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  The CAFÉ BETWEEN PUMPKIN and PIE

  Kate Angell

  Stacy Finz

  Marina Adair

  www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Compilation copyright © 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corp. “Love Over Easy” © 2021 by Kate Angell “Love Rising” © 2021 by Stacy Finz “Romance on Tap” © 2021 by The Adair Group

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  The K logo is a trademark of Kensington Publishing Corp.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-3321-4 (ebook)

  ISBN-10: 1-4967-3321-5 (ebook)

  ISBN: 978-1-4967-3320-7

  Table of Contents

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Love Over Easy

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Love Rising

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Romance on Tap

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Teaser chapter

  Love Over Easy

  KATE ANGELL

  For Alicia Condon, editorial director, thank you for including me in another visit to Moonbright, Maine. Such an incredible fictitious town. That always seems to come alive before my eyes.

  For Donna Kauffman, I miss you. You were always such an amazing author and good friend. Inspiring and joyful. We will always have The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice together.

  And for Debbie Roome, my closest and dearest friend.

  Chapter 1

  “Bo Peep, you’re losing your sheep,” a man standing on the curb called to Hannah Allan. His voice was deep with a hint of humor.

  Her sheep? Hannah heard him but didn’t look his way. She stood in the middle of Pumpkin Lane, awaiting the start of Moonbright’s annual Halloween parade. Fifteen minutes and counting. She was dressed as Little Bo Peep. She’d pinned her hair beneath a pink bonnet with white eyelet trim, then tied it under her chin. Her pink satin dress featured puffy sleeves, a faux lace-up bodice, and polka dot trim. A stiff crinoline flared the skirt. Adult sheer white thigh-high stockings decorated with flirty blue bows brought sexiness to the childhood nursery rhyme. She’d debated the pink ruffled panties and decided to stick with the costume. No plain white cotton. Black patent leather Mary Janes completed her outfit. She carried a bright blue plastic shepherd’s crook.

  She grew weary. This was not her costume of choice. She wore it on her older sister’s behalf. She was doing Lauren a big favor. She had come down with a cold and could not participate in the holiday festivities. Her husband was a police officer, on duty, and so, equally unable to carry out the family tradition. She’d begged Hannah to take her place. To take her four-year-old triplets to the parade, then trick-or-treating. Which was actually asking a lot. Hannah was single. She had no experience with children of her own.

  Hal, Howie, and Harry were a handful. The nearly identical boys were costumed as sheep. Their one-piece fluffy white Sherpa jumpsuits, hoods with ears, and shoe covers made it difficult to tell them apart. A tiny gold bell was sewed at the neck of each costume. Their heads bobbed, and there was a lot of jingling going on.

  One such jingle had wandering feet. She turned to her young flock and discovered Howie’s focus was on the numerous live animals lining up behind them. He liked all things Disney and wanted to pet the Saint Bernard wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

  Hannah motioned to him. “Come back to me, Howie.”

  He ignored her. “Right now,” she said firmly. “All small hands on the shepherd’s hook. We walk together, remember?”

  The guy at the curb chuckled. “Need help with your flock?” he asked.

  The wide brim of her bonnet framed her face. She refused to look his way. “I’ve got things under control.” Or did she?

  “You’ve lost a second sheep,” he pointed out.

  So she had. Hal’s interest was centered on the Moonbright High School band. Costumed as skeletons, they tuned up their instruments in preparation for marching down the street. Hal had joined their drumline.

  Worry took over. She was two sheep down, and the third, Harry, took interest in the man curbside. One quick look in his direction and familiarity struck home. She shivered. Not from the cold, but in response to the man himself. Jake Kaylor in the flesh. A Ha
lloween shocker.

  He thumbed down his mirrored-lens aviators and stared at her over the rim. His eyes were a green so deep they were almost black. No more than ten feet separated them. He defined edgy. All hard faced, daring, and hazardous to her heart. He held her attention with a shadowed gaze and sexy cool smile. Then reset his shades.

  Her knees nearly buckled. She’d had a crush on him for more years than she could count. Unrequited and from a distance. She was so lost in the moment of looking at him that she nearly forgot who and where she was. Including her responsibility of the triplets. She blinked, adjusted to his presence. Then raised her voice to be heard over the trombone section. “Hal, Howie, right here, right now.”

  The boys glanced her way for all of a second, only to ignore her request. Bribery became her best friend. Hannah knew their weakness. “Whoopie pies at the Corner Café if you behave.”

  The enticement worked. They stopped short and returned to her as fast as their small feet could carry them. Hal ran. Howie hopped. They loved the chocolate cake circles filled with a creamy vanilla frosting. Their favorite treat. She extended the shepherd’s crook and each grabbed hold. They stood appropriately still. For the moment. Harry, however, took his sweet time.

  Jake now held his full attention. Harry wasn’t the only one fixated on the man. Anyone standing within twenty feet of Jake openly stared. He made an immediate impression, biker tough. The men admired him. A sexual rush made women blush. He was a turn-on. There was a wildness to Jake that unsettled the ladies. A roughness that dared them to domesticate him.

  Other guys were equally tall, broad shouldered, and muscled. It was Jake’s face that set him apart. Angular and strong boned. Alpha and masculine. His sharp gaze undressed and penetrated a woman’s deepest thoughts. His cheekbones slashed to a single dimple, unshaved jaw. Wicked grin. His mouth promised midnight arousal and morning satisfaction.

  Hannah recalled that her sister had dated Jake a number of summers ago. It had been short-lived. Lauren was oftentimes vain and liked being seen with him. However, he hadn’t shown her the consideration she felt she deserved. He was a man of strong convictions. Blunt and truthful. There was no small print written into his character. Lauren’s nagging, criticism, and ultimatums hadn’t set well. He didn’t change for anyone. They’d parted ways. He on friendly terms, she silently fuming.

  Jake rallied by playing the field. The single women of Moonbright missed him terribly when he left town.

  Lauren rebounded with policeman Grant Atwood before the growl of Jake’s motorcycle had cleared the city limits. Grant was madly in love with her and went out of his way to please her. They’d married and had three adorable boys. All curious, a bit unmanageable, and growing like weeds. Hannah needed eyes in the back of her head to keep track of them.

  At that very moment a preoccupied young Harry was checking out Jake. Hannah studied the man too. A black bandanna wrapped his long hair. He wore a faded gray T-shirt scripted with Ride Hard beneath his black leather jacket, the collar turned up. He packed a pair of frayed jeans like no other man. He emitted an intimidating strength and purpose that left her breathless but didn’t faze Harry in the least.

  Undeterred, Harry scrutinized Jake’s scuffed black boots. Boots with attitude, thought Hannah. The boy stooped low and touched the steel toe, the side zipper, and the double snap flap. His gaze widened in awe. Hero worship. “Snow boots?” he asked Jake.

  “Motorcycle boots,” Jake informed him. “I ride a ’70 Ducati Monza.”

  The brand of bike was lost on Harry. But he liked Jake’s clothes. “Nice costume.”

  “Thanks.” Jake didn’t correct Harry. He let the mistake slide. His outfit wasn’t a disguise—it was his everyday attire.

  Jake held out his hand to the boy. “I’m Jake. The parade looks fun. Mind if I walk with you?”

  “I’m Harry.” The child straightened so fast, he nearly tipped over. The excitement of holding Jake’s hand along the six-block route would make his day. Nonetheless, he hesitated. Smart boy, Hannah realized. His parents had taught him well. Jake was a stranger and Harry sought Hannah’s permission before taking the man’s hand. She nodded, and Harry grabbed on to Jake, jumping in place, his sheep bell jingling.

  “Hal and Howie,” she introduced the other two boys.

  “Dudes,” Jake acknowledged.

  “Dudes” drew their laughter. Silly belly laughs.

  Hannah observed them from beneath the rim of her bonnet. The triplets had taken to Jake. She was taken by him too. She’d recognized him, standing nonchalantly on the curb, but she didn’t know him well. Nobody did. Rumors and reputation preceded him. He never corrected misconceptions. He knew who he was and didn’t care what people thought of him.

  She’d grown up in the small Maine town of Moonbright, a shy, oftentimes clumsy girl. Her family owned the Corner Café. Established in 1946, the restaurant had a generational soul that went deep in Moonbright history.

  Jake had no such ancestral roots, wasn’t even a full-time resident of the community. The majority of his family lived in Bangor. Jake and his father restored classic cars and, over the years, had established platinum status for their business. Jake had further branched out to collector motorcycles. Repairing, rebuilding, and reselling the bikes. His only link to Moonbright came through his grandfather, military veteran Major George Kaylor. Jake visited the older man on occasion. More often now since his grandmother’s passing. He apparently deemed Halloween a homecoming event, Hannah thought.

  “You sure about the parade?” she hesitantly asked him. He had volunteered, but she didn’t want to disrupt his day.

  Jake nodded. “I’ve two hours to kill. Afterward I’ll locate my granddad and let him know I’m in town. On our last phone call, he indicated he would be at the café late in the afternoon, seated on a counter stool, enjoying a cup of coffee and piece of pie.”

  Hannah had served the older man over the years. He was a regular. “Black coffee and pumpkin pie.”

  “He lives for that pie.”

  Baking was near and dear to her grandmother’s heart. Nan’s pies were celebrated throughout the county. She made them from scratch. “I crack one egg at a time,” she often said. She baked daily. The pies were in the oven long before dawn. She made one specialty pie each day along with the standard favorites. The kitchen always smelled fruity, cinnamon-y, and delicious.

  The coordinator of the parade soon drew everyone’s attention. The woman had climbed an aluminum ladder near a corner stop sign. Her voice was amplified by a megaphone. “Your attention, please.” Those on the street quieted. Only a beagle and a pug exchanged barks. “Welcome to Boo to You!” The theme of the parade. “Get in position. It’s almost one PM. The Halloween Queen goes first in the vintage Cadillac, followed by the mayor and city officials in separate vehicles. Third, the high school band. Play loud; play lively. Fourth, anyone in costume. From babies to adults. Pets fifth. Hold tight to those leashes. No runaways. The hayride and floats sixth. An enormous new pumpkin-faced helium balloon will wrap up the parade. Handlers guide the balloon straight down the street just above the rooftops. No higher. Looks like a windy day. The route ends at the city park. Disperse with care. Once the street fully clears, the stores and cafés will open for trick-or-treating. Have fun, everyone!”

  She blew a whistle, loud and piercing, and the parade was underway. Exhilaration marked the day. Moonbright laid claim to the largest pumpkin patch in the state of Maine. Located on the outskirts of the village, the acreage produced hundreds of pumpkins, from palm size to four hundred pounds. Locals and tourists alike bought pumpkins to carve, then display. Both grinning and grumpy jack-o’-lanterns now lined the parade route. It was a sight to behold.

  The parade was inclusive. Anyone who wanted to participate could participate. No one got left out. It was a tight fit on the narrow streets of Moonbright, but the outcome made every person happy.

  The weather was overcast and cool with no snow in the immediate
forecast. The sun poked holes in the clouds and lit up patches of blue sky. The pale sunshine cast a false warmth.

  “The band is on the move,” said Jake. He motioned them forward. “It’s our turn, guys.”

  Little Bo Peep, her sheep, and the motorcycle man fell in behind parents pushing baby carriages and those with toddlers. They got their fair share of stares. Hannah didn’t like being the center of attention. Shyness overtook her and she withdrew inside herself. Jake was comfortable in his own skin with nothing to hide, nothing to prove. Numerous locals recognized him. Most seemed surprised that he walked in the parade. Quite tame for him. He received short nods and curious grins. The triplets seemed to believe the parade was in their honor. They marched with pride and waved like crazy.

  A peevish northern wind joined the parade. It tipped Hannah’s bonnet over one eye. Sketched goose bumps on her arms. Then blew up her skirt. The hoop-style petticoat swung above her knees. She flashed sheer white thigh-high stockings right up to the pretty blue bows. She swatted down her errant skirt. And nearly dropped the shepherd’s crook. The triplets hadn’t noticed the mishap, but Jake definitely had.

  She felt his gaze from behind his mirrored aviators. He cocked his head and grinned. A teasing grin, so sexy and unsettling that she nearly tripped over her own feet.

  He edged close, lowered his voice, and said, “Naughty wind peeked up your skirt.”

  “So did you.”

  “Nice legs, Peep.”

  Her blush was immediate. Worse still, the wind had a mind of its own. It continued playing with her hem, unrepentant and determined to lift the layered polka dots once again. She didn’t want to draw further attention to herself. However, the gusts were relentless.

  The crowd had thickened, and she couldn’t let go of the staff or her two sheep would wander off. Hal and Howie were still hands-on as long as she guided them. Panic set in. She feared the next stiff breeze would flaunt her pink ruffled panties. Despite the fact they were part of the costume.