Page 14 of Baking Spirits Bright!

“Yeah, I don’t really know what I want,” I confess.

I’m shocked at how freeing it is for me to admit that aloud. I suspect it’s because Ryan is easy to talk to, and I will probably never see him again after this week.

I park in front of the orchard, and our eyes meet. He gives me a knowing look as if he understands. His eyes scan my face, and he focuses on my mouth. I swallow.

What I’d give to read his thoughts right now.

Someone knocks on my window, causing me to jump. I gasp and hold a hand to my chest.

My mom is outside the car, waving like a lunatic. I open the door, forcing her to move back.

She glances over my head and smiles widely. “Hey, you must be Ryan.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He circles the car and shakes her hand.

I shake my head. This is what I get for never introducing them to guys I date. They are deprived of meddling and act crazy around the first guy they see with me—even though he’s only here for apples.

“Erica said your family has a pumpkin patch.”

“They do. Near Nashville.”

“Oh, how fun.” Mama loops her arm through Ryan’s and leads him toward the main building. “I’m sure Erica will want to pick your brain. She’s always trying to get us to add new activities.”

Ryan glances back at me, and I mouth “sorry.” He waves it off and smiles at my mom. I shrink in a pool of embarrassment as I follow close enough to detour the conversation at the first sign of humiliating stories.

It only worsens when we go to the bakery and Aunt Margaret meets him. She hands out muffins, hot apple cider, and coffee.

Ryan has plenty of time to eat, as he can’t get a word in edgewise with the two women gabbing away. It’s a good thing my daddy usually gives the tours. Luckily, Ryan doesn’t seem to mind.

I stay a step behind them as they describe every detail of our process in the kitchen and warehouse. We end in the orchard, then circle back to my car.

As if they hadn’t embarrassed me enough, Mama and Aunt Margaret both give him a big hug. I lean against my car and wait until they’re totally out of sight before speaking.

“I apologize for all that.”

He laughs. “Why? They’re very hospitable.”

“That’s a nice way to spin it.”

He shakes his head. “Seriously, I enjoyed the tour. Apple Cart County is a nice place.”

I open my door, and he does the same. As we start down the drive, he cranes his neck and stares back at the orchard. Then he focuses on Nate’s house when we pass it.

“I bet it looks really festive out here at night.”

“It does.”

I smile. Christmas decorations are an instant mood boost for me. We drive past the countryside, then go into town.

“As you can tell from the downtown storefronts, we’re big on decorating.”

“I’d like to see that. I’m not getting much sleep anyway with the amount of lights at my RV.”

“Where is it?”

“Mayberry Road in Wisteria.”

My jaw drops as I face Ryan. “Are you staying at Woody Miller’s?”

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