Chapter 6 #2
“I want to grab something to eat before the meeting starts,” Dani said, her gaze flitting quickly to Lily and Declan.
“I’ll go with you,” Lily said. Anything for some cardamom-free air.
“Great. I’ll introduce you to some of the new shop owners. Be back in a bit, boys.” Dani looped her arm through Lily’s and dragged her toward the food table. “I’m guessing you’ve been so busy getting your own store ready to open that you haven’t had a chance to meet everyone else yet.”
“How did you know?”
“Because I think that’s the case for the others here too. But I wanted everyone to feel like part of Jonathon Island.”
“So they’ll feel invested in the community and want to stay?”
“Exactly.” She squeezed Lily’s arm, then released it once they’d reached the table. “Though whatever happens with the shop, I hope you find a reason to stay here. Now that you’re back, this town might get fun again.”
Lily laughed. “C’mon, I wasn’t that much of a troublemaker.”
Dani waggled her eyebrows. “I do remember some late-night golf cart shenanigans.”
“What?” She laughed. “What happens on the island stays on the island.”
“Exactly,” Dani said, winking. They’d reached the table.
Lily piled her plate with mini meatballs, fruit kebabs, tiny quiches, and some carrots to round out the food groups.
Then Dani led her to a group of people talking in the grass. “Hey, guys. This is Lily Hart, one of the business owners at the fudge shop.”
An older gentleman with oversized glasses and a combover licked barbecue sauce off his thumb. “That’s the shop with the competition, yes?”
Dani nodded. “Sure is, Fred. Lily, this is Fred Miller and his wife, Ginny. They run Miller Antiques just up the road from you, between Jemma Swanson’s glassblowing shop—she’s around here somewhere—and Good Day Coffee.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too, honey.” His wife, a sweet-looking older woman with powder-blue hair and wrinkled cheeks, leaned in closer. “So, just how do you plan on beating your competition?”
“By making the best fudge on the island.” Lily winked—because honestly, what else could she say?
“That’s not enough, though, is it?” A dark-haired man in his fifties with a shrewd brow handed the woman beside him his plate and unbuttoned his jacket over his girth. “We’ve all competed for these spots, so we know that it’s not just about what you’re offering, but how you’re offering it.”
“So true, so true.” Dani flashed a smile, but Lily could tell it was strained. “Lil, this is Mickey and Jocelyn Harper. They are running Island Souvenirs next door to Doug’s Market.”
“Welcome to Jonathon Island.” Lily couldn’t keep the shaking out of her voice. Because as much as Dani had glossed over Mickey’s statement, he was right.
After another round of introductions in a separate group—this one much younger, including the owners of Holly’s Flowers (Holly Joseph), Maritime Dreams (Grace Marconi), Bella Island Boutique (Britta O’Keefe), and Hair Haven Salon (Ivy Dawson)—Lily’s head was spinning.
The buzz of conversation grated on her nerves.
And yes, there was a general excitement in the air as the new business owners spoke about the possibilities, all the ways they would capitalize on the hotel’s reopening in stages, how amazing this business opportunity was, how they planned to attract clientele.
But Lily didn’t want to talk bottom lines and brokers and business plans. Her fingers itched to move, to create.
She didn’t see a single woman wearing a tie-dyed skirt. Mostly pants, blouses, no one in heels, but no one wearing tennis shoes, either.
Business people.
As opposed to the neighborhood fudge maker. Sheesh, she might be lucky she didn’t have chocolate in her hair.
Dani could fill her in later about the details of the festival and what was required of the business owners, but right now, Lily needed to get out of here. Go somewhere she actually belonged.
For now.
* * *
This was a mistake. More than a mistake.
It just bugged him that Lily had left the event.
No, what bothered him had been the strange, almost defeated expression on her face.
He shouldn’t have noticed. But she was hard to miss in that crazy floral skirt and bright blue tank top. Of course it made her blue eyes only that much bluer.
And all evening, as he’d chatted with new business owners, Declan had watched her shoulders get lower and lower.
Aw, he definitely shouldn’t have left the Business Association mixer.
Now he stood outside the closed fudge shop, leaning his forehead against the front door—hand hovering over the doorknob.
He’d expected her to come back when Dani’s meeting had started. But she never did.
And he knew where she’d go, of course.
When Lily was upset, she created.
When Lily was happy, she created too.
At least, the old Lily had. And while they’d both grown up, Declan hoped that was something about her that would never change.
So he’d slipped out of his chair beside Dad, claiming a stomachache. Not exactly a lie, since the fact he was here, about to check on the one person who could destroy him, was indeed causing him great intestinal distress.
Okay. Get in, check on her, get out.
Declan twisted the knob and it gave way. Come on, Lil. At least lock it behind you .
Grunts, thumps, and exclamations spilled out from the kitchen.
Closing the door behind him, he popped the deadbolt in place and headed for the kitchen. What state would he find it in? To his knowledge, he’d been the last one to use it—after his latest failed attempt at making fudge—but Hurricane Lily never took long to leave a mess in her wake.
When he eased open the kitchen door, his eyebrows rose at the sight of Lily, her back to him, leaning over the counter, nose deep in a manual while a large, unfamiliar stainless steel appliance sat on the counter beside her.
As he approached, the door squeaked and Lily jumped, whirling, hand to her chest. “Wha?—?”
“It’s just me.” He held up his hands. “But I do see you’re unarmed.”
“Haha. Funny man.” Lily rubbed her nose, which was slightly red. Had she been crying? Yep, her eyes were puffy.
He stifled the crazy urge to reach out?—
Stop .
If he knew what was good for him, he’d turn around. Sprint out of the shop.
Instead, he loosened his tie and tugged off his jacket. “So, you do know there’s a party going on up the road.”
She shrugged. Then turned back to her manual.
Ho-kay. Clearly she wasn’t going to let him in on whatever made her flee the event.
And now that he knew she was okay, he should go back to the mixer. Hear all the details about the upcoming festival, all the ways he could use it to his advantage as a business owner.
His eyes caught on a few dirty bowls and utensils in the sink, traveling to some dripped cream or milk on the counter beside it. And then they snagged on the top header of the page where Lily ran her finger along some words, gaze intense. “You’re making ice cream?”
She sighed. “Trying. But this thing isn’t working.”
“You do know this is a fudge shop, right?” Declan looked over her shoulder at the manual.
Wrong move, because she smelled sweet—vanilla, maybe? And some sort of floral scent.
Seriously. Stop.
She glanced at him. “News flash: I can make more than fudge.” Lily waved her hand up and down to indicate the dusty appliance. “Mom bought this commercial ice cream maker at an auction, but it’s not working.”
“And you thought, hey, now’s a good time to fix it? When you’re in the middle of getting a fudge shop up and running?”
She stepped away from him, sighed. “I just…I just don’t want to think about fudge right now.” Her voice was quiet, and something about it sounded so lost.
Aw, and now again, he nearly reached out to her. She had a sort of terrible power over him—always had, really.
Nope. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It keeps shutting off too early.”
He rolled up his sleeves. “Can I take a look?”
“I really don’t need your help.”
He raised an eyebrow.
She sighed. “Fine. But I definitely can’t let you fix this without repaying you somehow.”
“Just what did you have in mind?” Oh—wait. No, that came out wrong.
Her eyes widened.
Aw. “Forget I said that. Really, let me help.”
Her lips pursed.
He held up his hands. “All right, all right. Look, if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll just step aside and let you figure this one out yourself. Even though I know what’s probably wrong with it.”
She considered him for a long moment. Finally, “Fine. But in exchange, I’ll show you how to actually make fudge.”
“What are you talking about? I know how to make fudge. It’s simple. I have the family recipes. All I have to do is follow the directions.”
Except, inside he heard his own voice calling him a liar. He’d spent hours over the last two days, and thrown out more batches than he wanted to admit.
Lily studied him. “Some things in life don’t follow exactness and precision.”
She was talking about fudge, right?
“Isn’t that the point of the recipes? To recreate them again and again?”
“There are other factors you have to consider. Every batch of fudge is slightly different, and you kind of have to feel your way through the making of it. Do you think you can do that, Slick?” She added a smile, and his heart suddenly woke up and slammed against his chest.
He hadn’t actually forgotten how pretty she was. Just wanted to.
“So, can you?” Now, she cocked her head, raised an eyebrow, hands on her hips. “ Feel it instead of think it to death? Or have you lost all sense of emotion?”
She must not have heard the way his heart beat wildly in his throat at her nearness or she’d never question his ability to feel .
He swallowed, ignored her words. “So, you’ll really give me some fudge-making lessons if I fix your machine here?”
“Yes.” She stepped aside and flourished her arms toward the machine. “Have at it.”