Page 46 of Moonlit Harbor Nights

“Great.” Janet beamed at both Noelle and Dean. “We’re also here for lunch. I think we might order that salmon benedict too. What do you think, Cedric?”

Cedric shook his head. “It’ll be a good old fashioned Reuben for me. But you get whatever you want to, sweetheart.” He put an arm around her, showing they were still the best of friends even after many years of marriage. “And speaking of incredible food, we were just at the McCormick brewery trying their new menu.”

“Yes!” Janet clasped her hands together. “Just delicious. And we think it’s great that the pub is helping the brewery with the new menu for their expanded kitchen.”

Dean’s eyebrows lifted, and he shook his head in confusion. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

Is Judd going around telling everyone that we’re helping them with their menu?he wondered.That definitely isn’t right. I wonder what that money-hungry schemer has up his sleeve this time.

“Well, when we got a bite to eat there the other day, we both ordered Monte Cristo sandwiches,” Janet said, and then paused, as if she thought that would be enough to explain to Dean what she was talking about. When he continued to blink at her in bewilderment, she continued talking. “The sauce on their Monte Cristo sandwiches tasted exactly like the special sauce you use at the pub. And I noticed it specially because usually that kind of sauce isn’t on a Monte Cristo, just mustard with jam on the side.”

“I noticed it too,” Cedric said, nodding. “It’s just like the pub’s sauce. We figured you must have offered to help them out by starting them out with some tried-and-true recipes of yours.”

Dean met Noelle’s eyes over the table. She looked confused, and he knew he was starting to look worried.

Especially because Judd McCormick was involved, he knew this couldn’t be good.

“Huh,” he said, still looking at Noelle for a moment before turning to the Turners with a forced smile. “We definitely haven’t given them any recipes. Maybe they just found a sauce that’s similar to ours and decided to use it in their Monte Cristo sandwiches. And actually, the pub doesn’t serve a Monte Cristo sandwich regularly. Only sometimes, as a special.”

“Really!” Janet tapped her chin with her fingertips. “Gosh, I could have absolutely sworn it was the exact same sauce. And I know I’ve had the same kind of Monte Cristo before at the pub.”

Dean shrugged. “Huh. I don’t have an explanation for you. All I know is we didn’t give them any recipes.”

I wish I had an explanation for myself,he thought, nervously drumming his fingers against his knees under the table.

They chatted with the Turners for another couple of minutes, and then the older couple went off to make their orders and sit down for lunch.

“What was that all about?” Noelle asked under her breath as soon as the Turners were out of earshot.

Dean shook his head. “I don’t know, and I don’t like it. It’s very suspicious. You know how much of a rivalry Judd has created for himself and his sons against my family. I need to tell my sisters about this. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I think we have a big fat problem on our hands.”

“Don’t worry,” she told him, taking his hands. “Your family’s restaurant is so well-loved, I’m sure nothing the McCormicks do can take away from that.”

He smiled into her eyes and found himself forgetting about everything other than her.

Vivian pushed open the front door of Seaside Sweets Bakery, listening to the cheerful jingling of the bell over her head. She inhaled the rich, velvety aromas of all the baked goods, and smiled when she thought about the honey lavender latte she was about to buy as a treat for herself. She usually made her coffee at home, but ever since her and Terrence’s informal coffee cupping, she’d been thinking more than ever about coffee flavors and different kinds of roasts. Even though the added ingredients of a flavored latte disguised the original taste of the beans, she knewwhat the plain coffee at Seaside Sweets Bakery tasted like, and after Hazel had told her about the honey lavender latte, she’d been hankering to try it.

She was already feeling wide awake and ready for a new day, but caffeine had become part of her daily ritual, and she’d decided long ago that she wanted to keep it that way. In addition to her interest in the honey lavender latte, she was there to get a sweet treat for Alexis. Her daughter had just texted her that she was craving the date nut brownies from Seaside Sweets Bakery. Vivian had assured Alexis that she would pick up some brownies for her on her way to the pub. She was just stepping up to the counter when she heard the door to the bakery open behind her.

“Terrence!” She found herself grinning as soon as she saw the health inspector.

“Vivian! How very nice to see you.” He smiled at her, bowing slightly at the waist in greeting. She had a sudden vision of him wearing a top hat and tipping it to her, a perfect gentleman as always. “Are you here for breakfast?”

“No.” She shook her head, smiling. “Just coffee. There’s a honey lavender latte I want to try.”

“A latte, hmm?” He chuckled. “Are you already tired of the coffee I brought for you?”

She chuckled too. “No, not at all. I can promise you that. It’s delicious.”

“Are you sure? I could always pick out a few more blends and we could hold another cupping.”

Vivian laughed. “I love the coffee you brought. It’s been making me more of a coffee fan than ever. And while I have to admit that I’m here getting a honey lavender latte for myself, the main reason why I’m here is to get some date nut brownies for Alexis. She texted me this morning that she’s craving them. Or, at least she thinks she’s craving them.”

Terrence and Vivian shared a grin. Alexis’s craving woes were a well-known part of the pub’s cheerful drama.

“What are you here for?” she asked him.

“Hmm, well now that you’ve mentioned date nut brownies, I might be picking up one of those. But I stopped in for a bran muffin. I already had my coffee at home.”

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