“Yeah, I can get there.” If I’d kept my mouth shut, she’d have probably ridden all the way back home with me. He stood and extended his hand to help her up.
“Thanks.”
“For what?” She brushed the back of her pants.
“For reminding me there’s a whole lot more to life than work.” Andrew helped her get on her horse.
“You’re welcome then.”
Andrew coaxed Doc to stand still long enough that he could get a foot in the stirrup. Every time he got his toe in, Doc would take a few steps, leaving Andrew hopping alongside.
“You know I’m out of practice, don’t you, old man.”
The horse lifted his nose in the air, then Andrew finally got back in the saddle. His muscles warmed to the physical activity, especially after the long plane ride.
He worked the reins to make Doc side pass, which he did with no hesitation, proving Andrew was the only one out of practice. Doc was one jam-up horse.
Finally, Andrew rode over toward Kelly. Their two horses offered familiar snorts.
He looked at her. As beautiful as ever. Still the nicest woman he’d ever known. So much had changed since he left, and the best parts were just the same. I’ve got some priorities to get straight.
Kelly nodded as if she’d read his mind. “Thank your sister for the ride for me,” she said, then kicked her heels against her horse and took off in a lope down the road toward her house.
Chapter Sixteen
Kelly strolled back into the bakery, energized.
Sara carried a tray from the back to the counter. “Hey, you’re back. How was the trail ride?”
“Dawn tricked me again. I can’t believe I’m that gullible.”
“Again?” Sara put the tray down and put her hand on her hip. “Do you mean to tell me Andrew was there?”
“She tricked him too. You should have seen his face when I came up to them in the creek. She took off and left us.”
“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe she did that. It’s almost funny. Are you mad?”
“Not really. I just can’t believe I fell for it.” She grabbed a towel and wiped a smudge from the glass countertop. “He made lunch too. For her. Not me, but since she left, I got the benefits. It was delicious.”
“No surprise there.”
“True.” She raised her chin, feeling somewhat proud of herself. “I feel good about it. It was really nice, and I’ve been able to keep it in perspective. Just a friendly ride between friends.”
“Are you sure?” Sara didn’t look so sure. “Because you look awfully smiley for not making more of it.”
“Oh, stop it. It was fun.” She swatted Sara with the towel. “I still have way more important things to concentrate on than Andrew York and what happened between us forever ago.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot. “Like New York to the tune of a hundred thousand dollars.”
“Good for you. I’m glad you two had fun.”
“We did. Now time to get down to work. If I win—”
Sara interjected. “When you win.”
“When I win,” she repeated, holding her crossed fingers in the air, “the Four Square Valentine’s Day Bake-Off will give us more exposure than the rock star shout-out that first put us on the map. I might even be able to extend full-time positions to some of our part-time decorators.”
“That would be wonderful.”
“I know.” She was proud of the jobs she’d brought to her neighbors. “I’m excited and so nervous all at the same time. I hope I can pull this off.”
“This competition—baking something awesome on the fly and integrating random ingredients—is totally in your wheelhouse.”
“But the competitors on that show are real pastry chefs.”
“I don’t care how educated the competition is. You know desserts and you’re a quick thinker when it comes to those kinds of challenges. I don’t think I’ve ever missed an episode of Four Square, and trust me, you are every bit as good as the very best I’ve ever seen on it.”
She sucked in a breath of hope. “I hope so.” A huge fan of the show for years, there’d been times when she tried recipes based on some of the challenges. Sure, a few of them had been pretty horrible, but for the most part she’d pulled off something terrific. The margarita cupcake with the lime filling and salted frosting, for example. It was one of her biggest sellers.
As long as she could stay relaxed, maybe she had a real shot at taking home the trophy.
“I’m so thankful for you and Calvin. I know this place will run just fine without me here. I couldn’t do it without y’all here to handle everything.”
“I wish we could tell him—”
“No. We can’t!”
“I know.” Sara raised her hands like she was under arrest. “Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks.” The panic dissipated in a long sigh. “Sorry. I overreacted a little. We can’t chance being eliminated. They were very serious about that.”
“I promise. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything here.”
“I know you will. I’m mostly worried about my parents. What am I going to tell them? I’m running out of town. It’s going to have to be one heck of an excuse for leaving town that they won’t question it.”
“I know. I thought about that last night. You never go anywhere. What if you tell them that you’re going to take a vacation? A cruise? Then you’d be able to explain not checking in while you’re away.”
“They’ll never buy that. Especially alone. Plus, it’s too sudden.”
Sara chewed on the end of her pen, then raised a hand in the air. “I know. Tell them you won a free ticket to a baking convention. I saw something. What was it? The Retail Bakers Association, I think. They’re having something in Atlanta this month. It’s just far enough away to keep anyone from showing up to check on you.”
“That might work.” Kelly glanced at the stack of industry magazines on her desk. She grabbed the one from the top and flipped through
