Page 18 of Valentine's in Bayberry

“No,” Carrie said. “I’ll get it.”

She rushed over and lifted the phone to her ear. “Totally Chocolate. How may I help you?”

“Carrie? This is Brittany. I just wanted you to know that we’re putting your chocolate shop on the Happy Hearts schedule. You must have a special menu for the guests.”

She was in! It was true! Her heart skipped a beat. Her next thought was: What is the catch?

“Carrie, did you hear me?” Brittany’s voice had an irritated tone.

Carrie’s mind was having problems keeping up with things. “Um... Yes, I did. But why did you change your mind?”

Brittany sighed. “What does it matter? You’re in. That’s all that matters.” She rushed on. “Now, what do you plan on doing for Happy Hearts?”

Really?Brittany expected her to have a plan on the spot? This was after she’d been told that since her business wasn’t well-established, it wasn’t welcome to be a part of the Valentine’s celebration.

Carrie swallowed hard. “I don’t have a plan...”

“You have to have a plan or we simply won’t be able to add your business.” Brittany hadn’t let her finish her sentence.

Carrie swallowed and started again. “What I was going to say is that I’ll work on it and have something in a couple of days.”

“Have it to me by tomorrow morning. We’re going to finalize the schedule and print them tomorrow.” And then the line went dead.

Carrie lowered the phone from her ear and stared at it for a moment. She didn’t know whether to be excited that she was given this chance for free advertising or be irritated that Brittany was just as rude as she’d been in high school. She sighed. She wouldn’t let that woman ruin this for her.

She turned to Alice, who was grinning. “You were right. I’m sorry for not believing you.”

“I told you so. This is awesome.” Alice’s eyes lit up.

“But now we have to come up with something spectacular by tomorrow morning. It has to be something that will really get the town talking. Any ideas?”

Alice looked thoughtful for a moment. “No, but I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

Carrie hoped so. She knew if it wasn’t good enough, Brittany would quickly and readily strike them from the event. The one thing Carrie wanted to know was why Brittany had changed her mind and included Totally Chocolate. She supposed she’d neverknow because there was no way Brittany would volunteer that information.

Is this a good idea?

Jackson had asked himself this question since Carrie had said yes to his lunch invitation. He longed to reconnect with her. He missed her so much.

It was strange. He’d thought the physical distance that had been between them for all of those years would have destroyed their special bond, but for him, it hadn’t. He couldn’t speak for Carrie. To him, she was still the girl next door—the one he could tell anything to—the one who was always there to have his back. At least that was what he wanted to believe.

Except he hadn’t told her his big secret. He was afraid to tell her the truth about his mother. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in her eyes. Or for her to vocalize his own tormenting thoughts about how he hadn’t been there enough for his mother—not knowing what was going on with her. Instead, he’d been busy with his career.

As he walked with Carrie to Mel’s Grille for lunch, he noticed she was smiling a lot. He wanted to think it was her excitement of having lunch with him, but he supposed that might be too much to hope for, especially after the bumpy reunion.

Buzz. Buzz.

It was probably the office. Again. He hesitated. Maybe they’d hang up.

“You can answer that,” she said.

“What if I don’t want to?” He didn’t. Not at all.

“But it might be important. It could be your office.”

“Everything is important to them.”

She arched a brow as she glanced at him. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you don’t love your job.”

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