Page 2 of Christmas Treasures

Charlie glanced around the room. “Good. People have been really supportive, even though I’m new to town.”

“That’s nice to hear,” Logan said. “This place isn’t always warm to outsiders.”

“I think the pizza helps,” Charlie said, smiling.

“We’re grateful you use Hayes maple syrup,” Luke added.

“I would never do otherwise,” Charlie said, turning toward the kitchen.

As soon as she disappeared, Logan leaned in. “I heard a new rumor about her.”

“Oh yeah?” Max asked, sipping his water.

“You guys ever heard of ForkCast?” Logan asked.

Nolan’s brows lifted. “The logistics software? For restaurants?”

“Sold to Omnivio for a hundred million,” Logan said. “And she was the founder.”

Max blinked. “That was her company?”

Logan nodded. “Her name’s on the original filings. I did a little research. Apparently, she’s some kind of genius. She graduated high school at fourteen and was at Stanford by fifteen. From what I read, she developed the code for ForkCast for her senior thesis.”

Luke let out a low whistle. “Millionaire tech genius running a pizza place in rural Vermont. There’s more to that story.”

“Why would she do that?” Max asked, feeling strangely uneasy.

“Maybe she wanted to drop out of the rat race,” Nolan offered. “Maybe she got burned.”

“Maybe she just loves pizza,” Luke said.

“Whatever the reason, I’m glad she’s here,” Nolan said. “Best pizza in Vermont.”

“I was just thinking that,” Max said.

“Why the sad face?” Luke asked Max.

“Huh? Oh, nothing really,” Max said. Telling his brothers he had a crush on the millionaire pizza maker would inevitably provoke ridicule.

“Out with it,” Logan said. Sometimes Max wondered if Logan realized he didn’t have to sound like a lawyer at all times. Then again, he’d sounded that way before he went to law school.

“If you guys give me a hard time about this, I swear I’ll never share anything again,” Max said.

“Why would we give you a hard time?” Logan asked, a glint in his eyes.

“I was thinking about asking her out, but now that I know she’s a genius, there’s no way. Can you imagine what she’d think when I had trouble reading a menu? Some stupid Vermont hick and a woman like that? I don’t think so.”

“You’re not stupid,” Luke said. “Dyslexia does not mean you’re stupid.”

“Nor does ADHD,” Logan said, sounding protective.

Max shrugged and smiled, as if it didn’t bother him. But that wasn’t true. His learning disabilities had always bothered him, especially because his brothers were all so smart and accomplished.

But he was who he was. Nothing to be done to change that.

However, he certainly didn’t have to ask her out knowing rejection was certain. He’d have to be a fool to do so. And his mama hadn’t raised any fools.

After lunch,Max hurried back to his store, feeling slightly guilty for how much he’d enjoyed that extra slice. Hearth and Holly Country Store sat snugly down a winding country road, a vintage Vermont staple with wide-planked floors, shelves lined with local jams and honey, baskets overflowing with apples from a nearby orchard, and a deli case filled with Vermont cheeses and cured meats. Rustic meets foodie heaven.

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