“A slice of the peach cake, three cherry hand pies and a lemonade, coming right up.” Summer rang up the latest sale, and sent another happy customer out to wait for her pastries in the sun. “Jessi—”

“Already on it, boss.” Jessi spun into action, heading back to the kitchen for fresh supplies. They were two weeks into business, and the bakery was running like a lean, mean, butter-lubricated machine. And better yet, the crowds just kept coming. Every day, Summer wondered if all the buzz was going to die down, but then she flipped the sign to Open and unlocked the doors, and found a fresh crop of tourists waiting to coo over the cute décor and snap a million photos of their cake to post online. She didn’t understand how people had the patience to wait and Instagram when there was a delicious pastry in front of them, but she had to admit, all that social media attention was great for business.

“Now who’s next?” Summer looked up to serve the next customer, and found Mackenzie and Poppy there, hungrily eyeing the sample tray. “Hey guys,” she said happily. “Want to try the butterscotch baklava? It’s new.”

“Umm, yes!” Poppy exclaimed.

“Don’t do this to me,” Mackenzie groaned, but she took a square and popped it in her mouth all the same. “Delicious, as always,” she declared. “Can you save some for book club tonight? I need to be wearing my loosest pants if I’m going to do them justice.”

Summer laughed. “Sure thing. But are you sure you want me there?” she checked. “I haven’t had any time to read.”

“Oh, that’s fine.” Mackenzie grinned. “You’ll see, the books are the least of the fun. Poppy’s promised to read us the dirty bits from her new novel, and Debra’s testing a new batch of her hooch.”

“I didn’t promise,” Poppy argued. “I said ‘maybe.’ If I can get through it without dying of embarrassment.”

“Aww, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Mackenzie said. “Although, I’m seeing Cooper in a different light now after Chapter Six . . .”

Poppy hit her arm playfully. “It’s fictional!”

“Sure it is.” Mackenzie laughed. She turned back to Summer. “So are you in?”

“How could I pass that up?” Summer smile. “OK, I’ll be there. Seven o’clock, right?”

“Come by the gallery, and bring some of these,” Mac added. She snaffled another square.

“Leave some for the paying customers!” Poppy protested, and pulled her away. “See you later!”

Summer watched them go, pleased. She hadn’t been a Sweetbriar resident for long, but already she was feeling like a part of the community. Book club, evenings at Riley’s pub, and the parade of town events, too. A little sugar worked wonders when it came to earning invitations, and now Summer saw friendly faces wherever she went. It was just part of the rewards of her new life in town—along with seeing the look of wide-eyed anticipation every time someone approached her display case.

The day flew past, and it was already noon when Summer checked the time. “Are you OK holding the fort for a couple of hours?” she asked, stepping away from the register.

“Sure, I’ve got it covered. Hot date?” Jessi asked.

“More like a cool one.”

Summer grabbed her bag and a box of pastries, and set off, heading along the back path through the woods. It was a gorgeous summer day, with a cornflower-blue sky overhead—and nothing but birdsong and the distant sound of the waves. She was a long way from New York City, that was for sure. She was halfway along the trail when her phone rang.

“Hey, Mom,” Summer answered, as she strolled in the sun. “What’s going on?”

“Good news!” Eve announced, sounding elated. “The network loved the footage from our episode. They green-lit my next series!”

“That’s great!” Summer cheered. “I’m happy for you.”

“Even better, they want you to be a regular guest,” Eve continued. “And we’re already talking about a spin-off with the two of us, so we’ll get to do that joint cookbook we talked about.”

“You talked about,” Summer corrected her gently. “And I said I’d have to think about it.”

“Oh, I know, but can’t you see how great it would be—especially for the bakery,” she added meaningfully.

Summer chuckled. Eve was nothing if not transparent. “The bakery is doing just fine, thanks for asking. But a cookbook might be fun,” she admitted. “I’ve already been approached by a couple of places to do one on my own.”

There was a pause. Summer braced herself, expecting Eve to launch into the hard sell of why she needed to do this for her mother, and how the Bloom women together would be unstoppable, but instead, Eve cleared her throat.

“That’s wonderful, sweetheart. I’m proud of you.”

Summer almost tripped over a tree root.

“Just be sure to send me all the details before you sign anything,” Eve added. “It’s important you pay attention to the licensing. And I know a great book agent to handle the deal. And have you looked into trademark for the bakery brand yet, because—”

“Let’s talk about this later,” Summer cut her off as she stepped out of the trees and into the clearing by Blackbottom Pond. Grayson was already waiting for her with a picnic blanket and a cold soda. She smiled at him, and leaned down to kiss his cheek. “I’m just stepping into an important meeting right now.”

“Of course. I’ll have my assistant set some appointments!”

Eve rang off, and Grayson kissed her properly, a slow, melting kiss that felt just right. “Anything urgent?” he asked.

“Just my mom.” Summer kicked off her sandals and wriggled her toes in the sand.

“How are things?”

“Good.” Summer nodded slowly. “You know, things aren’t perfect between us, and she still is a little . . . overeager. But she’s been giving me really good advice about the bakery. And I think people are realizing that I’m my own person, not just an extension of her.”

“You’re one of a kind,” Grayson said with a smile. “Ready for a swim?”

“I didn’t bring my suit.”

“Who needs a suit?” Grayson countered with a gleam in his eye.

Summer blinked. “What if someone sees?” she asked, watching as he stripped off his T-shirt—and didn’t stop there.

“Let them.” Grayson grinned. He held out a hand to her. “Coming?”

Summer took a quick look around, but the woods were silent, shielding the pond from view. The water looked inviting—and so did the gorgeous man shucking off his jeans.

What the hell.

She tugged her dress over her head and shimmied out of her underwear. “Race you to the water!” she called, taking off for the pond. The water was cool, and she yelped as it closed around her legs, but she didn’t stop, plunging on until she kicked off from the bottom with a splash. Grayson followed, just a few steps behind. “I win!” Summer laughed, twisting over to float on her back.

Grayson’s hands closed around her waist. “What’s your prize?” he murmured. He tugged her close, treading water. Summer slipped her arms around his neck.

“Hmm.” She pretended to think. “How about a kiss?”

“Done.”

Grayson’s mouth found hers in a slow, sultry kiss that sent her heart racing and made her shiver with anticipation. “Cold?” he murmured, grazing her cheek and nibbling at her earlobe.

“Nope.”

Summer wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him close. “What are you doing?” he asked, smiling.

Summer gave him a sultry smile. “Claiming the rest of my prize.”

Later, they were sprawled on the small beach, with Summer’s head resting on his stomach, watching the wind ripple the surface of the pond. It was perfect, Summer thought sleepily—the kind of relaxed afternoon she could have never dreamed of just a few months ago. “What time do you need to get back?” she asked reluctantly, turning to look at him.

“No time,” Grayson said. He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on her palm. “I have all the time in the world for you.”

Summer smiled. “Does that mean you’ll want to take another swim?”

“Swim?” Grayson echoed, teasing. “Alright, we can do that, too.”

She laughed, feeling the warmth of the sunshine wash lazily over them both, and a different heat burning, steady and true. It had taken her many miles, a few life-changing risks, and more croissants than a grown woman should ever consume, but she was finally exactly where she was supposed to be.

And it tasted amazing.

* * *

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