Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

“Dad, you’re so weird.” He turned and started back into the kitchen. “I’ll go in here so you can kiss your girlfriend.”

Girlfriend? My heart fluttered and I tried to keep myself from smiling too big.

But something tickled the back of my brain, a voice whispering doubts. Garrett Haven was too good to be true. And my bad luck was going to ruin it somehow.

CHAPTER 18

Harper

Running errands in Tilikum was so easy. Everything was close and there was never any traffic.

Which was great, because I was dragging. I’d even slept in late, but for some reason, I was still tired.

The clouds had blown through and hints of summer were in the air. Flowers bloomed in wine barrel planters around downtown and the temperature was climbing. I remembered from my visits with Aunt Doris that summers were hot in the mountains. I made a mental note to have the air conditioning unit at the bakery serviced. With my luck, it would go out on a hundred-degree day at the height of wedding season and all my cakes would melt.

Not good.

I’d already stopped by the hardware store for a few odds and ends and put gas in my car. I still needed to hit the grocery store, but two tasks out of three sounded like a latte was in order.

Treat yourself, am I right?

I parked outside the Steaming Mug, Tilikum’s adorable coffee shop. It was right up the street from the bakery, so I’d been in quite a few times when I needed an afternoon pick me up.

Of course, just about everything was right up—or down—the street from the bakery. I freaking loved this town.

The Steaming Mug had a charming ambiance, with an exposed brick wall behind the teal counter and a large chalkboard menu. There wasn’t a line, but before I could place my order, a familiar voice called out to me.

“Harper, dear!” Dressed in a peach tracksuit with yellow and white stripes at the shoulders, Louise Haven waved me over to her table.

“Hi, Louise.”

She was seated with a few silver-haired women. One moved over and offered me her chair next to Louise.

“Sit, sit.” Louise patted the chair. “Tell me how you’ve been. Although I think I have a pretty good idea.” She winked.

I lowered myself into the chair, not sure what the wink was about. “I’m doing well. How about you?”

“Fine, dear, fine. But what’s new?” Her eyebrows lifted and she smiled expectantly, leaning forward as if I were about to drop a juicy tidbit of gossip.

I’m recklessly sleeping with your nephew.

Thankfully, that didn’t fly out of my mouth.

“Let’s see. Everything at the bakery is good. We’ve been so busy I need to hire another baker. At least someone part-time.”

She nodded along, her eyebrows still lifted.

Apparently she wanted more. “Doris is doing well, but you probably know that already.”

“I do. I had tea with her just the other day.”

“That’s great.”

She leaned a little closer. “And?”

“And… I’ve been out with your nephew Garrett a few times.”

“I knew it!” She turned to her friends. “Didn’t I tell you? I was right about them all along.”