Page 28 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

“She’s very creative,” Cara said. “If you’ll notice, the strawberry slices are arranged into a heart, then the blueberries make up a face.”

Roman took the plate and looked down at the small fruit tart. “So I see. Mia did this?”

Cara folded her arms, and Roman tried to ignore how the smirk on her face made his chest heat up even more.

“Yeah, I think I may have created a monster, though,” she said. “Sorry about that.”

But she didn’t look sorry.

And she smelled like cinnamon.

Before Roman could think better of it, he asked, “Do you use cinnamon soap or something?”

Cara’s brow crinkled, as if he’d just spoken some alien language.

“You, uh, smell like cinnamon,” he clarified. “Morning and night, and I was just wondering . . . Is that too personal of a question?”

Cara laughed. “No, not personal. At least I don’t think so. I forgot my regular body wash, so I grabbed something at the airport. I think it said apple-cinnamon, with a corny name: Seasoned with Love. It must be stronger than I thought.”

“Oh, well, I like it. If that counts for anything.”

Roman was suddenly aware that the conversations in the barn had either stopped or gone very, very quiet. And . . . Stacy was looking over at them. His neck prickled with heat. Both from this conversation with Cara, and also from knowing that Stacy was probably putting two and two together pretty quickly.

And what did it equal?

That Roman was interested in Cara. Very interested. But it had all happened unexpectedly, and of course, after he and Stacy were completely over. Although Stacy wouldn’t see it that way.

“Everyone seems a bit on edge,” Cara said in a quiet voice.

“Oh, yeah.” Roman reoriented his thoughts. “It’s not going so well. Nick’s been off. So that throws everything and everyone else off.”

Cara bit her lip, as if considering this. “Chefs have those days, too. When I’m working on a recipe I’ve done to perfection, but one of the ingredients doesn’t hold up, or the flavor doesn’t pop . . .”

Roman nodded along. “That’s it exactly. If we get off schedule, that’s going to thwart the holiday festivities at night.”

“Have you tried music?” Cara said suddenly, her eyes brightening.

“Music?”

“Yeah, to get the mood back in place,” she said with a wave of her hand. “The theme song of the series, or whatever music represents the storyline. You know—how music is dubbed into scenes.”

“We haven’t tried that.” The crew played music as they set up. “Thanks for the idea. I’ll talk to Dave.” He moved away, taking a bite of the fruit tart as he walked. The sweetness burst in his mouth.

Turning, he held up the tart as Cara watched him. “Excellent.”

She smiled, and Roman couldn’t stop his return smile, even if Stacy was on the other side of the space, watching.

“Hey, Dave,” he said as he approached. “Cara had an idea. Might as well try it.”

After chatting, Dave had one of the crew members put on music. The melody filled the barn, and Roman watched as the mood did seem to lift.

Cara was now talking to Thayne, Lila, and the wardrobe lady, Louise. They were laughing over something, and Roman was only too happy to see it. But then his gaze connected with Stacy’s. She was off her phone, and stood over by Nick and Nathan, her arms folded as she listened to their conversation.

Well, the music was helping everyone but her. Her eyes were hooded, but it wasn’t too hard to guess what she was thinking—about him.

How had he even dated her in the first place—if it could even be called dating?

She was so different from Cara.

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