Page 86 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

I lifted Amelia into the back, where she buckled herself into her car seat. Nova climbed into the passenger seat, and I got behind the wheel.

“I need to make a quick stop before heading home. Is that okay?”

Nova nodded. “Of course.”

I drove into town and stopped in front of an empty storefront.

“What’s this?” Nova asked as I hopped out of the car.

“Come on.” I opened the back seat and gestured at Amelia to unbuckle and get out of the SUV.

Nova unbuckled and was waiting for us on the sidewalk before Amelia was done.

“Bryan, what are you doing?” Nova scampered after me as I strode across the walk and opened the door. I swept my hand in front of me, indicating that they should step inside.

“Should we be in here?” Nova asked.

“Why not?”

“What are you up to?” She narrowed her eyes at me before turning around and casting her gaze around the empty space. “How did you get the key? A place like this would be locked up.”

“I know the owner,” I said.

Amelia dashed deeper into the storefront.

“Watch it back there!” I called out after her.

“I thought this looked like a good place for your cooking school.”

Nova’s expression practically melted. I was afraid she was going to cry as her smile faded and her eyes went wide. She crossed her hands over her breasts and blinked at me. Her lower lip quivered.

“You’re the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful man I’ve ever met. And you’re right, this would be a wonderful location.” She pressed her fingers against her eyes. “I’m not ready. I don’t havethe money for a deposit, and I don’t have time to figure out what I would need to do to get a deposit. Maybe if I wasn’t doing anything, but, Bryan, we’re getting married in two weeks, and then?—”

“Italy,” I finished for her.

She nodded. “Italy, the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, it’s a dream trip come true. Will this place even be available by the time we get back? It’s right downtown, prime real estate.”

“Like I said, I know the owner,” I repeated.

“Do you think the owner is going to sit on any offers that come in while we’re traveling?”

I nodded.

“Wow, they must be a really great friend.”

“Well, they will be spending the summer traveling as well. This place could be up and running by the time the new school year opens.”

Nova shook her head. “I doubt the necessary construction could be done that fast. This entire place needs to be transformed into a commercial grade kitchen. It’s a lot of work.”

She sighed and began wandering around the space.

“There’s another room back here!” Amelia said as she appeared from the back of the shop.

“Probably the office. Let’s go see.” Nova followed Amelia back into the back room.

I already knew the layout. Every time Nova would daydream about her cooking school, I paid attention. She wanted multiple rooms for more than one class. She would need office space and storage. This place had it all. And there was a smaller, occupied store next door in the building. If they ever vacated, Nova could expand into that space as well. The second story had office spaces. Nova could easily move the school’s office up there. There were currently two tenants, a bookkeeper and a therapist.

I waited while the two of them explored. It didn’t take too long to check out the remaining rooms.

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