Page 7 of Banter & Blushes

Striding over, I extend my hand. “Luna, it’s nice to see you again.”

Her smile beams into my heart like a ray of sunshine. “Nice to see you again too.” Our hands meet and that zap of attraction zips between us again, but Luna’s expression doesn’t change. “This is my friend and premier baker, Zoe Wells,” she says, turning towards the other woman.

My handshake with Zoe contains no zap of attraction, confirming that what I felt with Luna was not just some static electricity phenomenon. “I believe I had one of your surprisingly delicious fudgy black bean brownies,” I blurt, and the baker laughs.Way to go with the backhanded compliment.

“You’ve already met Luna?” Hugo asks. “When did this illustrious meeting happen?” The glint in his eye suggests he should be the one practicing matchmaking.

The bachelor in me wants to downplay our interactions to dissuade him. “When I arrived in town. Her shop called to me,” I reply, tossing Luna a grin. I omit mentioning our clandestine beach encounter on the weekend because I want to keep that memory to myself. The sand dollar she gave me sits proudly on my nightstand.

Hugo laughs. “Who could resist Plot Twists and Perfect Matches?”

“Exactly. Although I failed to select a bestseller during my visit,” I add teasingly.

Luna grins. “If I remember correctly, you were too busy worrying about the lack of sugar in my selection of treats.”

“She serves the best tea in town,” Hugo enthuses. “And the lavender essential oils have put an end to my migraines. Just a little dab on my forehead and I’m good to go.” Luna turns a shade of crimson under Hugo’s effusive praise. Turning towards the baker, he adds, “Zoe’s treats are going to be gobbled up by all our potential buyers. Cade, I assure you that the baked goods we’re serving this morning have plenty of sugar.”

A tinge of embarrassment crosses my face.Will everyone in this small town find out I’ve got a raging sweet tooth?

Zoe laughs and hands me a steaming cup. “According to Luna, you also prefer coffee? Of course, there’s tea if you want it.”

Her teasing tone brings another blush to Luna’s pretty face.

So they’ve talked about me?I feel my chest puff up at the thought.“Coffee will hit the spot.” I accept the cup and take a sip. “Do you need any help?”

Unfortunately, my comment breaks up our little coffee klatch, as both women scramble into action. “You gentlemen talk shop while we work. We’ve got twenty minutes to get everything set up,” Zoe says in a crisp tone. “I’ll take the trays into the sunroom. Luna, do you mind filling those last two?”

“Happy to,” Luna says as her friend trots off with one of the serving platters.

I watch the beautiful shopkeeper fill the trays as I down the rest of my coffee.She still gives off an aura of being a free spirit—a gypsy in a server’s uniform—and I’m still inexplicably drawn to her. I tell myself I’m staring at her just because I’m trying to find a way to ask about her matchmaking services.

“Cade, let’s confer about strategy in my office,” Hugo says, his gravelly voice breaking up my daydreaming. He moves towards a hallway leading to another wing of the house.

I tear my eyes away from the busy teashop owner and follow my client. This isn’t the right time or place to mention that I’m interested in employing Luna’s matchmaking services. I’ll broach that with her in a couple days.

Once again the thought occurs to me that with all the attraction flowing between Luna and me, maybe I don’t need her matchmaking help. Maybe I just need to date her.

Terrible idea!I owe it to myself and Jerry to try Luna’s service. I simply don’t see myself having a future with a woman from a small town.

CHAPTER 4

LUNA

“He’s even better looking than you described,” Zoe teases as we stand in the kitchen replenishing some of the trays. Zoe’s baked goods have been a big hit and we’re almost out of reserves. “So what are you going to do to get to know Cade Bainbridge better?”

“Shh, he might hear you,” I whisper. Craning my neck, I scan the sunroom for the tall handsome real estate agent. Thankfully he’s on the other side of the room chatting up a stout man who apparently can’t talk without using his hands. The man flails his hand wildly while Cade nods politely. After a few minutes of bending Cade’s ear, the man snags the last croissant on a tray, waves it at Cade’s face, and takes a huge bite.

“Well?” Zoe asks after I try in vain to ignore her question.

“He’s here for such a short time. There’s really no point in trying to get to know him better.”

My friend grunts. “You’re giving up without even trying. That’s not the Luna I know.” Grabbing the tray we just loaded, Zoe adjusts it on her shoulder and heads back into the sunroom.

She’s right. I usually give something my all before considering anything a lost cause. Case in point is my business. I continue to doggedly add new offerings to my fledgling shop—soy candles my latest venture—in hopes of hitting on something that clicks with buyers. I haven’t exactly found the right combination of eccentric offerings so far, but the tourist season is just getting started,so maybe my essential oils will start to fly off the shelves. Having a few more success stories for the matchmaking side of my business would also be beneficial.

Focusing back on the task at hand, I add the last of the chocolate éclairs and cream puffs to the tray, balance it on my shoulder, and follow Zoe into the serving area.

“Are those éclairs?” the short man who was talking to Cade exclaims as I enter the room. He barrels towards me, and his rather considerable girth collides with my arm just as I’m removing the tray from my shoulder.

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