yes.”

“Does she work at the orchard too?”

“No, she’s a radiology tech.” Erica sips her drink. “I do all the orchard marketing.”

“I can tell.”

She slants her eyes.

My pulse ticks. “I didn’t mean that to sound weird. I meant you create a compelling story with words and photos.”

“Thanks.” She opens her box, and I lean forward to see what I’m getting soon.

“Chicken and dumplings?”

“Yep. The best.”

There’s also macaroni, green beans, and a homemade roll.

“If you want a third vegetable, I can have her add it. This always fills me up.”

“No, that looks delicious.”

Mary returns with my plate and two rolled silverware pieces. We thank her, and she nods, then hurries away.

“Is it always this busy?”

“Pretty much.”

She takes a bite and studies me. After she swallows, she says, “You never told me what you do.”

“My family runs a pumpkin patch.”

“I love those, especially when I was younger.”

I relax against my seat, satisfied that I sidestepped answering her question directly without having to bald-face lie.

I’m able to deflect most of the conversation to her family and their orchard. She lights up as she talks about her ideas for expanding their reach and why she’s entering them into the bake-off.

Slight guilt runs through me as she continues, but not enough to give away my true identity. In no time, half an hour has passed, and our plates are clean.

“I actually have some work I need to finish today, and my parents are busy pruning the trees. If tomorrow morning works for you, I’d be happy to give you a tour of the orchard.”

“That would be great.”

I came here expecting to learn more about the orchard. What I didn’t expect was to find a girl I enjoyed being with so much, especially one who works there.

Maybe there is such a thing as fate.

CHAPTER 4

Erica

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