1. Lilian
Igroaned loudly, throwing my auburn hair up with pale blonde streaks into a messy bun before tying my brown apron with Lil’s Sweet Treats embroidered around my waist knowing that by the time the shop opened it’ll have to be changed ready for when the customers arrived and then deep cleaned and soaked from the layers of chocolate that I’ll be covered in.
I couldn’t create pure creative perfection without being able to thrive and explore in my workspace.
The business I’d created was as much about the process and failures as the successes at the end of the day.
I wouldn’t have my specialist double white and dark cups of hot chocolate otherwise to show for it.
The stark contrast of the sweetness and bitter chocolate chips, mixed with luxurious cream and of course the snap of the perfect tempered fine chocolate.
When you combined it all together with the delicious rich hot chocolate it made it hard for not only the people who lived in Starlight Bay to pop in but also the neighbouring areas.
Most picked up a selection of handcrafted chocolates and filled a box up at the same time or even a slice of the triple layered and flavoured cake that complimented our signature drink with style.
It amazed me how someone could manage it all though and not have to take some home and save for later.
Personally, I ended up with tummy ache on more than one occasion from over consuming but it was just too good to deny and stop.
The early start to the day creating and restocking the shop normally flew by as the hours blurred into one but today, I couldn’t help but be anxious and watch the clock.
I’d not slept well with the thought of knowing it was officially National Dare Day and the day I’d learn my fate.
It hadn’t mattered that I’d considered hiding out or away from Starlight Bay—I could have said my Mom’s plans had changed—Paisley had recorded down at the town hall the official record that I’d be part of the holidays this season along with a line of other eager people from the community.
It made me wonder what possessed all these people to participate in such an occasion—when it hit me—the prize shared between the person who created the dare and undertook it.
This year it was a marketing package with Sleek Strategies and Heidi Lowerstoft—the company’s CEO herself who were known for their ability to deliver and excel in the production of online content.
It could be a huge boost for any local business or the small town itself.
It was why I knew I couldn’t escape the plan she had created now even if I wanted to as I’d be left with the forfeit for non-compliance and ruin her chances of winning.
It was her dream but it meant I was totally screwed. End of.
I’d concocted so many ideas of what Paisley could have derived for my dare but none of which seemed suitable—either they were too extreme on one scale or too simple.
Whatever it was though she’d put her heart and soul into planning it.
The bell sounded above the door as I peeked my head around the corner from where I created all the magic in the back room of the shop and noticed Paisley with a set of files in her hands decorated in giant hearts clutched to her chest as she walked straight in my direction.
With a quick glance at the time, I realize it’s only five minutes until we open and I’m no way near ready for the day ahead.
I’d still not even started on the milk chocolate caramel apple creams yet or the new filled meringue nests.
“One minute,”
I uttered to her, holding up my chocolate covered hand and shaking my head in disbelief at my lack of organisation skills.
I’m always meticulously particular with my timings to ensure I’m ready for the open and now today I’m going to have to balance between the two.
I mean meringue alone is so temperamental, never mind the tempering of the chocolate bases, if I open the door too early it’ll fall flat and if I leave too long it’ll be overdone and crisp.
“I need to clean my hands and then I’ll be right out?—”
“Need a hand?”
Paisley asks as her gaze took in the state of my workspace out back, her mouth hanging wide open as she took a glance at the time.
I could tell what she was thinking without even uttering a word—I was in a complete mess and it was totally outside the standard obsessive control and order she saw on the daily from me.
“I know Saturdays are my day off but it seems that there’s an emergency at hand here today.
I can help out on the register and give you chance to?—”
“It’s this damn National Dare Day,”
I replied to her throwing my hands in the air as I shook my head. “I’ve not slept a wink thanks to your name dropping of Reid Belgrave.”
I snapped out to her as she bit down on her lip.
It was as if she was fighting to hide the chuckle from coming out.
To be honest that wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest—Paisley was all but bold and confident in all actions and never apologized for being her.
It was why the two of us clicked so well when she first moved here from Rosewood Pines a few years back even though I always had the daily reminder of her roots with the thanks to either her step-brother Aiden checking in on her or his girl Blaire.
In my eyes Paisley was the strongest woman I knew having been through more trauma than anyone should ever deal with in her younger years but instead of becoming a mouse and shying away from reality she bloomed as this straight talking confident lion prowling and taking down anyone in her path.
“This invokes a huge fear in me.”
I stated in a whisper finally as I swapped out my apron and threw my old one in the laundry basket to take home with me later. The amount of towels and aprons I go through in this place never seems to amaze me. “I’d appreciate the help but just tell me what the hell my dare is and pull the band aid off.”
“Well…”
Paisley excitedly said bouncing on her tiptoes in another pair of this time lavish bright aqua heels with mermaid scales hand painted across them. My poor feet instantly ached at the thought of being trapped in those torture devices all day. “I dare you Lilian Raeflower to fake date Reid Belgrave for the next two weeks and no one in Starlight Bay can expect it’s not the real thing. If they do, then you have to undertake the following forfeit of hosting a tour of Starlight Bay wearing a baby costume and explaining random wrong facts about the area.”
She now chuckled loudly at my slackened jaw as she stood in the doorway separating the shop from the kitchen area just as the bell to the shop alerted me to a customer.
I stepped slowly toward her thinking of the grumpy, annoying lawyer who oozed an air of sex appeal that no one could deny and a shiver passed down my spine. I sucked in a deep breath before my gaze met hers, the tapping on the countertop going straight through me as I noticed it was still a minute technically until the day started.
“You’re telling me… that I have to fake date with Reid Belgrave or take that ridiculous forfeit.”
I seethed out. “How the hell did you think that I would even get him to agree to it? I mean…”
I closed the gap toward her, indicating with my hand to stand to the side and let me pass. “Reid Belgrave… really. He’d never agree to that in a million years.”
I said in amazement.
“Agree to what?”
He asked as I sucked in a huge breath and vowed in that moment that Paisley would pay for this moment—maybe not now but one day in the future she’ll realize she made a huge mistake here. “Hope I was just on time… Paisley asked me to pop in.”
He leaned over the countertop closing the gap. Everyone knew the story of heartbreak this guy had encountered and it being the apparent cause of why he was grumpy all the time. Reid hated love—he thought that it didn’t exist and that it was just for fools. It was a known reason why the women of the surrounding area flocked over him and tried to break the hold that whoever had over him. “Now do you need to ask me something before we are disturbed by another customer. I mean that would make all this null and void.”
He sharply cut out. “I have a persona to admire.”
“Yeah, the rude, grumpy asshole of a lawyer.” I snapped back at him as she got to work making me a shot of espresso—the perfect drink to match his heart—black and uncaring. “You love to fight and destroy people.”
“Never denied anything of the sort. People deserve what they’re given—the best.” Reid cockily replied back as I rolled my eyes at him and continued with the task at hand. “But I am sick of the constant women chasing my tail and not understanding that maybe being alone is fine.” He said honestly to me before curling his lip at me. “I do love it though when they talk dirty. I’m after all a hot-blooded man.”
“Maybe some women, but not me. I’m not like them.” I exclaimed as I placed his drink in front of him and he handed me a crisp bill allowing our fingers to graze one another. “I’m…”
“Exactly. That’s why you’re perfect for this task.” He announced back before trailing his eyes over me. “We’ll be solving each other’s issues and you avoid having to do a forfeit. The perfect trick and enticement for people to back off.”
“I assume that means me too.” Paisley cut in as I turned to her having forgotten she was here for a moment. I mean it was unusual for her presence to not take over the whole room whenever she was in it. “Lilian completes the dare and no forfeit. That’s the rules set for the tradition of the holiday. I won’t be moving that bar.”
“She is a stickler for all the rules.” I confirmed as Paisley shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
“Then that’s decided then, the next two weeks you’re mine.” Reid shouted out as Mireille or Miri as she was nicknamed started to cross the road with her boss Evander. A daily visitor who always knew how to ensure to cheer up my day with her wicked banter and sense of humor. “I’ll catch you later. Thanks Paisley.” He held his drink up in salute as he turned on his heel toward the door and rushed out without a care that it shut just as Miri and Evander had paused to enter. What an asshole!
“Do I want to know what that was all about?” Miri asked, walking toward me as Evander continued his conversation into his cell allowing the odd agreement and grunt to leave his throat whilst making his way to their regular seats. “He looked pissed…”
“Lover’s tiff.” Paisley stated as she made her way to my side and smiled widely.
“I need all the details… like yesterday.” Miri demanded as she admired the chocolates that I had placed inside the glass counter already. “Black coffee with no sugar for Evander and a hot chocolate for me with a few of those salted caramels. Then tell me all…”
“There’s nothing much to tell.” I stated as I walked toward the entrance to the kitchen and allowed Paisley to start making their order as she fake coughed. “Nothing really to tell…” I stared at her as her lip upturned.
“Really… Lilian.” She exclaimed, holding her heart. “You have to tell people and stop hiding your love for one another.”
“No…” Miri pointed at me and then to the chocolate shop door before covering her mouth in shock. She slowly removed it away as Paisley nodded and I waited for the words I never thought would be combined in a sentence to hit my ears. “Lilian Raeflower, you’re dating Reid Belgrave?”
I forced the nod and turned on my heel before sucking in a deep breath and pausing in the partition between the two rooms and glanced over my shoulder at her.
“I am. You heard it first, Miri. Reid and I are a couple.”