I Only Have Pies for You (Pumpkin Spice Life 1)

“He bugging her?” Josh questioned, standing taller.

“I think so. He hasn’t taken her no for an answer. He thinks if he keeps pushing the issue, she’ll give in.”

“And they think we’re backward out this way,” Josh drawled. “You want us to pay him a visit at his hotel?”

“No, just hang back. I think we could keep an eye out for him on the strip though.”

“Yeah. I’ll pass the word on to Chris tomorrow, too,” Josh said.

The best thing about living in a small town was that they looked after their own. He debated on whether he should bring it up to her or not. She was trying so hard to move forward and create a new life. I’ll sit on it for now.

DANGLING THE TO-GO bags from Salvatore’s in one hand he knocked on her door. The door swung inward, and he grinned.

“Food delivery.”

“You knew exactly what I needed today.” She smiled up at him. He saw the strain in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen at lunch?” he asked as he stepped inside and she closed and locked the door behind him.

“Only if you count delusions. He did apologize and explained where he was at the time, which was nice. He took it as a sign that I wanted to pick up where we left off. I told him flat out I didn’t.”

He hesitated. Now isn’t the time to add more stress.

She rolled her eyes. “I forgot how stubborn and bullheaded he could be.” Pausing, she exhaled. “But enough about him. We have everything we need to have a nice, relaxing evening, which I think we could both use.”

“If lunch went okay, why the stress?”

“My numbers are down again.” She frowned. “It stresses me.”

Setting the dinner on her cocktail table, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to rest against him. “It’s going to be okay.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Come on, let me serve you tonight, yeah?”

“If you insist,” she sighed playfully, leaning back against the couch, and he winked. Moving confidently in her kitchen, he grabbed plates and glasses, transferring the food from the takeaway containers. The strain around her eyes and the tension in her shoulders pained him. Starting up a new business took a lot out of you mentally and physically. He’d had the support of the community to back him in his endeavor. She was still struggling to solidify her spot here in the tight-knit town. Though she would deny it, she was well-liked by those who’d gotten to know her. He kept telling her to give it time, but every day counted when you had loans to repay, monthly bills to handle, and your dreams weighing in the balance.

I might not be able to make the situation better, but I can take her mind off it for a while. Setting up a spread, he sat down beside her.

“Dinner is served, m’lady.”

Leaning over, she tilted her head up, and he swooped down to kiss her lips. “Thank you for this.”

“I figured a date night in would be just what the doctor ordered for both of us.”

“Was your day as taxing as mine?”

His thoughts drifted to the confrontation. “I had some disgruntled potential customers.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Gross. They hadn’t even purchased anything, and they were complaining?”

“We had a difference of opinions.” He shrugged.

“I’m sorry, babe.”

“Now that I’m here with you, my day is infinitely better.” He nudged her shoulders with his own. “Eat.”

Huffing, she rolled her eyes. “So bossy, hero.” Balancing her plate on her lap, she cut into her crisp chicken smothered in the best pasta sauce he’d ever tasted. Cutting up his lasagna, he watched her anxiously as she brought the first bite to her lips. Her surprised moan made him grin.

“Right?”

She held a hand up to her mouth as she chewed, then nodded. Swallowing, she turned to him. “Okay, they live up to the hype.”