She tried to contain a laugh but failed. “I know. That’s why we opened two other stores. One in Billings and one in Bozeman. We’re thinking of expanding further, perhaps getting some of the prepared foods into the larger grocery chains, that kind of thing. But right now, plans are stalled until Adria delivers her two little bundles of joy, and we can figure out the best location to move into next. Plus, though we’re doing great business at each location, we don’t want to leverage ourselves too much in case business slows down.”
“I don’t see that happening. In fact, I might have some ideas for you.”
She held his earnest gaze. “What is it that you do exactly?”
“I buy businesses, grow them, expand them, and sell them. At least I did before I moved back to rehab the ranch.”
“We aren’t for sale. Adria and I have worked too hard, too many long hours to let someone come in and take over just to make a gob of money and sell it all off for more.” Didn’t he think she and Adria could build the business on their own? They were doing a pretty damn good job of it so far. Of course they’d done the whole “What if someone buys us out and we’re rich?” thing. But they loved working in the shop, seeing their satisfied customers, and delivering a product they were proud to make.
Jon shook his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t.”
“I told myself when I moved back here that I’d take some time off, be happy with the businesses I still own, and settle into ranch life again so I can spend more time with Emmy.” He looked around the store again. “I just see what an amazing thing this is that you’ve built and my mind automatically spins all the possibilities of what I could do with it.” He sighed. “What I really need to focus on is renovating the house, rehabbing the ranch, getting my father set up at his new place, and getting Emmy ready for her new school.”
She held up the brownie containers. “This should help. I cut hers into small squares. Your father’s in big chunks.”
He stared at the butterfly she’d made out of Emmy’s name. “She’s going to love this. Butterflies are her favorite.”
“If you’re doing her room, you could buy some wood letters at the craft store and do something just like this on the wall or her door. Put the letters up in a curve and use some paint or even string lights to make the wings. A couple of fat colorful pipe cleaners curled at the top for antennae. It would be really cute.”
“Now I need to stop at the craft store. She’d love that. And we could do it together.”
“She could paint each letter herself. Glitter them up. Put stickers on them. Whatever. You should take her with you to the craft store, let her decide.”
“I’m going to owe you more flowers if you keep helping me out like this.”
“Oh, well, it’s nothing.” A blush heated her cheeks.
“Emmy’s been nervous about the move. She’s in a new place and doesn’t know anyone. I think getting her out, letting her see some of the town, doing a project like this together, will help her feel more at home.”
“I’m happy I could help then.” She touched his arm. “Take a picture of it for me. I’d love to see how it turns out.”
“Maybe you’ll come see it yourself.”
She took Adria’s advice and dove in the deep end of the dating pool. “Would you like to have dinner with me this coming Thursday?”
He smiled. “You beat me to it. I was going to ask you out for this Friday.”
“Friday is harder to be out late, because I work the early shift on Saturday. I’m up baking and cooking at three.”
“Damn.” He cocked his head. “Wait. You said you made the brownies. Were you seriously up at three this morning after being at the hospital and driving me home late last night?”
She simply smiled. “I told you I wanted to drive you home. And I appreciate you coming to tell me first thing this morning that your dad is better.”
“First thing? You’ve almost put in a full day already.”
“I’ll work through the lunch crowd, then catch a nap upstairs. I’m covering closing because Adria has a doctor appointment later today.”
“Well, I better let you get to it. What time should I pick you up on Thursday?”
“Anytime is good. It’s my day off.”
“How about five? We’ll have drinks, an early dinner, maybe go see a movie after that.”
She was used to guys wanting to meet for drinks and not much else on a first date. Jon wanted an entire evening. “Sounds good.”
“I haven’t been in town in a long time. How about you pick the place?”
“Do you like rustic Italian?”
“After eating your quiche, if you like it, I know I’ll like it.”
“Then we’ll go to Camilla’s Kitchen. They have a great wine and cocktail hour from five to six.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then, if not before.” He hesitated for a moment before he smiled at her, then walked away.
She watched him go and got that giddy feeling again when he looked back at her and smiled before stepping out the door.
Adria stepped up beside her. “He’s really dreamy.”
She hadn’t smiled this much in a long time. “Drinks. Dinner. A movie. Thursday.”
Adria bumped shoulders with her. “I have a feeling you two are going to have something really special.”
Trinity hoped she could keep her shit together and not lose it on the first real date she’d had in months, because she felt the spark of possibility and she didn’t want her crazy to snuff it out before it really got a chance to burn.
Chapter Five
Jon drove from Almost Homemade through town to meet Steph and Emmy at their new place. Though it was a bit more built up from when he was a kid, it was still a small town. He hoped Steph and Emmy would be happy with the slower pace.
Jon pulled into the apartment complex, where three two-story apartment buildings surrounded a grass area. He spotted Steph and Emmy running around the big lawn playing tag. He pulled into the empty spot next to Steph’s rental. The back end of the Jeep Cherokee stood open, letting the cats in the two pet crates get some fresh air. He hoped the three cats made it through the flight okay.
Steph barely paid attention to them.
He really couldn’t figure out if Steph loved anyone—or anything—more than she loved herself, though right now she seemed to be enjoying her time with their daughter.
He sometimes wondered if Emmy felt it. When she was younger, probably not, but she was a smart girl, even at four.
The youngest of four girls, Steph had been the spoiled baby of the family. She got whatever she wanted. Beyond beautiful, men drooled at her feet and wanted to do anything to please her. For a while. Because the shine wore off all too soon when the real Steph revealed herself.
It happened to him. He tired of the demanding princess routine right about the time Steph announced she was pregnant, they should get married, and she should stop working and stay home with their little one.
He partly blamed the sexy, willing woman and tequila for the unexpected pregnancy.