Page 63 of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
Quiet and sure and steady, just like Logan. He linked his fingers with hers and Jeanie’s heart fluttered. Maybe he was serious about this thing between them, after all. Maybe New Jeanie was about to get the sexy farmer, even if he had seen her as a hot mess again this morning. Her heart kicked up its flutter into high gear.
‘Well, I’ll see you at the costume contest later,’ Isabel said, excitement glinting in her eyes. She patted little Yoda on the head. ‘Come on, Yoda, let’s go find Mando.’
Jeanie waved goodbye and Logan slowly pulled his hand away, needing it to help the next customer, but not before he glanced down at her with another secret smile teasing the corner of his mouth.
‘How long before everyone knows?’ Jeanie asked quietly, smiling at the customers as she spoke.
She could sense his shrug without even looking at him. ‘Not long.’
‘And you’re fine with that?’ She handed Greg and Shawn their hot ciders. ‘Have fun, guys!’
Greg raised his cup in a Fall Festival cheers gesture and the two walked away, leaving Jeanie and Logan alone for the moment.
‘I’m fine with it. Are you?’
Jeanie swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the weight of what they were doing. Suddenly remembering that the eyes of the town on them meant that everyone would be looking at her, too. What if things didn’t work out? What if she actually had no idea how to have a serious relationship? She never had before. Panic flashed hot in her gut.
Why was all of this occurring to her now, when this sweet, sweet man was trying so hard to make her happy? Had his kisses scrambled her brain that much?!
Damn it, Jeanie! Get it together.
She pushed a smile onto her face.
‘Yep. Totally fine with it.’
Logan studied her a minute longer, his blue eyes searching hers until she had to glance away, afraid of what he’d find there.
‘Okay.’
‘Okay, great!’ she said, putting as much sunny cheerfulness into it as she could. ‘Joe should be here soon, and then we can go do our judging duties.’
‘Uh-huh.’ He glanced at her again, hesitant, a small frown creasing his brow.
She forced her smile bigger.
She’d wanted this, hadn’t she? She’d wanted Logan to choose her for real. But somehow, she’d conveniently forgotten that she had to get her shit together, too. She shook her head like she could rid herself of these damn doubts.
It was fine. Everything was fine. Maybe Isabel wouldn’t tell everyone about the world’s tiniest display of affection. Maybe everyone would be so swept up in the fall festivities that no one would care about her and Logan.
Maybe she was deluding herself.
* * *
Jeanie made a quick stop at Annie’s tent before she had to take up her judging post with Logan. She just needed a minute of space. And another donut.
‘Hey, George. Hey, Hazel.’ Annie’s baking partner stood behind the folding table turned makeshift counter. He greeted Jeanie with a friendly wave, while Hazel helped Annie unload more donuts from the fresh trays. How they’d managed to get warm donuts from the bakery to the tent was a mystery that Jeanie didn’t have time to solve.
‘Another donut?’ Annie asked with a grin.
‘Just one more.’
Hazel studied Jeanie with shrewd eyes as Annie handed her another sugar-covered delight. ‘What’s the matter?’ Hazel asked, zeroing in immediately on Jeanie’s turmoil. Did those glasses give her some kind of superpower?
Jeanie glanced around. Most people had moved toward the costume-contest stage, so the bakery tent was empty. ‘Well, it’s Logan.’
Annie crossed her arms over her chest, the teasing smile dropping from her face. George muttered something about suddenly having an interest in buying some sage to clear the bad energy out of his apartment and scurried out of the tent.
‘Of course, it’s Logan,’ Hazel said, leaning her elbows on the table. ‘What happened?’
