Page 53 of Valentine's in Bayberry

“Shouldn’t you be checking your mailbox about now?” Alice grinned at her.

In all honesty, it hadn’t escaped Carrie’s attention that there might be another valentine for her. She couldn’t deny the giddy feeling she got having someone go to such lengths for her. It’d be even better if it was Jackson who was doing the wooing.

Her thoughts skidded to a halt. Had she really thought that? Oh, yes, she had.

Knock-knock.

The back door opened, and the man at the center of her thoughts stepped inside. His gaze immediately sought her out. He smiled. It was one of those smiles that made his brown eyes twinkle and caused a fluttering sensation in her chest.

Alice’s gaze moved between Carrie and Jackson. “Well, I should go back out front in case someone needs their lunchtime chocolate fix.”

As Alice made a quick exit, Carrie continued staring at Jackson. Her heart beat erratically.

“I hope I’m not interrupting you.” He approached her.

She swallowed hard. “You aren’t.” She glanced down at the table, trying to think of what to say next. “I was just working on a s’more recipe for the shop.”

He nodded. “You really liked those last night, didn’t you?”

“Definitely. But nothing I’ve tried so far even comes close.”

He stepped up to her work table. “Is this one of your experiments?”

She glanced down at the s’more. “Yes. You can try it.”

He picked it up and took a bite. He slowly chewed as though observing the various flavors. After he swallowed, he said, “You’re right. It’s not quite right.”

“Any suggestions?”

“Start a bonfire and roast a marshmallow.” He smiled at her.

“I don’t think my landlord will appreciate me starting a fire in here. But...” She walked over to a drawer. She opened it and withdrew a small torch. She turned to him. “Would this work?”

He eyed up the torch. “I don’t know, but we could try.” He slipped off his jacket and slung it over the back of a nearby chair. He washed his hands and turned to her. “I see the bag of marshmallows. Now where are your forks.”

She moved to a cabinet and returned with a fondue fork. When he held out a marshmallow, she stabbed it before handing it to him.

She set up a graham cracker and a square of milk chocolate. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

He held up the marshmallow while she started the flame. He turned the fork slowly until the marshmallow was golden brown.

And then before it could cool down, he placed it against the chocolate and sandwiched it with another graham cracker.

He turned to her and held out the s’more. “Try this and see if it’s closer.”

She took a bite. After she swallowed, she said, “It’s closer. What do you think?”

He nodded. “It’s good.”

“But it still needs something.” And then she knew what would pull it all together.

They created another s’more. Then she tempered some chocolate and drizzled it over the s’more until it was completely covered.

“This is going to have to cool and set,” she said. “And I was just going to run out for lunch.”

His brows rose. “Going to see if you received another valentine?”

Heat started in her chest and shot north to her cheeks. “Maybe.”

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