Page 32 of Meet Me on Lilac Lane

“Do you want to go inside?” Cody reached into his pocket and held up his key ring. “I can let us in.”

“Actually, do you mind waiting outside with Mags and Finn for a minute or two before you come in? I want to take a video, and I don’t want my kids in too many of these social posts.”

“No problem.” He chatted with the kids for a few minutes before Mia came back out.

“Okay! The coast is clear.”

They all trooped into the space.

“I really like how you updated this. The white paint makes the whole place light up.” She walked to the center of the room, footsteps echoing in the empty building.

Pride swelled his chest again as he saw the room through Mia’s eyes. Most of the buildings on Jonathon Island’s main drag were small. This one, at four thousand square feet, was one of the bigger ones.

He lifted Maggie down and set her on her feet. “Who knew a tiny tot could weigh so much?”

“She does get heavy after a while. Don’t feel like you have to carry her everywhere. She can walk, and I can carry her too. You don’t have to do it.”

“Mia.” He touched her arm. “Carrying her is no burden. I like it. I like spending time with your kids.”

Her shoulders loosened. A small smile played around her lips. “Thanks.”

“Mommy, can I take some pictures?”

“Sure, bud.” She handed Finn her cell phone. “Careful.”

He aimed the phone’s camera around the room, taking several pictures.

“It’ll be interesting to see how those turn out,” Mia said quietly.

“It’ll be a different angle, that’s for sure.”

While they waited for Finn, Cody took the opportunity to point out different features of the shop for Mia to include in her descriptions for potential clients.

“Now I will take your picture,” Finn said. “Stand together.”

Cody moved next to Mia. Heat flared in him as his shoulder rested against her and their hands brushed.

“Get closer. I can’t see you.” Finn’s commanding finger pointed him closer to Mia. She turned an amused face up to him. He slung his arm around her shoulder.

Uh oh. Big mistake.

This photo was going to be ruined because of the sparks that were surely flying off him. He tamped them down. He and Mia were just friends, and he was going to do what he could to maintain that balance.

But try telling that to his traitorous heart. The one that was galloping away this very minute. Spending so much time with Mia was a bad idea.

Suddenly he realized Finn was talking to him. “I got the picture. You can let go of Mommy now.” Oops. He dropped his arm from Mia’s shoulders.

“Time for us to get home,” Mia said. She looked flushed and wouldn’t meet his eye.

Was she as flustered as he was?

“I’ll lock up behind us.” Hopefully she didn’t notice how hard his heart had pounded when he was holding her.

He walked them to the corner, parting ways at the fudge shop. Nostalgia hit hard.

Using his master key, he let himself in. Two of the huge copper pots used for making fudge still rested near the front popout windows, and the two marble worktables were covered with old blankets. A fine layer of dust coated the shelves on the walls and the long counter near the old register. He and his family practically lived here when his mother ran the place. It looked smaller now, somehow. Like the past five years had pulled the walls closer together.

The scent of chocolate still hung heavy in the air. Cloying and sweet, it made his stomach rumble. Too bad it would be another bachelor supper for him tonight. No company, no laughter. Just a pot pie heated in the microwave while he surfed the net looking for boat parts. If he was lucky, there might be a pint of pistachio ice cream for after.

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