Page 38 of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

‘Mostly some fresh herbs, some lettuce, arugula…’

‘Everything’s green.’

‘It’s early in the season.’

Iris frowned. ‘Come with me.’ She linked her arm through his and tugged him through the crowd.

‘Hi, Annie, hi, George,’ she said when they arrived at the bakery table. ‘This,’ she said, turning to Archer, ‘is the best table at the market. And baked goods are always in season.’

He smiled, that dimple popping in his cheek, and Iris had to look away lest she do something inappropriate here in the middle of town like lick her boss’s face.

‘Hi, Iris, hi, Archer, what can I get you?’ Annie asked.

Iris shook the inappropriate thoughts from her head and turned her attention to the table spread with delights. Shortbread cookies, cardamom twists, sugar cookies in the shapes of little bunnies and chicks, chocolate donuts, and iced lemon pound cake were laid out in front of them. Annie had outdone herself this week.

‘We’ll take two slices of the pound cake and…’ she turned to Archer, ‘what do you think Olive would like?’

His brow furrowed in concentration as he considered what Olive might want and it was that consideration that nearly did Iris in. He was so damn thoughtful when it came to his kid.

‘The bunny cookie.’

‘Excellent choices,’ Annie said, putting their treats in a bag and taking Iris’s card for payment. ‘Enjoying the market?’ she asked Archer.

‘I am, actually.’

Annie laughed. ‘Don’t look so surprised.’

He smiled. ‘Sorry. I don’t mean to be an asshole.’

‘It just happens sometimes,’ Iris finished for him with a pat on the arm. ‘Thanks Annie!’ she called, pulling Archer to their next stop. ‘One more thing before we circle back to Olive.’

She kept her arm linked through his, her hand resting on the curve of his bicep. It was nice, walking side by side with him. It was nice to be out of the house together.

Not that it could be anything other than a friendly trip to the farmers’ market, but she was allowed to enjoy the feel of Archer’s arm beneath her hand and the occasional brush of his hip against hers. Wasn’t she? Of course she was.

The only dangerous part was that this nice day out together might make her want more of them.

‘Here we are.’ They stopped at the florist’s table. ‘Plenty of colors,’ she grinned up at him and his returning smile had her stomach flipping and her cheeks warming.

‘Beautiful,’ he said, his eyes still on her face and, damn, he was handsome out here in the light of day. All this fresh air was making her lightheaded.

Lupita, who was manning the booth today, cleared her throat and Iris tore her gaze away from Archer’s.

‘Hey, Lu.’

‘Hi Iris.’ Lupita glanced from Iris to Archer, a knowing look on her face but Iris could not deal with another busybody Dreamer today.

‘A bunch of the yellow tulips and a bunch of the pink, please,’ Iris said before the woman could ask any questions about Archer or Olive or their living arrangement or Archer’s family history.

‘Here you are.’ Lupita handed Iris two bundles of flowers wrapped in brown paper and Archer handed his card over before Iris could get to hers.

‘Thanks, Lu. See you Tuesday for my spring wreath-making class,’ Iris said before they walked away. ‘I wasn’t trying to make you buy me flowers,’ she said to Archer, jokingly, but finding him looking at her intently again.

‘I don’t mind buying you flowers.’

‘In a professional way, of course,’ she said, not able to help the teasing smile on her face.

‘Of course,’ he said with a slight smile of his own. He’d dipped his head closer to her ear and his words were warm on her cheek. His hand slid to the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. The press of his fingers into her body sent sparks skittering down her spine.