Page 33 of Valentine's in Bayberry

She hesitated. Was he trying to fix things between them? If he was, she wanted to help him.

She took another sip of the creamy coffee. “I’d like that.”

His gaze met hers. “I’m sorry about last night.”

His words were like a prick to her heart. Why did his apology bother her? It was what she wanted, right? She wanted them to go back to just being old friends again.This is all for the best.

Not wanting to dredge up last night, she said, “Shouldn’t you be working next door?”

“Now that the crew has taken over, they don’t really need my help.” He stepped farther into the kitchen and glanced at the chocolate-covered pretzels on the work table. “What are you doing?”

“I’m supposed to be coming up with a menu for Happy Hearts.” She paused. “I can’t remember if I told you that Brittany changed her mind and included Totally Chocolate. Anyway, I ran out of ideas, so I decided to make some items for the shop.”

“Are you and Brittany friends now?”

Carrie let out a laugh. “Really? You thought that was possible?”

A lazy smile pulled at his lips. “You never know.”

“Jackson, some things change but that’s an impossibility.” Not wanting to discuss the one person in the town who could get under her skin, she said, “Do you want to hear my menu?”

“Sure. But I’m certain whatever you picked will be delicious.”

“If only it was that easy. So, to start, they can have chocolate-covered pretzel squares.”

“That sounds good.”

Good? It wasn’t exactly the word she was hoping for but she’d take it. “And that will be followed by strawberries with chocolate fluff, and champagne truffles. I was also considering dark-chocolate-dipped candied peaches, but I don’t know. Maybe that’s too much.”

“All of those options sound amazing. I think whatever you decide on will win them over.”

“And for the finale, we’ll serve them chocolate cake with chocolate-dipped cherries.”

“Wow! That is an impressive menu.”

She searched his gaze. “Are you being serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Carrie worried her bottom lip. “I just don’t want you saying that stuff to be nice.”

“I’m not. I swear.”

She nodded her head. “I hope Brittany agrees with you. She’s stopping by this afternoon for the menu. She says it has to be extra special.”

“Stop worrying. That menu would impress the King of England. Well, as long as he loves chocolate, which I have no idea about.”

Maybe the best thing for her to do now was to change the subject. “So, what are you doing to keep busy?”

“I’ve started cleaning out my mother’s attic. You wouldn’t believe the amount of stuff up there. And I came across all of these old photos of the restaurant that used to be next door.”

“That must be exciting. When we were doing renovations over here, I wondered what it must have looked like back in the day.”

“You should come over this evening. You can look at the old photos.”

She hesitated. She wondered if it would lead to another kiss. Then she told herself that she was being silly. It was just a moment that got away from them. After all, Jackson was now acting like the friend that she’d always known.

“I would like that.” And then she had a thought. “And I could bring over a taco casserole.”

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