Page 33 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“Widow? You still with me?”

Her eyes opened. “Unfortunately for you, yes.” She sat up, groaning, and he rushed over to help her.

“Do you think you can put any pressure on it?”

She just looked at him.

“Right. Okay, then.” He shook out his hands and bent to scoop her up.

“Um, excuse me. What are you doing?”

“Carrying you.”

“I can hop on one leg if I have to.” She started to slide to the edge of the counter and gingerly placed all of her weight on her good leg. Hissed between her teeth. Hopped. Stopped. Tried again. Hissed again. “Come on, Lily. You’ve got this,” she muttered to herself.

“Okay, there, Grandma.” Declan tapped his watch. “I think I just turned one hundred waiting for you.”

She glared at him. “I stabbed myself with a knife, if you hadn’t noticed!”

“And you were worriedIwas going to be the one doing the stabbing.” At her further narrowed eyes, he bit back a smile. “All right, well, if you’re going to insist on doing everything yourself…” He started to turn.

She snatched his shirt and tugged him back around. “Wait.” Lily looked up at him with those luminous eyes. “Fine. Help me.”

He stepped closer. Too close, but he couldn’t move away. “What’s the magic word?”

She gritted her teeth—maybe not, this time, from the pain. “Please.”

“Good girl.” Then he scooped her up as gingerly as he could and tried not to think about how soft her curves felt against him. How well she fit in the crook of his arms.

How familiar this felt?—

How right.

Nope. Howwrong.

He cradled her as he walked her right out into the alley toward the idling golf cart. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Wait, seriously? You—Declan Kelley—are breaking the law?” Her wide eyes flitted back to him.

Something thumped in his chest, and it took all his willpower to look away from her. “Extenuating circumstances.” He settled her ever-so-gently onto the soft tan passenger seat. “It was the only viable option.”

“Mm-hmm.”

He popped around to the driver’s side and glanced carefully about, taking the back roads toward the clinic. Hopefully Police Chief John York or one of his deputies wouldn’t be waiting around the corner.

Lily was quiet for a few moments when Declan looked over to make sure she hadn’t fainted. But she sat there watching him, gnawing on her bottom lip. “I’ll find a way to pay you back for this, you know.”

“Is that a threat?” And why couldn’t he help but smile as they bumped along the road? “You don’t owe me for helping you, Lily. It’s called basic human kindness. I’d hope ifIwas lying helpless and afraid?—”

“Hey!”

“—that you’d help me too.”

“Hmm. Maybe.” She leaned back against the seat, grimacing. Must be hurting pretty bad now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

“Hang tight. We’re almost there.”

She grunted, nodded. And said nothing more as he drove her to the clinic.

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