Page 111 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

Declan led her around to the side of the truck. “See, that part folds down into a counter, and then you just pop up the roof there, and voila! Food truck.”

“Wait.” Her mouth flopped open. “Is this my family’s old Volkswagen?”

“It is.”

“How did you…” She turned to him, eyes filling with tears. “Lily’s Ice Cream? This is mine?”

“It’s yours, if you want it. I thought we’d park it on the west side of the fudge shop. We can bring it out for festivals like this too. A piece of history along with your new creations.” He licked his lips. “Do you like it?”

“Declan, I love it!” She threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Her lips tasted like chocolate and something exotic he couldn’t quite identify. Probably some new ingredient for her fudge. “How did you do this?”

“With some help from both of our families.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“I didn’t think…I mean, I’d hoped they’d…”

“I know.” He kissed the tip of her nose, risking a glance back at Asher, who sat patiently waiting for them to finish their public display. “Come on. Let’s get this set up. Then I can tell you more about something my mom said—a way to bring our families even more together.” He pressed his fingertips against his pocket, feeling the outline of the ring there.

Yes, his plans were going to come to fruition one way or another. And the sooner, the better.

“I want to know. Tell me now.”

He shook his head, laughing. “We’ve kept Asher waiting long enough.”

Lily swooped her head to the side, looking over Declan’s shoulder. “You don’t mind, do you, Ash?”

The man grunted, pulling his ball cap lower. “Well…”

“Be right back, man. As for you.” He looked at Lily. “Come here, then.” Declan pulled her out of Asher’s way, behind the trunk of a large tree, where they were alone—if alone meant an entire town watching and waiting around the corner.

Grinning, Lily slid her hands into his hair, leaving a blazing trail of heat up his back and a dizziness in his brain. “So what’s this about your mom’s idea for how to bring our families together?” Her eyebrows waggled.

“You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Why, thank you.” She pulsed her fingertips against his scalp. “Now tell me.”

“So bossy.” Declan slid his hands up her arms, lowered her hands back in front of her.

She booed his actions, making him chuckle.

“Calm down. I need you there for this next part.” Fishing in his pocket, he drew out the ring and held it in his fist. “My mom’s idea—which, I’ll have you know, was my idea first—was for us to get married.” Then he knelt and held the ring in his open palm.

Lily’s eyes went from the ring to him, and they were big and bright and round. “Are you serious?”

He nodded.

With a reverence and awe, she picked up the one-carat amethyst—perfect for his non-traditional woman. Slipping it on her finger, she held it up and examined it, a huge smile overtaking her face. “Yes!” Then she knelt right there in front of him, tackling him until his back hit the tree. She kissed him with the same fervor she did everything else.

He laughed against her lips. “Yes, what? I didn’t actually get a chance to ask you anything.” Lowering himself to the ground, he pulled her into his lap.

“Oh. Right.” She blinked up at him. “Well, go ahead.”

“So, so bossy.” Another kiss planted firmly on her lips. “Lily Ann Hart, I love you more than I love classic chocolate fudge.”

She giggled. “And we know that’s a lot.”

---