“I know what you’re thinking,” Maddie said. “But I’ve been here before—that’s how I knew to watch for the turn. They don’t have a commercial storefront. They do baking for restaurants, catering companies, events—that kind of thing.”

“Ah. That makes more sense.”

She glanced over at Maddie again, wondering if she should ask. They were having a nice time now, the tension low. She didn’t want to make things weird again. Still, she had to know.

“So…are we going to be pretending again?” As the words left her mouth, she suddenly dreaded the answer.

Maddie laughed. “No. Can’t get away with it this time. The owner is one of Jai’s sisters, Joan.”

“Ah,” she said, suddenly nervous. Jai had been wonderfully welcoming and warm last night, but that didn’t necessarily mean his sister would be the same. She’d already been dreading the family get-together later tonight, but she would at least have a chance to look her best in front of them. Now, in her casual wear and with very little makeup, she was worried about first impressions. In a family as close as his, word would no doubt spread about her before she met the rest of them.

She flipped down the sun visor, hoping for a mirror, but of course a car this old didn’t have one. She dug around in her purse, finding her compact, and checked her makeup, rubbing the smudges away from the corners of her eyes and lips.

Maddie drove past a surprisingly large farm-style house, circling to the back. Here Ryann saw a separate building, its design something between a barn and a warehouse, long and white with a peaked metal roof. Another small sign for the bakery hung above the single door, and someone came out as the car turned off. The woman who appeared was blond and small, a red apron tied around her middle.

“That’s Joan now,” Maddie said, climbing out of the cab.

She followed, more nervous than before, hanging back a little as the two greeted each other.

“Joan, this is Ryann, Stuart’s maid of honor,” Maddie said, waving her forward.

“Ah! I see,” Joan said, holding out a hand. “Jai wasn’t exaggerating.”

“About what?” she asked, shaking her hand.

Joan and Maddie shared a sly glance, and then Joan shook her head. “Nothing, nothing. Come on in, ladies. It’s plenty warm inside, and you have a lot of cake to try.”

Maddie followed her at once, but Ryann held back, wondering what that exchange had been about. What had Jai told her?