Page 57 of Tessa and Nash

If I’m going to play this role, I’m going to play it well.

Buttercup Bakery is my first stop, mostly because Clara Jenkins has a sixth sense for personal upheaval and baked goods that borders on supernatural. The bell over the door jingles as I step inside, warmth and sugar wrapping around me as an embrace.

Clara looks up from behind the counter, and her eyes drop immediately to my left hand.

Then she gasps.

“Oh,” she breathes, pressing a hand to her chest like she’s just witnessed a small miracle. “Well. Would you look at that.”

I smile. “Good morning, Clara.”

She’s already moving, bustling around the counter with surprising speed for a woman in her late sixties. She takes my hand in both of hers, examining the ring.

Clara beams. “I always knew you’d settle down with someone who could handle you.”

I arch a brow. “Handle me?”

“Oh yes,” she says cheerfully. “You’ve got that look about you. Like you don’t suffer foolishness gladly.”

That’s one way to put it.

“And Nash McCoy,” she continues, “has been suffering foolishness since he was born.”

I bite back a laugh. “He has his moments.”

Clara squeezes my hand.

“I’m very happy for you, dear. Truly.” She pauses, eyes twinkling. “Wedding pies, of course. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Of course,” I say. “I wouldn’t dream of marrying without them.”

I leave with a small box of cookies I didn’t ask for and a sense of satisfaction I also didn’t expect, followed immediately by a prickle of unease.

Outside, the street hums.

Tessa Long. Engaged. To a McCoy.

Thomas has been busy with meetings and calls, always just out the door when I come home, always saying, “We’ll talk later.” I let myself believe there was time. That I could ease into it.

Now the town has beaten me to it.

I should have known this would happen.

“Tessa!”

I turn to see Millie Price marching toward me, clipboard tucked under her arm.

She stops short, eyes snapping to my hand. “Well, I’ll be⁠—”

“Good morning, Millie.”

“You’re engaged,” she states.

“Yes.”

“To Nash McCoy.”

“Yes.”