Chapter 8 #3
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. But your system—or lack thereof—scared me .” He squatted, reaching past her to grab a wayward receipt from under the ancient executive desk and adding it to the fresh pile she’d started. “Lily, you can’t keep your books like this.”
She rocked back on her heels, putting space between them. “It works for me.”
“Does it?”
“Yes.” She tilted her chin in defiance.
So stubborn. “Do you want my help?” The words were out before he could think better of them, because what would his parents say? What would Isaac—who’d been by twice in the last few days to spy on him—say? And he didn’t want to think about the reaction of the Kelley clan at large.
Harts versus Kelleys all over again, and them caught in the middle.
Then again, why did Declan care so much?
His family’s feelings on the subject of Lily had nothing to do with whether or not he’d actually win their competition and get to keep Grandma’s house.
Judging by the number of receipts scattered on the floor, by the way he’d seen customers react to her latest fudge flavors, Lily was already winning.
Which meant he probably needed a backup plan. In the meantime, “Let me help you get organized.”
Not that he was giving up. He still had some marketing tricks up his sleeve, parts of his business plan to execute. But as much as he wanted to win, he also didn’t want to see Lily fail. Not anymore. He held out his hand to her.
“Why?” After a moment of intense study, she allowed him to help her stand.
“Consider it repayment for showing me how to make fudge.” That wasn’t really the reason, but it was the one she’d accept. “Now, we need to get these into order by date.” He didn’t wait for her to say yes. Just took the stack and began sorting them on the worn brown desktop.
“I can do that.”
“So can I.” He spied an accounting software box lying next to Lily’s open bright pink laptop. His lips quirked.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She swiped a receipt from his hand. “No, tell me. What are you laughing at me for now?”
“I’m not laughing at you .” The pointed look on her face sent him backpedaling.
“Okay, maybe a little, but it’s because you’re so cute.
Most software is sold digitally. You just download it offline.
The office programs are for…” Would he insult her if he told her that the physical software was mostly intended for old folks and those who were less than tech savvy? Shoot, maybe. “Never mind.”
Aw, man, she was frowning. “The ad said installing and using it was so easy, a five-year-old with a lemonade stand could use it.” She put the receipt she’d taken from Declan back in the folder. “I’ve never been at the top of my class, but I graduated high school just fine.”
“I know you did. I was there.”
She looked at him.
Oops. “Listen, whatever they claim, in my experience, it isn’t quite that easy.”
“Oh?”
“I can show you a few tricks to get yourself set up right. That’ll make a big difference.”
“I guess all those years in school have paid off.”
He lifted his shoulder. “I learned this working with my dad in high school. They’ve updated the software in the years since, but the basics are all still the same. It’s pretty common business software, and I used it in one of my internships too.”
She leaned over her computer, tapped a few keys, and the software pulled up. “I guess that would be okay. I mean, showing you how to make fudge did take me a long time.”
“I know. Several hours.”
“Almost a whole day.” She flicked her gaze at him. “You needed a lot of tutoring.”
“So much.” He smiled.
She smiled back.
Oh boy. “So you’ll let me help you?”
Sighing, Lily turned to him. She smelled good—a mix of vanilla and chocolate, and suddenly the office seemed a little too small.
“Fine,” she said, but held up her hand. “And then no more helping each other. We duke it out like the rivals we’re supposed to be.” But despite her words, her tone didn’t sound like someone who considered him the enemy.
He’d long ago stopped seeing her that way.
So maybe the Kelley clan was right.
“Lily, make me a promise.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t ever let your receipts stack up like this again.” He tapped the pile of paper. “You’re just making it harder on yourself.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Set a reminder on your phone until you get in the habit. Every night, make sure you load your transactions into the software, okay?”
“Okay.”
He cut her a look. “I’m serious.”
“Okay. Fine. I will. And that will be good, because I swear I’m missing some receipts from the last few days.”
“What do you mean?”
“It just feels like I’ve sold more than this.”
“And that’s the problem. You wouldn’t know for sure if you’re not entering them daily, yeah?”
“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled, plopping into the chair in front of the laptop. “Let’s get this over with.”
Over the next two hours, Declan walked her through setting up her business profile, entering her expense accounts, regular vendors, and connecting to her bank accounts. Then loading and reconciling all her receipts.
When it was all said and done, his suspicions were confirmed.
“Wow, you’re doing really well,” he said as he blinked at the computer screen over her shoulder. “I mean, I’m sorry—but I can’t help but see that.”
Lily eyed the balance page. “That’s better than I thought. Not great, but I won’t have to sell a kidney.”
“You’re doing better than great. In fact, you’re leaving me in the dust.” He lowered himself onto the edge of the desk.
She twisted in the chair to face him. “Really? Wow. Fist pump.”
“I’ll try not to be deeply offended by your enthusiasm.”
“I’m sure it won’t last now that you’re getting the hang of fudge making. Your peanut butter fudge from last night was fairly spectacular.”
“You stole some of my fudge?”
“ Stole is such a strong word.” She grinned.
“I’ll have to find a way to get repayment.” And he couldn’t help it—his gaze fell to her lips.
Suddenly, she stopped smiling. Got up.
“Thank you for this.” Lily nodded toward the computer. “We were more than even. You really didn’t have to.”
He took a step back. “I’m glad I could help. No receipt deserves to be treated like that.”
“Haha,” Lily said, then brushed past him to grab the coffee she’d poured a half hour ago off the bookcase where she’d left it. Then she turned, mug in hand. “So, you asked me the other day what I’d do if I lost. But what about you? What are your plans, win or lose?”
Surely he’d mentioned this to her, right? “The plan has always been for me to go back to Chicago. I’ve got a job waiting for me there, but only if I leave right after the festival.”
“Even if you win?” Did he detect a sort of sadness in her?
“Yes. If I lose, I leave. If I win, I leave.”
It suddenly sounded like he’d lose, either way. Huh.
“And how would that work? If you win, I mean? Who would run the shop?”
“I’d help oversee the business from afar and would hire someone here to manage the day-to-day. Maybe my cousin Olive, if she decides not to go to community college on the mainland.”
“So, someone your family approves of. No mercy for the Hart you left in the dust, huh?” She said it teasingly, but it fell flat, as did her smile.
“Lily…”
“No, I get it. Family always comes first, right? And I wouldn’t work here even if you asked me to. I’d bow out gracefully.”
“Hey.” He waited for her to look him in the eyes. “I meant what I said yesterday. I don’t want to fight with you anymore.”
“But it’s so fun.” She sighed. “Just kidding. I don’t want to fight either. It’s kind of exhausting.”
“It is. And you’re right—I won’t lie that I value family. So do you. But I’m sorry that I let it come between us. That I didn’t stand up for you in the moment. Back then, I mean. What happened with Grandpa…”
“Hey.” She walked over to him, touched his arm. “It was an accident.”
“I should have been there.”
“Maybe. Yes. But Alzheimer’s patients get out all the time. Most of them require round-the-clock care from professionals, and you were an eighteen-year-old kid.” She squeezed his arm. “You’ve got to let go of the guilt sometime, Dec.”
He couldn’t break free of her gaze, so beautiful, so honest.
Don’t…
He stepped away, breaking her hold. “Anyway. I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry for the past. For blaming you. For breaking up with you in such a childish way. For putting my desire to be loyal to family above you.”
Lily nodded. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have left like that and ignored your calls. But when Sadie invited me to spend the rest of the summer in Florida, I didn’t think. I just went. And stayed.”
“And never came back. Until now.”
“Well, except to visit. But yes.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, breathing in this change between them. The forgiveness. And Declan’s chest…
For the first time in he didn’t know how long, it felt as if he could breathe again. Finally, “Lily, I think this family feud has gone on long enough.”
“I agree, actually.”
“Hold the presses.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and turned like he was making an announcement. “Let it be known that at 8:52 p.m. on Tuesday, July twenty-second, Lily Hart agreed with Declan Kelley.”
“Stop it, you goof.” She smacked him on the arm. “So I agree with you. Big whoop. The point is, we had nothing to do with the old Fudge Wars. We don’t need to bow to this sense of…of duty that’s decades old, right?” She set down her coffee. “The past doesn’t have to rule our lives.”
Outside, the sun had begun to set, the colors awash over the lake, cresting into the room. It picked up the lavender highlights in her hair, settled into her eyes, turning them a deep, rich blue.
“You are talking about the business, right?” The question popped out—a more regular occurrence since being around Lily. He’d never been more impulsive in his life. Her influence, once again. “Nothing more?”
“Of course.” Her cheeks reddened and she stopped. “Things between us…we were just kids. Young. Impulsive. I wasn’t suggesting…” She held up a hand. “Listen, all these numbers make my brain swim. I’m gonna go whip up some ice cream. Clear my head. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“Yes, we do.” Because tomorrow, Kent Mercer was going to taste both of their offerings and give Lily a raving review that would ensure an even bigger lead over him.
But right now, Declan honestly couldn’t find it in him to care. Because what if things didn’t have to be an either/or situation with Lily? She wasn’t his enemy. And, okay, he wasn’t sure if she was his friend.
But he was pretty sure that she just might be the one thing that he’d searched the world to find.
Too bad it was on Jonathon Island.