Tempted in the Tropics by Tracy March Page B

remember that, then maybe you can look at Lane and think about beef instead of muffins.”
    Paige scrunched her nose. “You did not just say that.”
    Liza grinned. “Okay, it was lame. But most women would practically die to get a thorough exam from a doctor like him.”
    “I’m not most women.” Paige knew she was being stubborn, but she couldn’t help herself.
    “Wait till you hear him play the guitar,” Liza said. “It’s totally swoony.”
    “Yeah. I’m forever swooning over classical music.” Paige rolled her eyes. “Figures.”
    They made it to the dressing rooms and Paige tried on the dress Liza had picked out, surprised that it was stylish, short, and strapless. It was a shame to ruin all that goodness by making it the color of a pumpkin. But it was Liza’s wedding, and Paige wanted every little detail to be exactly what Liza pictured. She put her winter clothes back on and headed to the checkout, where Liza had already taken care of ordering the dress to be rush shipped to St. Lucia.
    They stepped away from the counter and Paige said, “You haven’t denied that you’re trying to set me up.”
    “And I’m not going to.”
    “Why not one of Cole’s friends? Lane Anderson and I aren’t the least bit compatible.”
    “Sure you are.” Liza looked Paige in the eye. “My mom thinks so, too, and I kinda trust her with the matchmaking thing right about now. She managed to get Cole and me together.”
    Paige hadn’t thought of that.
    “And she believes Lane is perfect for you,” Liza said.
    “That’s frightening. We couldn’t be more opposite,” Paige argued as she tried to hide the excitement swirling through her. Sylvia thinks he’s perfect for me?
    Liza frowned. “C’mon. You don’t have to marry the guy. You don’t even have to date him if you don’t want to. Just give him a chance to get to know you. What have you got to lose?”
    …
    Paige hurried back to Sweet Bee’s to relieve Cyn, who had to run some inane errand for the Queen.
    “Everything’s done except the dishes,” Cyn said. “Since the day’s almost over, I took the pleasure of putting an X on the calendar.”
    Paige stepped over to the bulletin board and smiled at the big red X . The day after Lane had come to the bakery and started trouble, she’d announced to Cyn that they’d mark the days, counting down until he got the heck out of town and things could go back to normal. “One more down, too many to go.”
    What really got Paige was the empty space next to the calendar where she and Cyn used to post the notes from Dr. Hartley with a smiley-face tack. “How was business today?”
    Cyn shook her head. “We had a few walk-ins, and Mrs. Kip came to pick up her last Special Recipe order and to say good-bye.”
    Paige’s heart skipped a beat. She’d lost another customer—and a friend. It seemed to be happening faster and faster lately. “Aw, I’ll miss her. I loved her stories. Remember when she sprayed bathroom cleaner in her hair, thinking it was hair spray?”
    “She had no idea until it puffed up like a giant marshmallow.” Cyn laughed, and Paige couldn’t help but laugh, too.
    “She’s going to live with her daughter in Pennsylvania, right?”
    “Yep.”
    Paige sighed. How were she and her dad ever going to make it with so many people leaving and so few moving to Maple Creek? And with Lane interfering with the Secret Recipe program, she probably wouldn’t get a new customer to offset the business she’d lost from Mrs. Kip.
    Her only hope right now hinged on the annual Maple Creek Valentine’s banquet coming up next month. “Did you hear they’re going all out for the Valentine’s banquet this year?”
    Cyn scrunched her face. “I’m afraid to ask what ‘all out’ means.”
    “Just that they’re giving everyone a take-home favor.”
    “Man,” Cyn said. “Think we can handle all that excitement?”
    “Mrs. Barker suggested a box of conversation hearts.”
    “What’s the difference