Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
D eclan was leaving.
Win or lose, he was leaving .
Why did that devastate her so much?
For the last eighteen hours, Lily had hardly been able to think about much else—like the way Declan had patiently shown her how to wrangle her finances. Or the fact that Kent Mercer was on his way to the island.
No, her brain was all clogged up with the softness in his voice when he’d apologized for the past. Or that almost-kiss at the wedding.
Focus.
“Settle down, girl.” Mia laughed and plopped her hand over top of Lily’s as she arranged and rearranged the sample box she’d created for Mr. Mercer.
“Why don’t you make some fudge or something?
That always calms you right down.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing to the marble demonstration table in front of the window.
“Haven’t seen you use that much. Give the people a show. ”
“By people , do you mean Cody and your children?” From Lily’s spot behind the counter, she could see her brother giving two-year-old Maggie a piggyback ride up and down the sidewalk in front of the shop.
Five-year-old Finn raced beside him, running a Hot Wheels car over every bench and lamppost along the way.
“He sure is cute with them. Can’t wait for the day I can call them my niece and nephew. ”
Mia’s mouth fell open, and she let loose an incredulous laugh. “Lily Hart. Don’t be saying that so loudly. People will start rumors that we’re engaged.”
“Oh, please. There’s no one here.” Lily glanced over at Declan, who was assisting an older couple. He certainly didn’t seem nervous. Every movement he made was calm and professional, and he spoke in dulcet tones that made her want to?—
Her mind really needed to find another topic of thought.
But she knew, deep in her bones, that if she hadn’t walked away last night, he would have kissed her.
And she would have let him.
“There’s no one here, huh?” Mia’s eyebrows rose. She leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “I see the way you look at him, Lil. Same way you did back in high school. Best be careful or I won’t be the only one on the verge of engagement.”
“Aha!” Lily lifted her hands in triumph. “I knew it.”
Her sweet friend’s nose crinkled, emphasizing her freckles. “Not officially. It’s just, when you know, you know. It’s only a matter of timing now.”
The bell jingled as the kids rushed inside with her brother. He came up behind Mia, wrapped her in his arms, and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “The kids are getting hungry. Want to try the pizza place?”
“It’s open?” Lily asked as she slid a small fudge sample toward a waiting Finn and Maggie. Who could resist those big eyes? Besides, she wanted favorite aunt status someday when Mia and Cody inevitably tied the knot.
“This week is the soft opening. Officially open on Saturday. The owner, Antonio, is a boat enthusiast and talked my ear off about it the other day when I was at the marina.”
“Exciting. Let me know how the food is. I’ve missed a good pizza.” Till now, Kelley’s Bar & Grill was the only place to get one and, yeah. Clearly that hadn’t been an option.
The bell sounded again and another few customers walked in, headed straight for Declan’s counter.
“Sorry. We’re crowding you out.” Mia ushered the kids toward the door, glancing over her shoulder. “Let’s get together soon, okay? I want to hear all the details.” Then she shot her gaze toward Declan.
Oh. Details . Right. “Sure.”
As she and the kids vacated, Cody tapped his knuckles on the countertop, his eyes trained on Declan, who had finished up with the older couple and now was busy with the new customers. “Is he treating you well, or do I need to remind him that nobody messes with my big sister except me?”
Lily rolled her eyes. “I admire your sense of justice, but let’s just lay off the fisticuffs, okay? I’m going to beat him in my own way.”
“Oh yeah? How’s that?”
“The newspaper reporter is coming today.”
“Oh, right! Well, good luck. Knock ’em dead. Break a leg.”
She laughed. “Pretty sure that last one is just for show business.”
On the other side of the store, Declan’s customers chuckled at something he’d said, then headed for the door.
“I wanted to be sure all my bases were covered.” Cody stuck his hands in his pockets. “For real, Sis. You’ve got this, and I love ya.”
“Aw, thanks, He-Man,” she said, pulling out a childhood nickname he’d earned when he was four and refused to wear anything around the house except for He-Man underwear and a cape.
“On second thought, you are dead to me.” Cody winked at her and turned toward the door, pulling it open for another man before slipping outside to join Mia and the kids.
The man, who held a large cup from Jill Kelley’s coffee shop, glanced around the lobby. He reminded Lily of an eagle. Tall, with a shock of silver hair that lifted off his scalp despite his apparent best efforts to slick it down. It gave the otherwise imposing man a little humanity.
Declan may have gotten the others, but this customer was all hers.
“Hi there,” Lily sent him a smile. “Welcome to Hart Family Fudge.”
“And by that she means welcome to Kelley’s Classic Fudge.” Declan appeared out of nowhere, slipping in front of the counter and into the lobby, hand outstretched. “Mr. Mercer, welcome to Jonathon Island. I’m Declan Kelley.”
This was Kent Mercer? She’d pictured someone much more affable, with laugh lines and a large belly.
Kind of like Santa, but without the red suit.
But this man didn’t look like he enjoyed sweets at all.
He was lean, and the upward curl of his lip reminded her of her gym teacher in elementary school who had scolded Lily one too many times on her lack of performance on the basketball court.
And soccer field. Basically anything that had to do with sports.
She followed Declan around the counter. “So nice to meet you. I’m Lily Hart.”
“I gathered as much.” After setting his coffee on the counter and pulling a small notebook and pen from the pocket of his blazer, he perused their cases, reading through the labels on the various offerings.
“How was your trip to the island?” Declan asked, returning to his side of the counter.
“Windy.” The man didn’t even look up.
Frowning, Lily side-glanced at Declan. Just breathe , he mouthed.
Right. Yes. Breathe.
“All right.” Mr. Mercer stood in front of them, his hand poised over his notebook, which he held in the air. He studied them with that hawkish gaze. “I want to sit down with you both and ask lots of questions, but first, the fudge. It’s why we’re all here, yes?”
“Absolutely!” Lily’s falsely bright voice grated on her own ears.
“We’ve created two fudge flights for you.” Declan lifted his box of boring, albeit delicious, fudge samples. “I recommend you start with our dark chocolate and move toward our sweetest fudge, the double-milk chocolate rocky road.”
“Okay.”
Lily lifted her box from the counter. “And, for a real treat, I’ve selected my favorite offerings.
” She wanted to make note of the order he should eat them in, but really, it didn’t matter.
Hers were all too different to organize in any order.
But she’d slaved over them, agonized over which flavor profiles to feature.
In the end, she’d chosen four: blueberry lavender, caramel salted peanut, dill pickle, and—her signature—bergamot.
“Thank you.” He took the gift box from her hands.
“You’re welcome to eat them at the window bar, but with a day this nice, we recommend the sidewalk seating.” Declan pointed out the window to the small café table with two chairs he’d set out earlier this week for this express purpose.
The man should get a taste not just of our fudge, but of Jonathon Island as a whole. And what better place to do that than on iconic Main Street?
The guy really was a business genius.
“That sounds perfect.” Grabbing up his coffee, Mr. Mercer excused himself. With Declan holding the door for him, he navigated through a few incoming customers, weaving his way back to the sidewalk and settling down at the table with his two boxes of fudge and trusty notepad.
“The flowers are a nice touch,” Declan said. The fresh lilacs cascaded over the lip of the broad vase Lily had placed them in, adding fresh summer ambiance to the table. “But, I’d say if you get any closer to the window, you’re going to leave a nose print.”
“Hush.” She waved him off but vacated her spot nearest the window.
Lily returned to the counter and helped a couple customers, catching glimpses as Mr. Mercer drew Declan’s first slice of fudge to his nose. Inhaled. Then studied the texture, turning it over in his hand, before taking a bite.
Considering it against his palate.
Lily licked her lips. She could almost taste it too.
She might tease Declan about bland and boring, but, in truth, his fudge was anything but.
Sure, they were classic flavors, but he was a classic kind of guy.
They were still melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness that could put someone into a sugar coma in blissful delight.
The door closed behind the last customer and then both she and Declan were back at the window in seconds.
“I can’t tell if he likes them or not.” Declan was so close to her, Lily could feel his breath against her ear.
“Guess I’m not the only one who wanted to spy,” she teased. “And of course he likes them. He’s going to give us both rave reviews.”
“And then I guess we’ll have to let the customers decide who wins.”
She squeezed his elbow. “Can we not? For just a minute, can we revel in the joint victory here? This article is going to be great for Jonathon Island. And for whoever wins.”
And if that was Declan, so be it. After last night…
He nodded, bumped her shoulder with his. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“Ooo, is it my turn to make a fake announcement to the empty room?” She swung a smile his way. “Declan Kelley agrees with me, everyone!”