Page 52 of Love's Cure

“I can’t,” said Crystal with true regret. “I have to get up especially early to help get ready for the Summer Faire. For the next three days, I’ll be working double time at the Café and elsewhere overseeing the baking and cooking contests. Each day, it’s something different—a baking contest for adults and kids, a chili bake-off, and a barbeque sauce and ribs contest. It’s a whole lot of eating fun for the crowd and total, exhausting chaos behind the scenes. But like Nick says, it’s great for the town. People come from all around.”

“I guess I’d better get a good night’s sleep too. Dr. Johnson warned this was a busy time for him too.”

He drove into the parking lot behind the Café, pulled into a spot, and turned off the engine. Facing her, he said, “I’m falling for you, Crystal. I hope you’re going to give me a chance.”

“No promises about anything, but I do want to keep seeing you. You’re the first man I’ve been with in a long time, and that’s something I don’t take lightly. I hope you don’t either.”

He moved quickly, unbuckling his seat belt and hers. Then he took her in his arms. She liked that he proceeded with assurance yet wasn’t aggressive. As usual, she felt both safe in his arms and deeply aroused, allowing her to respond easily. The world around them seemed to melt away as they kissed. And when his hands met her breasts in sweet caresses, she sighed happily.

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Later, when she walkedinto her apartment, Crystal did her best to brush her hair away from her flushed cheeks and to straighten her blouse. But she knew all Misty had to do was look at her face to see her happiness and know she was a woman in love.

“Another pleasant evening?” asked Misty.

“A very nice evening. Something to get me through the next three days or so. Are you ready to join me bright and early tomorrow morning? We’re offering free coffee or tea with breakfast for anyone.”

“I’ve already organized that area of the kitchen. We shouldn’t have any problem keeping up with the crowd.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you’re here to help. I’m off to bed. See you in the morning.”

Crystal went into her room, her body languid just thinking of how Emmett had kissed her. She knew he was as aroused as she, but she was glad she’d fought the urge to go to his house as they both wanted.

Even later, as she lay in bed, she recalled the way his eyes had grown greener in color as he caressed her cheek and told her he was falling faster and harder than he’d thought possible. She felt the same but hadn’t voiced her feelings. Even now, she replayed his words in her mind, unable to verbalize exactly how she felt.

###

The alarm sounded likea screeching cat to Crystal’s ears as she was abruptly awakened. Grumbling to herself, she turned off the alarm and sat up in bed. She’d been dreaming about Emmett and her taking a cruise, and she wanted to go back to sleep.

Huffing out a breath, she forced herself out of bed. Today was a Summer Faire day, and she’d need all her energy to help get it off to a good start.

The weather forecaster had promised a nice day. She was anxious to see that the Café was ready.

In the kitchen, the aroma of baked bread filled her nostrils, warming her insides.

She went out to the dining room to check the decorations. Each table held a bud vase with green silk leaves and purple lilac blooms. Outdoors, the railing around the patio was wrapped with a woven string of leaves and lilac blooms. That, coupled with bud vases on the tables duplicated the colors and made the space very festive. She breathed in the cool air, relishing its crispness before the temperature rose. Though the lilac blooms had long since died, she imagined she could still smell their perfume.

When she went back inside, the kitchen staff was arriving and wearing the special T-shirts and aprons with the Café logo she’d provided for the occasion. Baseball hats, aprons, and T-shirts were displayed for sale near the cash register.

“Going to be a busy three days,” Crystal told her staff. “We’ll stick to our normal schedule, but if you see there’s a need to work beyond your shift, I hope you’ll stay and pitch in.”

“Are we going to have a party Sunday night as usual?” asked one of the staff.

“Oh, yes,” said Crystal. “We’ll all need to let loose by then.” She grinned at the cheer that went up. As a thank you to their staff, all the merchants in town pitched in to pay for food and entertainment in the parking lot behind the row of stores and restaurants on the final night of the event.

Crystal posted a sign by the cash register and put one up on the front door announcing that coffee was free with every breakfast served. Seeing that all was in order, she went to the kitchen to help just as Misty arrived.

“I’d forgotten how exciting Summer Faire could be,” Misty said, putting on an apron.

“It’s a ton of work but a lot of fun,” said Crystal. “I’m looking forward to seeing some of my summer regulars.” At the sound of customers arriving, she hurried to the dining room to greet people and oversee staff. Quick service, along with excellent food, had made the Café a popular choice.

When a lull came in the morning activity, Crystal slipped out of the Café to see how the other business owners were doing.

She was talking to Estelle Bookbinder, owner of the bookstore, Pages, when she heard someone call, “Diana, dear, is that you?”

Estelle looked up and Crystal turned around to see Emmett’s mother rush toward her, arms outstretched, before coming to a surprised stop.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

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