Page 89 of Meet Me at the Fudge Shop

Hopefully his family would see that, if Lily won.

A bullhorn crackled. “Hello, everyone!” Dani Sullivan stood at the far end of the row of vendor booths. “Thank you so much for coming out today, but it’s time to say our goodbyes. Please make your final purchases, and then join us down at the park for the exciting announcement of our Fudge Wars winner!”

A murmur went up from the crowd. A few stragglers rushed Lily’s booth, cleaning out the few pounds of fudge remaining on her table and a few ice cream cones too.

Declan started packing away fudge samples and taking down the sign he’d designed weeks ago for this day. Gray-haired Mr. Michaelson stopped by, opened his register, and pressed his thin lips together as he counted Declan’s money. Then he asked to see Declan’s credit card sales. While he did that, Declan finished clearing off his booth and slipped over to help Lily with hers.

Cody and Mr. and Mrs. Hart were already there. As Declan approached, Lily chatted with her family, her hands flying as she spoke. “And then this man came up and gave me his card and said he’d love to talk with me about franchise opportunities—for the ice cream, of all things—and I said—” She stopped talking as she caught sight of Declan, blinking. “Oh. Hi.”

He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Hey.”

Her family stared at him—Cody, who was breaking down her awning, seemed to be enjoying the awkwardness, if the grin on his face was any indication.

Declan risked a glance back at his own parents. Yep. They too were looking this way, at Lily and Declan.

He should just haul her into his arms and kiss her—show everyone what she meant to him.

He took a step forward, but then Mr. Hart put a hand out, stopping him. “Looks like your mother could use some help over there.” His voice was steely. Protective.

And Declan couldn’t blame the guy. He’d broken Lily’s heart so many years ago. But this time was different.

“Dad—”

“Declan!”

And man, if Mom didn’t have the most rotten timing.

He glanced her way, and she waved him over. “I need your help with this!” she called, pointing to her own awning. “It’ll hurt your father’s back.”

Never mind Isaac, sitting right there, legs propped up on a cooler while he scrolled on his phone.

Clearly, this was a ploy to keep him away from the Harts.

The Harts—at least one of which didn’t seem to want him here either.

Declan had known it would be tough, getting their families on board, but perhaps he needed to think through the best way to explain things to them all. Logically. Sometime other than this emotionally charged one, when the fate of the fudge shop hung between them.

Huffing out a breath, he flashed what he hoped was an apologetic smile at Lily. “I need to go. But I’ll see you at the announcement?”

She tugged on a lavender curl, nodded—some sort of uncertainty in her eyes. “See you there.”

He headed for his mom’s booth. Started helping to break it down, to put things back the way they’d been. Then the lampposts flickered on, and Dani gave a five-minute warning for the announcement, so Declan and his whole family left the partially disassembled booths and headed down to the park.

A small crowd had gathered there near the playground and kids’ bounce houses—mostly friends and neighbors who cared about the fate of the fudge shop.

Setting her bullhorn on a picnic table, Dani stood on the bench. “Would Declan Kelley and Lily Hart please join me up front and center?”

Yeah, this was it.

Declan shuffled up front and stood on the ground to Dani’s left. Lily emerged from the crowd and stood on Dani’s right, her face a jumble of emotions. Her eyes flicked first to Declan, then to the ground. Then she rubbed at a spot of chocolate on her leather leggings.

Declan held back a smile.

Yeah. Whatever happened, he wanted this woman in his life.

“Thanks again for coming out today,” Dani said. “This was an excellent way to kick off the first of many Jonathon Island events, and to show our community that we’re still here!”

Cheers lifted from the crowd. Liam, who stood nearby, whistled loudly.

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