Page 109 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

And what a deal it was.

He finally lifted his head.

She patted his jacket. “I like it. I guess I’ll have to call you Maverick now.”

He nodded, grinning. “Whatever you say, boss.” Then he kissed her again. And of course he tasted of fudge, and homecoming, and the happy ending she’d always known was waiting for her on Jonathon Island.

She’d just had to win the war to get it.

Epilogue

The last two weeks had been a dream.

Who knew that the thrill of taking over the business operations of a fudge shop would be on par with making multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions in the big city?

Though Lily had a lot to do with it.

Yes, working with the woman he loved—in a town that had nurtured and grown them both up—had given Declan a greater sense of purpose than ever.

But it wasn’t enough.

Not until he made Lily his for good and gave her the desires of her heart.

He was starting to doubt the wisdom of pulling double shifts, though. Hammering out details in the fudge shop office all day, then sneaking down to the Quinn livery just south of Blueberry Hill Park in the evenings, working in secret alongside Cody to retrofit the Harts’ old Volkswagen van—the one that Lily’s great-grandparents had brought with them to Jonathon Island more than seventy years ago when they’d first opened the fudge shop.

Vehicles may not be allowed on the island anymore, but this one would be parked on Main Street. At least, that was Declan’s plan.

It could all blow up in his face.

It might not.

But there was a certain peace in giving the results to God.

Cody stepped back from the van-turned-food truck, a heat gun in his hand. “I think that’ll do it.” He started to wind up the gun’s cord.

Declan studied Cody’s application of the vinyl wrap he’d ordered. Not surprisingly, it was flawless. “Great job, man.”

“All in a day’s work.” Squatting on the ground—which was littered with old bits of hay—Cody placed the heat gun back in his toolbox. “You think my sister has any idea?”

“I hope not. I’ve tried to keep it a surprise.”

“I gotta admit. When you first suggested turning our family’s old van into a food truck so Lily would have a place to sell her ice cream too, I thought you were crazy. But it’s turned out well.”

“I’m hoping it’ll be a nice marriage of her love for fudge and ice cream.”

“Marriage, huh?” Cody grinned as he snapped his toolbox shut. “Nice choice of words.”

“Shut up.” Declan gave him a friendly shove before his hand went to his pocket on instinct. For over a week now, he’d been carrying the ring in his pocket, unsure when he’d give it to her. For someone who liked to have everything planned, he sure was flying by the seat of his pants on this one.

But he wanted the moment when he asked Lily to be his wife to be perfect.

Or at least perfect for them.

The wooden door to the livery opened, bringing cracks of dusty light streaming in from Blueberry Boulevard. Mom and Nancy Hart stepped inside pushing a cart filled with ice cream containers. Now that was a sight he’d never thought he’d see—a Kelley and a Hart working together for a common purpose. His whole family might not be ready to come around just yet, but this was a good start.

“We’ve got the ice cream,” Mom said, wiping her hands on the back of her jeans. “Is the van ready? The festivities are going to start soon.”

Since the Main Street Festival had gone so well, Dani had decided at the last minute to do a Labor Day evening arts and crafts festival in the park, complete with fireworks later tonight. Lily was there setting up the fudge shop booth now, probably wondering where Declan was.

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