Page 61 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

And she would have let him.

“There’s no one here, huh?” Mia’s eyebrows rose. She leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “I see the way you look at him, Lil. Same way you did back in high school. Best be careful or I won’t be the only one on the verge of engagement.”

“Aha!” Lily lifted her hands in triumph. “I knew it.”

Her sweet friend’s nose crinkled, emphasizing her freckles. “Not officially. It’s just, when you know, you know. It’s only a matter of timing now.”

The bell jingled as the kids rushed inside with her brother. He came up behind Mia, wrapped her in his arms, and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “The kids are getting hungry. Want to try the pizza place?”

“It’s open?” Lily asked as she slid a small fudge sample toward a waiting Finn and Maggie. Who could resist those big eyes? Besides, she wanted favorite aunt status someday when Mia and Cody inevitably tied the knot.

“This week is the soft opening. Officially open on Saturday. The owner, Antonio, is a boat enthusiast and talked my ear off about it the other day when I was at the marina.”

“Exciting. Let me know how the food is. I’ve missed a good pizza.” Till now, Kelley’s Bar & Grill was the only place to get one and, yeah. Clearly that hadn’t been an option.

The bell sounded again and another few customers walked in, headed straight for Declan’s counter.

“Sorry. We’re crowding you out.” Mia ushered the kids toward the door, glancing over her shoulder. “Let’s get together soon, okay? I want to hear all the details.” Then she shot her gaze toward Declan.

Oh.Details. Right. “Sure.”

As she and the kids vacated, Cody tapped his knuckles on the countertop, his eyes trained on Declan, who had finished up with the older couple and now was busy with the new customers. “Is he treating you well, or do I need to remind him that nobody messes with my big sister except me?”

Lily rolled her eyes. “I admire your sense of justice, but let’s just lay off the fisticuffs, okay? I’m going to beat him in my own way.”

“Oh yeah? How’s that?”

“The newspaper reporter is coming today.”

“Oh, right! Well, good luck. Knock ’em dead. Break a leg.”

She laughed. “Pretty sure that last one is just for show business.”

On the other side of the store, Declan’s customers chuckled at something he’d said, then headed for the door.

“I wanted to be sure all my bases were covered.” Cody stuck his hands in his pockets. “For real, Sis. You’ve got this, and I love ya.”

“Aw, thanks, He-Man,” she said, pulling out a childhood nickname he’d earned when he was four and refused to wear anything around the house except for He-Man underwear and a cape.

“On second thought, you are dead to me.” Cody winked at her and turned toward the door, pulling it open for another man before slipping outside to join Mia and the kids.

The man, who held a large cup from Jill Kelley’s coffee shop, glanced around the lobby. He reminded Lily of an eagle. Tall, with a shock of silver hair that lifted off his scalp despite his apparent best efforts to slick it down. It gave the otherwise imposing man a little humanity.

Declan may have gotten the others, but this customer was all hers.

“Hi there,” Lily sent him a smile. “Welcome to Hart Family Fudge.”

“And by that she means welcome to Kelley’s Classic Fudge.” Declan appeared out of nowhere, slipping in front of the counter and into the lobby, hand outstretched. “Mr. Mercer, welcome to Jonathon Island. I’m Declan Kelley.”

Thiswas Kent Mercer? She’d pictured someone much more affable, with laugh lines and a large belly. Kind of like Santa, but without the red suit. But this man didn’t look like he enjoyed sweets at all. He was lean, and the upward curl of his lip reminded her of her gym teacher in elementary school who had scolded Lily one too many times on her lack of performance on the basketball court. And soccer field. Basically anything that had to do with sports.

She followed Declan around the counter. “So nice to meet you. I’m Lily Hart.”

“I gathered as much.” After setting his coffee on the counter and pulling a small notebook and pen from the pocket of his blazer, he perused their cases, reading through the labels on the various offerings.

“How was your trip to the island?” Declan asked, returning to his side of the counter.

“Windy.” The man didn’t even look up.

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