5

Sienna

It was my responsibility to keep a watchful eye on Forrest, and fortunately, he made it an effortless task by becoming a regular at my bakery.

"Good morning, Sienna," he said as he sauntered in, his dark hair ruffled from the wind.

"Morning! Back again?" I asked for the sixth morning in a row.

His eyes darted away and then back to mine as if he were trying to hide something. The hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, adding to the mystery of his expression.

"I had some things to check on next door," he cleared his throat. "I thought I'd stop in for a bagel."

The morning rush had dispersed long before his arrival that morning. It was just the two of us in my bakery, and I was eager to understand the reasons behind his move to Cider Falls.

I reached for a plain bagel, his usual order. "Would you like it on a plate or to go?" I asked, secretly hoping he would stick around.

"A plate is fine," he said. "Oh, and I think I'll try the pumpkin spice cream cheese."

"Feeling a little daring this morning?" I teased him.

"Judging by your pastries," he shrugged, "anything you offer me is bound to be delicious." His gaze roamed slowly over my figure, his eyes lingering on each curve with hunger.

Was he flirting with me?

Ignoring his words, I placed a small dish of pumpkin spice cream cheese on the side of his plate. He didn't hesitate before he spread it and took his first bite.

"How does this taste so good?" he asked. "What is pumpkin spice?"

"It's just a blend of spices I'm sure you're familiar with," I explained, counting them on my fingers. " Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove."

"What is allspice?" he asked. "The spice that has it all?"

I chuckled at his corny delivery. "Allspice is a berry, believe it or not," I explained. "It's made with the dried berries from a Pimenta diocia."

"Very interesting," he said as he took another bite. "I never want to eat plain cream cheese again."

"Well, lucky you, I have pumpkin spice cream cheese available year-round."

"Cider Falls seems to really lean into Halloween," he said.

"It's our favorite holiday!"

"You don't say."

As we spoke, Forrest's gaze shifted between my eyes and my lips with a magnetic pull that sent shivers down my spine. I wished that he would stop looking at me in such an unsettling way. It was a distraction as I struggled to keep my focus.

"So, how are things going next door?" I asked him as I busied myself with the dough in front of me.

"They're not. "

"I'm sorry," I said.

He tilted his head, his eyes studying me. "No reason to be sorry. It's not like you're sabotaging my renovations. It's boring waiting around, though."

The thought of Forrest's boredom had completely slipped my mind. Mortal men were notorious for being quick to boredom, always searching for the next exciting thing. I knew I needed to keep him busy, the last thing our town needed was a free-thinking man wandering our streets.

"What are your plans for the day?" I asked.

"I'll probably just go for a hike or something," he said.

A hike, in our woods? Not on my watch. The woods were sacred.

"Have you ever carved a pumpkin?" I asked him.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise as if my question was the most outlandish thing he had ever heard. It was evident that he was not one for indulging in the festivities of Halloween.

But there was a first time for everything.

"You mean, a jack-o'-lantern?" he asked .

"Exactly!"

He shook his head. "I have zero experience in that department."

"I just need a couple to place out there," I pointed to the ground outside my bakery's front door. "We're getting too close to Halloween for my stoop to be bare."

"I can do that," he said with a newfound warmth in his eyes.

"I haven't made it out to the pumpkin patch yet," I admitted, "but the morning rush is over. We could go together."

"I can drive," he offered.

The mere thought of getting into a car with a man who still had his free will made my heart race with fear. I had heard rumors of the danger that lurked in the shadows of every man's mind. I'd heard of their dark desires and the damage they could inflict. My palms began to sweat, and my throat tightened. But I knew I had to be brave, for my coven.

"Thank you," I said. I carefully placed my hand-painted sign that read ‘be back soon' on the windowsill of my bakery. "That would be lovely."

"You're not going to lock up?" Forrest asked as I strolled away from my shop.

"I trust that my customers will honorably leave payment for their indulgences," I explained. "Honesty is the backbone of our community here in Cider Falls."

As I tentatively approached the truck, Forrest reached out his hand to offer support. His rough, calloused fingers were warm against my skin as he helped me into the passenger seat. An unfamiliar feeling flickered in my chest as Forrest rounded the car and gracefully slid onto the worn bench seat beside me. I dared to steal a glance at his face, only to find a pair of warm eyes staring back at me.

"Are you going to be my navigator?" he asked as the engine roared.

"Of course," I said, giving him his first directions.

As we drove out of the small town, I admired the passing fields of golden cornstalks that looked almost ready to harvest. Forrest hummed along to the faint sound of his radio, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. His carefree demeanor was a stark contrast to my own nerves about spending time together.

"Take your next left," I told him.

"On Pumpkin Lane? "

"What else would it be called?"

We pulled up to the sprawling pumpkin patch, and Forrest parked the truck, eagerly hopping out. The ground was slightly damp from recent rain, causing an earthy smell to permeate the air, mixing with fresh-cut hay.

Forrest's eyes sparkled in excitement as he grabbed my hand and led me towards the entrance. "Ready to show me how to pick the perfect pumpkin?" he asked.

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at the sight of his enthusiasm.