CHAPTER 14
Colt
I bend over the counter, watching as Floyd meticulously fills in an order form for me. All the grapevines have been planted, and we’re in the process of finishing the drip irrigation installation. As always seems to happen with any type of project like this, we end up busting a few bolts or stripping a few screws. I had to run into town to purchase those while the crew continued to work. I also needed to put in a volume order of timbers, wire, and such to build a few more trellises. I’m going to plant another acre of grapes because I had a little bit of funds left over from the expansion grant.
The front of Floyd’s Hardware Emporium is a large pane of glass that looks out over the Courthouse Square. Floyd’s back is to the window, but movement across the way catches my attention.
My pulse picks up when I spy Darby and Linnie walking into Sweet Cakes.
“Why do you have that goofy smile on your face?” Floyd asks, and I bring my eyes back to him to find him staring at me thoughtfully. My eyes cut back over his shoulder as I watch Darby disappear into the bakery. Floyd looks over his shoulder and then back to me with raised eyebrows.
“Hurry up and finish that order, buddy,” I instruct him. I pull out my wallet and fish out the Mainer Farms credit card. “I’ve got things to do.”
“You’ve got a girl to run after,” Floyd says confidently.
My goofy smile gets goofier.
I’m not surprised by the smile on my face. It’s been there since I woke up this morning. I’ve been on a lot of first dates over my lifetime. Sometimes they can be stressful, sometimes they can be fun. If it’s a good date, it will leave me with a smile on my face the next day.
Last night, dinner with Darby was beyond just a “good” date. It was amazing and has produced a big, goofy smile today.
I’m not a confirmed bachelor or anything. I look at my parents’ marriage, and I want that. I see how much happier my sister Trixie is with Ry, Lowe is with Mely, and Laken is with Jake. Like dominoes, all the Mancinkus kids seem to be falling in love. I honestly don’t know if that’s what is going to happen between Darby and me, but I can tell she is different from any other woman I have dated.
We stayed at Clementine’s last night for almost three hours, and they actually had to run us out of the restaurant. We sat there after the wine was finished, and I drink some sweet tea while she sipped a sparkling water. We talked, and talked, and talked. We moved on from the heavy subject matter of her marriage and hopped around topics such as political leanings and religious beliefs.
Sometimes we talked about silly stuff like most embarrassing moments or favorite movies. We spent a lot of time talking about Jake, and this was good since I suspect he’s going to be proposing to my sister before too long. Darby knows him extremely well, and I was able to snoop around as a brother should in protection of his sister. It turns out, as I suspected, that Jake is a good guy and I was relieved.
I took Darby back to Farrington Farms after we left the restaurant. It was going on close to eleven o’clock by the time we pulled in. Because I am southern and my mama taught me the right way, I walked Darby up the porch to the front door. Jake’s car and Laken’s truck were in the driveway, and the lights were on in the living room. I could see the glow coming through the frosted glass panes of the door. They were on Linnie-sitting duty tonight.
Darby turned to face me and for the first time that night, there was a tiny bit of an awkward moment.
To go in for the kiss or not?
I absolutely wanted to kiss Darby. I could tell by the look on her face she would’ve let me. Instead, I let my instinct guide me and I took her hand in mine. Pulling it up to my mouth, I pressed my lips against her knuckles briefly and then gave her a smile as I released her. “Good night, Darby. I had a wonderful time.”
She blinked at me for a moment, somewhat surprised I didn’t kiss her on the mouth. I could also tell she was amused and that she liked the fact I only kissed her hand.
Yeah… it’s going to be a slow burn if we are going to burn at all. And I think we will. That’s fine by me, taking it slow. Before Darby walked into my life, I was not particularly looking for a relationship. I wasn’t avoiding one, but my main priority was Mainer Farms. It’s still my priority, but the fact Darby and I have so much in common when it comes to our careers and livelihood makes me realize there could be room for more.
I wonder if Darby is the “more” I need.
Floyd finishes the order form and I scrawl my name on it. It seems to take forever for him to run my credit card, as he requires a fifty percent deposit on such orders. After he hands it back to me, I shove it in my wallet and hightail it out of the hardware store. I trot across the street, Courthouse Square, and the next street, coming to a stop at the door to Sweet Cakes.
Taking a deep breath in, I let it out and open the door. Darby and Linnie are standing at the bakery case and both turn to look at me. I take a moment to notice Darby’s eyes widen and then twinkle with happiness to see me.
That feels really, really good.
But my attention is taken away by Linnie exclaiming, “Colt.”
I’m almost bowled over backward when she flies at me and throws her arms around my waist. I didn’t take Linnie for an outwardly affectionate kid, but I am not displeased when she hugs the hell out of me.
My gaze slides over to Darby, and I find her frowning as she watches Linnie. Not in an unhappy way but more in a contemplative one that shows me she’s as surprised by Linnie’s behavior as I am. But then that look melts away and she gives me a welcoming smile.
Linnie releases me, and I look back to Darby. “Saw you two walk in here. Thought I would come by and say hello.”
At that moment, Larkin comes in from the back and smiles at all of us. “Well, look at this crowd hanging out in my store this morning.”
“We want to get a birthday cake ordered for Carlos. His thirty-seventh birthday is on Wednesday.”
“And some chocolate chip cookies,” Linnie adds. Darby laughs as she puts her arms around her daughter to give her a squeeze.
She looks to Larkin and nods, “And half a dozen chocolate chip cookies.”
I step up to the counter and pull my wallet out, fishing out a twenty and handing it to Larkin. “The cookies are on me.”
“Thank you kindly,” Darby says as she bats her eyes and lowers her chin coyly.
I laugh in response and watch as Linnie rolls her eyes. Larkin fishes out the chocolate chip cookies, handing one across the counter to Linnie and putting the rest in a pink bag. She takes my money and gives me back my change.
The tinkling bells over the door erupt, and we all turn to see Della Padgett walking in. She owns a bookstore beside Floyd’s hardware store. It’s called The Reader’s Nook, and I like to go there on occasion to buy the latest thriller that might be out.
The first thing I notice about Della when she walks in is the extraordinarily huge smile on her face.
“You clearly have some good news,” Larkin observes from behind the counter.
Without any preamble, Della is holding out her hand and sticking it right in my face. I pull my head back so she doesn’t pop me on the nose, but she’s already spinning from me and sticking her hand up to Larkin’s face.
Larkin gasps and takes Della’s hand in both of her own. I then realize she’s admiring a diamond ring Della is showing off.
“Oh my God,” Larkin practically squeals. “Jason popped the question”
Della nods her head furiously. “Just last night. We were at Clementine’s. He just got down on his knee and proposed to me right there in the middle of the restaurant.”
Darby and I shoot a glance at each other, and she shrugs. Neither one of us saw that last night.
As if she could read our silent exchange, Della turns and studies us. “I saw you two there having dinner. But you were so caught up in each other you didn’t even notice Jason proposing to me.”
Darby’s face flushes red, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. But it’s true. The restaurant probably could have burned down around us, and I doubt Darby and I would have noticed.
Darby steps up to Della, holding her hand out in a silent request to check out the engagement ring. Della is only too happy to comply and puts her plump hand in Darby’s. I have to admit, Jason didn’t skimp on the diamond. It’s big and flashy. But Jason’s got a good business. He owns the gas station here in Whynot, which also has a wine shop incorporated within that’s quite successful. He’s not hurting for money.
“The ring is just beautiful,” Darby says as she admires the rock. “Oh, by the way… I’m Darby. That’s my daughter Linnie.”
Della turns her hand so she and Darby are now shaking. “So very good to meet you. I’ve actually heard lots about the pretty peach farmer who moved into town.”
She then shoots me a sly look and adds, “And you and Colt Mancinkus dating. Isn’t that just wonderful?”
My eyes cut to Linnie to see her reaction to this very public proclamation that Darby and I are dating, though I’m not sure we are.
Maybe we are.
I don’t know.
Linnie just stares back at me as she munches on her chocolate chip cookie. She even gives me a tiny smile in the form of one side of her mouth quirking upward.
Darby had told me that she had talked to Linnie about us going out to dinner, and Linnie said she was fine with it. I’m guessing she really is fine with it.
Della spins back toward Larkin and places the palms of her hand on the short counter where the cash register rests. “I just came in so I can put in the order for a wedding cake. We’re not going to do anything big. Probably just have Judge Bowe marry us at the courthouse and then a party at the train depot. Lots of tasty food. Of course, we’ll have the most wonderful wedding cake in the world done by my dear friend, Larkin Mancinkus.”
Larkin starts shaking her head and holds her hands up, palms out toward Della. “I can’t do a wedding cake. I’ve never done a wedding cake.”
“Well now’s your chance to try,” Della says matter-of-factly. “You’re so talented and creative. I know you can do a pretty cake for me.”
Larkin keeps shaking her head and takes a step backward. “No way. I’m not going to be responsible for ruining a wedding.”
This doesn’t surprise me. Larkin went out on a limb when she decided to open her bakery five years ago. But that’s about as far out on a limb as she has gone. She bakes the things she is comfortable with and knows she is very good at. People always find the same things here day in and day out. I’m not surprised she doesn’t feel comfortable doing a wedding cake.
I step up to the case and rest my elbow on the top glass. “Larkin… give it a shot. You can practice. If you can’t do it, Della can find someone else.”
Larkin shoots me a look that is a mixture of panic and loathing that I’m pushing her into this. My sweet sister doesn’t like leaving her comfort zone.
Too bad.
She needs to learn to live a little.
“That’s a fantastic idea,” Della exclaims. She turns and starts for the door, calling over her shoulder, “I’m going to email you some ideas. A few pictures I was looking at last night.”
And just like that, Della is gone, and Larkin is on the hook for a wedding cake.
She turns and shoots me a sour look. “How could you do that to me, Colt?”
I shrug and give her an innocent look. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Larkin huffs and glares.
“Why don’t you give it a try, Larkin?” Darby asks her curiously. “I’ll come help you experiment. You can try your cakes out on me.”
Larkin lets out a tiny huff of capitulation and says, “I guess it couldn’t hurt to try. I’ve got all the decorating equipment I would need.”
The door to Sweet Cakes flies open, the bells chiming merrily. Della pokes her head back in and pins a stare on Larkin. “By the way, we’re looking at doing the weekend after next.”
Larkin’s mouth drops open in disbelief.
“Toodles,” Della calls out as she disappears, and the door swings shut.
Larkin shoots another loathsome glare at me for getting her roped into this and then an apologetic look at Darby. “I hope you have some time soon because we’re going to have to start making cakes.”
“I’m ready whenever you are. I mean, it’s not a chore to try out cakes.”
“The bakery is closed tomorrow,” Larkin says. “I’ll just forgo dinner at Mama’s as I’ll probably be working on this all day.”
“Do you have to do everything here or want to do it at my house?” Darby asks. “That way Linnie can entertain herself if she gets bored with us.”
Larkin shakes her head. “I can bake the cakes here, and we can decorate at your house. How does that sound? I’ll just do several six-inch rounds to practice on.”
“Awesome,” Darby says exuberantly. “And I’ll cook dinner for us if we run into the evening, although we might be full of cake.”
I can’t help but smile over the fast friendship forming between my sister and Darby. Not only because Larkin has always been a bit of a loner because she works so much, but also because that means Darby is putting down additional roots here.
Turning those pretty blue eyes my way, Darby offers, “If you can do without Sunday dinner at your mom’s, you’re more than welcome to come eat with us?”
“Yeah, you can hang out with us all day to decorate cakes,” Larkin quips.
I shake my head and nip that right in the bud. “No way. I do not decorate cakes.”
“I don’t want to decorate cakes, either,” Linnie says. She turns hopeful eyes my way. “Think we could go ride horses together instead?”
I laugh and ruffle the top of Linnie’s hair. She pulls away from me with a grimace.
But I shoot her a wink and say, “Sounds like fun.”
Then I turn to Darby and add, “And I’d be glad to join y’all for dinner.”
“It’s a date then,” Darby says, but immediately flushes as she stammers, “Well, it’s not a date-date. Just that… well, you know.”
I think it’s adorable she gets flustered talking about a date, and it brings something to mind. My hand shoots out and snatches her by the wrist. I look at Larkin and then to Linnie, making an apology as I drag Darby to the front door. “I need to steal your mother for a moment. Be right back.”
I have a glimpse of Linnie biting down into her chocolate chip cookie, and I can hear Larkin snort as we step out onto the sidewalk.
I turn to face Darby, and she’s looking at me with an expectant smile on her face. “What’s up?”
“Well,” I say slyly as I step into her. “When I saw you from Floyd’s Hardware Emporium a little bit ago, I came over to see you with the idea in mind of asking you out on another date.”
She sidles in a tiny bit closer and asks in a sweet voice, “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “Figure I can’t get to the first kiss without another date.”
Darby gives a husky laugh even as her cheeks turn a little pink. “I would love to go out on another date with you, Colt.”
“Well, that works out well for both of us then, doesn’t it?”
She gives me a saucy wink in return before she opens the door to step back into Sweet Cakes. “That it does. And thanks for the cookies for Linnie by the way. See you tomorrow.”