Page 72 of Valentine's in Bayberry

Alice nodded again. “Just a hint of it. I didn’t want it to overpower the chocolate. And there’s one more thing.”

Carrie took another bite, letting the chocolate melt over her tongue. “Is it sea salt?”

“Yes. Do you like the mix?”

“I love it. Did you make it up?”

“Yes. I wanted something special for your gift.”

“You definitely achieved your goal. You have to make it again. We can feature it in the store. Would you like that?”

“I would love it.” The happiness shone in Alice’s eyes. “But you still didn’t find your present.”

Carrie reached for the heart and peered into the hole, but it was too dark to see anything. When she turned it over to shake it, she heard something move inside of it. When she turned it over, a small box came tumbling out.

Carrie set aside the heart in order to pick up the red velvet box.Oh boy.She opened the box and found a white gold chain with a diamond heart pendant.

Her mouth gaped. This gift was way too much. And yet she loved it.

She turned to Alice. “Did you know about this?”

Alice shook her head. “I had no idea what was in the box.” She took a closer look. “Do you think it’s real?”

Carrie looked at the diamonds as the light played upon the stones. “I do. Now tell me who gave it to you so that I can take it back. I can’t accept it.”

Alice looked worried. “I promised I wouldn’t tell. Can’t you just wait one more day?”

“Even if I wait, I’m not going to change my mind about accepting the gifts.”

Alice shrugged. “A lot can change in twenty-four hours.”

Was that some sort of hint? Carrie looked at the necklace again. Her fingertip traced the pendant. Too bad it wasn’t Jackson who had given it to her. She stifled a sigh. Why did life have to be so complicated?

She looked at Alice again. “Please tell me.”

Alice hesitated. She looked torn between keeping her promise and honoring their friendship. Carrie felt awful for putting her friend in such a position.

Before Carrie could take back her request, Alice said, “It was Jackson.”

Jackson?Carrie blinked and asked, “Did you say Jackson?”

Alice smiled and nodded. “The guy is crazy about you. I’m not sure why he kept his identity a secret, but I thought it was romantic.”

Jackson.He hadn’t given up on her.

She knew why he kept his identity a secret. He was giving her time to get used to the idea of him and her romantically intertwined. She wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but living with regret this week had taught her that she would rather have love and lose it than never know Jackson’s love at all.

Chapter Twenty-Two

It had to beperfect.

Jackson had worked late into the night, putting all of the pieces of his plan into place. Everything had to be perfect because if he blew this, he didn’t think he’d get another chance with Carrie. And the thought of losing her made him work harder to cover all of the details so Valentine’s Day would go off seamlessly.

He had never gone out of his way like this for anyone in his life. Then again, there had never been anyone like Carrie. She was sweet and kind. She was strong and determined. Most of all, she had won his heart without even trying.

When he’d started this campaign to show her how much he loved her, it was just going to be one single Valentine’s card and a little surprise. But when he saw how much the gifts meant to her, he couldn’t resist romancing her a little longer and that’s when he’d decided to turn this moment into something much larger.

When he’d thought of enlisting her friends to help him with the plan, he wasn’t sure how they would feel about it. He’ddefinitely faced some hesitation. He’d had to convince her friends that he wouldn’t hurt Carrie. It took a bit, but eventually they came around. He couldn’t have pulled this off without them.

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