Page 74 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

“I thought maybe you’d decided not to come.”

She made a face. “I’ll be honest. I considered it. But after…” Even with the dimming light, he could see her cheeks flush a gorgeous pink. Was she thinking about their kiss? “Well, I thought maybe it would be best if we talked.”

“Good.” He cleared his throat at the hoarseness there, straightened, lifted the basket. “But first, let’s eat. You hungry?”

“Oh my goodness, starving!” She eyed the basket. “More of your mom’s food?”

“Not this time.” After his confrontation with his parents at dinner last night before his kiss with Lily, he’d avoided his whole family all the rest of the evening and today. “Thought we could try the new fish and chips place.”

“Yum! Lead the way.”

They walked toward a grouping of picnic tables under the shade of some elms. A few cyclists or pedestrians passed, out for a moonlit ride or stroll along the main park pathway, but for the most part, it was just the two of them.

Declan set the basket on the ground and pulled a red-and-white-checkered blanket from inside. He spread it on the old wooden table, covering a few stains and sticky spots. Then he grabbed a small plastic vase with a bouquet he’d purchased from the new florist near the fudge shop. He placed that in the middle of the table.

“Look at you, getting all fancy,” Lily teased, but there was a delighted sparkle in her eye.

“Nothing but the best for you, Lil.” Declan winked, and his chest lightened to see that blush steal over Lily’s cheeks again.

He liked this version of Lily. The version that didn’t hate him. The version that felt very much like the one he’d fallen for, only older, with a deeper sense of self.

The kind of woman that could make a guy stick around?

Maybe.

He finished setting up for dinner with two disposable clear plates, two sets of silverware rolled up into napkins, and containers with their food—battered slices of fish, coleslaw, and crisp fries, with enormous brownies for dessert.

“It looks amazing. Thank you for going to all this effort.” She slid onto the bench across from him.

He reached over the table for her hand. When she placed it inside his, he squeezed. “You’re worth it.” Then before she could respond, he bowed his head, prayed, and asked the Lord to bless their food.

He added a silent prayer for strength and a clear head to say what he needed to say. Maybe some courage too.

Then they dug in, falling into easy conversation about everything but their kiss and the growing awareness between them. She told him about Florida and how, despite loving being home, she missed Sadie and the warm weather. He talked about Chicago, how she’d love some of the art galleries there. Before Declan knew it, an hour had flown by. Their food had been eaten, including those brownies—the chocolate of which he could still taste on his tongue—and other than a chorus of cicadas that had joined their conversation, they might as well be the only two people in the world.

It was time.

At a pause in the conversation, Declan pushed away from the table. Stood. “Want to take a walk?”

“Sure. I could use it after all that rich food.”

Together they cleaned up their table, tucked the picnic basket behind a tree to grab on their way out, and turned onto the trail that looped the park.

For a while, they were both silent. Because how did he begin to talk about something so huge? And maybe it wasn’t so huge to her, but it had taken up all the space in his head.

Their future.

Please, let them have a future.

Before Declan could figure out how to start, Lily said, “So. One week left until the festival.” In the light of the full moon, the blue cast lit the meadow of fresh-cut lawn. “How do you think things are going?”

Declan stuck his hands in his pockets. Not exactly the beginning he’d had in mind, but he’d go with it. “Your latest marketing tactics seemed to have really brought in the crowds. I think you might be ahead again.”

“And how would you feel about that if I was?”

“I’d be proud of you.” He glanced over at her, uncertain what she might read on his face. “Iamproud of you.”

Her eyes shone. “That means a lot. I’ll admit, doing this well has surprised me, especially after what happened with business school.” As they rounded the bend, her face suddenly grew serious again. “I couldn’t have done it without you, though. And I don’t want you to resent me for that. If,you know, I do win.”

---