“I’m sorry, Miss Piper, but there’s no other choice,” Hector said with a sad look on his face.

“Hector, I understand. This is just part of the business of running this place. It’s okay. Really,” she said, smiling as she reached across the kitchen table and rubbed his hand. “And I expected this.”

“You did?” he asked. Hector had come to tell her that she and Cameron would have to organize the apple festival’s final details because he just didn’t have time. She would have to look into the finances soon and see if there was a way to hire an assistant of some kind for Hector. The poor man was running himself ragged.

“Of course. I’m not experienced in business, so I knew all along that Cameron would be my best bet in all of this. Like it or not, this is our place together and we have to make the best of it.”

She stood up and poured herself another cup of coffee after checking to make sure Hector still had enough.

“You think you can work with him?” he asked.

“Yes. We don’t have to be friends. We just have to be business partners,” she said, knowing that was probably even harder than just being friends.

“You’re a good person, Piper. Miss Lola was right about you,” he said with a wink before he walked out the back door.

---

Piper sat nervously at the diner. Shockingly, Cameron had texted her and asked her to meet him there to discuss the business. Why they couldn’t discuss it at the orchard was a mystery, but she was happy that he was at least taking an interest in the day to day running of things.

“Hey,” he said softly as he sat down across from her.

“Hey.”

“Listen, let me start off by apologizing for what I said the other day. I was upset…”

“Can we just move on?” she said, leaning her head back.

“I’m trying to be nice.”

“Most people don’t have to try to be nice to me, Cameron. I’m generally thought of as a good person.”

“Fine. Let’s move on then,” he said as he pulled out some files. “I printed some of the financials this morning. Have you had a chance to review these?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’ve had a crash course in business since I got here.”

She thought she saw the hint of a smile. “Good. Then we can move a little quicker. As you know, the apple festival is coming up at the end of the week. Have you looked at the ROI of that?”

“Um… Yeah. Totally,” she said. What in the heck was an ROI?

“I think we might be operating at a deficit when it comes to the self-picking, so we can definitely improve there,” he said, looking down at the spreadsheets. Piper stared at them, but in her mind she was on a beach somewhere. And people were speaking English that she actually understood. “Thankfully, our overall accounts receivable numbers still exceed accounts payable at this point, but our assets aren’t being leveraged fully. Cash flow is at an all time high, but that’s mostly due to the rose business. Now, when we look at depreciation…”

“Stop!” she finally shouted. Other patrons turned around. Piper smiled at them and mouthed “sorry”.

“What’s your problem?” Cameron asked in a loud whisper.

“I have no freaking idea what you’re talking about!”

“But you said…”

“Look, I’m a dummy when it comes to this stuff, okay? I know you already think I’m stupid…”

“I never said that.”

“No, I believe what you said was ‘dimwitted destitute waitress from a po-dunk diner off some red dirt road’. Did I get that right?”

Cameron sighed and shook his head. “I tried to apologize.”

“Well - and keep in mind I’m pretty dimwitted - where I come from, we only take apologies when they’re sincere.”

“And how do you know mine wasn’t?” he asked.

“Because you strike me as a guy who will do just about anything to get what he wants, even if it means apologizing to someone you think is a worthless idiot,” she said, looking back down at the paperwork and trying not to cry. That was one thing that sucked about being female - the urge to burst into tears during any emotional moment.

He was quiet for a moment. “I really am sorry, Piper. This has been a tough few months for me. I’m not acting myself lately, and I said something that was hurtful and not at all what I believe to be true.”

It was the first sincere thing she’d heard from him. He really sounded like he was speaking from his heart for once.

“Apology accepted,” she said softly. “Look, it’s going to take me some time to catch up on all the business and financial lingo, but if there’s one place no one can beat me it’s hard work. So how about you handle this stuff,” she said, sliding the papers across the table, “and I’ll coordinate the real work we need to do?”

Cameron smiled slightly. “The real work, huh?”

Piper laughed. “No offense, but pushing papers around a desk isn’t the hard work. What’s going to be difficult is finishing up the apple festival by ourselves.”

“Wait. What? I thought Hector was handling that?”

“He was. Until we got a huge order for roses during the same time frame. That makes us a lot more money. I understood at least that much from my hours agonizing over those dang spreadsheets.”

“How are we going to do this on such short notice?”

“Well, we’re going to have to work together,” she said with a wink. “So let’s just make a pact, for the good of the business, that we’ll get along and make this the most successful apple festival Blue Ridge Orchard has ever hosted. Deal?” She reached her hand across the table. He smiled - it was crooked and kind of appealing - and shook her hand. He lingered for a moment, his facial expression changing a couple of times, before he let go.

“So what do we need to do first?”

“Bales of hay.”

“Huh?”

“We need to set up the hayrides and decorations at the entrance to the orchard. We need to bring in temporary help to run the hayrides and the cash registers in the store. And I think we need to make some extra treats that we can sell, like maybe some caramel apples. What do you think?”

He looked at her for a long moment and then smiled. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“Okay then,” she said nodding, thankful that he wasn’t pushing back. “I guess we should get started.” She moved to get out of the booth and he laughed.

“Can we eat first?”

Piper giggled. “Oh, yeah. I guess that would make sense.”

The waitress came over to the table and took their orders. She was young and apparently unaware of who Cameron was, but one day Piper would have to ask around about his reputation in the town. Or maybe she would ask him right now.

“So…” she started, as she took a sip of her sweet tea. “Your reputation in this town seems to precede you…”

She tried not to make eye contact so she could seem nonchalant in her line of questioning, but Cameron eyed her carefully, boring a hole into the side of her head with his eyes.

“Ah, yes. The Whiskey Ridge gossip mill is still working well, I see.”

“Well, are they right? Were you a ‘problem child’?”

“Depends on what you mean by that phrase,” he said coyly.

“I mean, as a child did you cause problems?” she replied sarcastically. Cameron took a sip of his coffee and let out a loud, frustrated breath.

“I was a kid who had lost his parents, Piper. I went from living with my super smart and high class parents to living here on a big piece of farm land with a bunch of old biddies constantly trying to discipline me. It was a tough transition.”

“Not much of a country boy, I see…”

“Actually, you’re wrong. I love Whiskey Ridge, but I didn’t as a teenager. I wanted to see the world, be something big.”

“Sounds like you succeeded. Aren’t you some hotshot author in New York City?”

“No. I’m just a publisher,” he said. The sound of his voice had changed. She couldn’t tell if he was getting irritated by her questions or if he had some hard feelings about the business he was in.

“Lola was really proud of you,” Piper said, knowing that Lola would want her to say it. His face changed and a slight smile broke through his hardened expression.

“Oh yeah?”

“Of course. She missed you, though.”

He looked pained for a moment. “I know. I missed her too.”

“So, you’re a publisher. What does that mean exactly?” she asked as the waitress put their plates in front of them. Piper took the chance to grab a fry and munch on it while she listened.

“Well, I work with authors and get their books published. That’s about it,” he laughed.

“And you get a cut, I would assume?”

“Yes. Although, it’s not much after the costs of formatting, getting book covers designed, printing and marketing. But it’s a living, I guess.” He took a big bite of his hamburger.

“You never wanted to write books yourself?” she asked.

Suddenly, Cameron looked like he was a million miles away, as if he was looking into the future or maybe the past. “I’ve always wanted to write the great American novel, but I think everyone wants to do that.”

“Not everyone. I sure as heck don’t,” she said laughing. “I’m more of a reader than a writer.”

“What do you like to read? Romance?”

“Stereotypical much?” she asked, biting down on another French fry.

“Most women like romance, right? The whole knight in shining armor thing?”

“Well, I haven’t met any knights in my life, so no. Not every woman believes in the whole happy ending with the handsome prince on a white horse.” Piper hadn’t believed in those things since she was a small girl, before life had knocked her around a good bit.

“Okay, so what do you like to read?” he asked.

“Mostly paranormal stuff, along with some sci fi.”

Cameron looked a little shocked, but smiled. “I have one author who writes some amazing paranormal stuff. Maybe you know him. Daniel Creighton?”

Piper almost choked on her sandwich. “You work with Creighton? He’s my favorite! His stuff is so cutting edge. I have all of his books in paperback and on my tablet.” She was totally fan-girling now, but she didn’t care.

Cameron was chuckling. “He’s a good guy and one of our biggest sellers. And then there’s my problem child.”

“Who’s that?”

“Jasmine Blake.”

Piper crinkled her nose up. “Ugh. I hate her books. So predictable and full of drivel. I’m surprised you’d want your name associated with her.”

“Jeez, tell me how you really feel.”

“Well, come on. She’s the epitome of trashy, and her books are ruining the paranormal sci fi genre.”

Cameron smiled. “I agree. But her fans are psychotically obsessed with her.”

“So why is she a problem then?”

“She can’t be tamed. She misses every deadline and costs me way too much money and time to maintain.”

“Why keep her then?”

“Because when she actually releases a book, sales go through the roof.”

“Okay, so you publish other authors’ books, but what about your dream of being an author yourself?” she asked.

“Paying the bills outranks dreams,” he said simply.

She nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“What’s your big life dream, Piper Williams?” he asked with a genuine smile.

She thought for a moment. “I just want to be happy and raise a happy son.”

---

The rest of their lunch was pretty non-eventful, although Piper got the distinct impression that the wait staff was watching them closely. More specifically, they were watching Cameron closely, almost like he was some kind of sideshow.

She was thankful to get back to the orchard after they finished eating because the stress of getting ready for the apple festival was starting to get to her.

“Miss Piper! I’m so glad you’re back!” Hector called out as he ran toward her and Cameron in the gravel driveway. He looked flushed and stressed out himself.

“Hector, what’s wrong?” Piper asked, putting her hands on his shoulders as he leaned over slightly to catch his breath.

“It’s the pies,” he said through ragged bursts of air.

“Pies?” Cameron repeated. Hector shot him an irritated glance.

“Yes, pies,” Hector said, squinting his eyes at Cameron. Out of the corner of her eye, Piper could see Cameron hold up his hands in surrender and take a step back. “The pies are a big part of the apple festival. The public will expect them.”

“And?” Piper still was’t understanding the problem.

“We have no pies! Our baker, Miss Ella Sue, has pneumonia. She’s in the hospital down in Atlanta. We need at least one hundred pies made before Saturday morning!”

Piper’s breath caught in her throat. She turned and looked at Cameron.

“What?” he said.

“We need to start baking,” she said as she grabbed the edge of his shirt sleeve and started pulling him toward the house.

“Um, excuse me?” he said as he pulled back and stopped. “I don’t know anything about baking.”

“Well, you’re about to get a crash course, partner,” she said with a laugh as she pulled him up the stairs and into the house.

---

“Okay, so if we’re going to make that many pies, we need a system,” Piper said as she stood and stared at all of the ingredients spread over the island in the kitchen.

“Ya think?” Cameron responded with a wry smile. Piper shot him an irritated glance. “Hey, you’re the captain of this ship. I’m just a lowly crew member,” he said, bowing in her direction.

“Remember you said that in about an hour when you’re up to your elbows in dough. Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. These pies have to look good, and I don’t exactly trust you with that part of the job so…”

“I wouldn’t either…” he mumbled,

“So, I’m going to assign you to mixing and rolling duty. Here’s the recipe we’re using…” she said, leaning across the island. For a moment, Cameron was taken away by her scent. It was a strange mixture of perfume and apple, but it was intoxicating. “Cameron? Hello?”

“Huh? What?” he stammered, embarrassed that he was basically just caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“Are you even listening to me? We don’t have much time…”

“I’m listening. Mix and roll. That about sums it up, right?” She pursed her lips and raised one of her eyebrows.

“We can’t mess this up.”

Cameron walked around the island and put his hands on her shoulders without thinking. “Piper, it’s just an apple festival. I know it’s important, but maybe try to enjoy it without stressing so much?”

She tensed under his touch which made him wonder what her past had been like. Had some man hurt her? The thought made him angry in the pit of his stomach, but he had no idea why. He barely knew this woman.

She took in a deep breath. Cameron dropped his hands to his sides.

“Sorry. I just want everything to go well. Lola meant a lot to me, and I just love Hector…”

“We’ll make it happen,” he said with a smile. She nodded.

“Right. I know we will. Let’s get started then,” she said, turning back to the recipe as she started to measure ingredients.

For the next three hours, they worked on pie after pie, freezing some of them for cooking later. The kitchen was equipped with two double oven units, which was a huge advantage since they could cook multiple pies at once.

“Hey, do you want to take a break?” Cameron finally said. He was willing to raise a white flag if he needed to as his hands were cramping up and exhausted.

Piper looked at him and then noticed he was massaging his hands. “Sure,” she said with a laugh.

They walked outside onto the big back porch and sat down on the swing. It was made with logs and looked like something that belonged more in a mountain cabin.

“Sorry I’ve been working you so hard,” Piper said with a smile.

“It’s okay. Who needs working hands anyway?” he said as he continued to massage them.

Piper reached over unexpectedly and took his right hand. She stopped the swing and started massaging his palm, which felt amazingly good and amazingly uncomfortable.

“How does that feel?” she asked softly without looking up.

“You don’t have to do that…”

“It’s no problem. I wouldn’t want these hands to be the excuse of why we don’t have one hundred pies on Saturday,” she said laughing.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” he asked without thinking. Piper looked up, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

“What?”

“I mean, I’ve been a jerk to you since the moment we met. What’s your angle?”

She stopped massaging his hand and looked at him. “Are you always this suspicious of people?”

“Pretty much.”

“That must suck,” she said, sitting back on the swing. He felt the void of her hand on his, and that alone was startling and worrisome to him. “I don’t have an angle, Cameron. I just want to get along. You apologized, I accepted. I thought we were becoming…”

“What?”

“Friends?” she said with a chuckle.

“I guess we are.”

They continued swinging for a few moments.

“Tell me about your son,” Cameron said.

She eyed him carefully for a moment before speaking. “Well, his name is Lucas and he’s the cutest seven year old I’ve ever met. Of course, I might be a little partial.”

Cameron smiled. “Maybe just a bit. So, what about his father? Were you married to him?”

“That’s a bit personal, isn’t it?”

“I thought we were friends?” he replied as he shrugged his shoulders.

“I never married his father. Lucas was… unexpected… but he’s been the greatest blessing of my life. His father bolted the moment he found out I was pregnant, and he never came back.”

Cameron could feel the anger welling up inside of him. “I’m sorry. He sounds like a real winner.”

“Yeah. What about you? Have you ever been married?”

“No.”

“Never found the right one?” she asked.

Cameron considered the question for a moment. “That about sums it up, I guess. I can be kind of hard to deal with.”

“No…. You don’t say!”

He leaned over and chucked his shoulder against hers. She was so petite, it felt like he might break her.

“Well, for what its worth, I think people just don’t get you. One day, you’ll find the woman of your dreams who really gets you.”

“Think so?” he asked with a smile.

“I’d bet on it.”