Page 52 of Sweet Summertide

“If you’ll have me?” she said and closed her eyes as he slid the back of his hand down her neck. A shiver ran through her like every word he spoke kissed her skin. She pressed her lips together in anticipation of his lips caressing hers.

He flicked his tongue against her mouth and caused her lips to part enough for the night air to cool the wet flesh. He was close enough to taste, and she didn’t let him tease her again. She bit back, crashing her lips against his like a hammer hitting its target. This kiss was different than the others, less possessive and more tender. It was as though their lips were doing all the talking their hearts wanted and not their brains.

His hands were on her body, mapping her curves and exploring her reaction to him. He knelt in front of her in the boat, peppering kisses down the length of her neck. The sudden change of weight rocked the boat side to side. The kisses continued until their laughter overtook their connection. They both gripped the sides of the boat not wanting to end up in the water.

“Whoa! Teddy!” she yelled through a laugh.

He moved his bottom back to the narrow bench and used the oars to calm the swaying. “Maybe we should head back. We both have a big day tomorrow.”

“Hey, Teddy. Whatever happens with the grant money, I want you to know that I think you have something special. And I know it’ll work out either way,” Holly said.

“I want you to win. Not just the money, but the bet.”

“The bet?” She had nearly memory-holed the wager they made all those weeks ago. “If you win, I have to stock your candies in my shop. And if I win?—”

“You get to take me on a real date,” Teddy said, and she could tell he was smirking.

“Does tonight count?”

He rowed around to the end of the dock and the moon illuminated his face. “Not even close.”

CHAPTER 26

Theodor ranhis fingers through his hair in a futile effort to fight against the wind whipping around to the back of the pickup truck where he sat. He was minutes away from seeing Holly, and later they would learn who won the grant money. He hadn’t seen much of Holly since their ice cream date in the boat. The day afterwards, the Chamber of Commerce had their walk-through during the soft opening. The most he had seen of her was a smile or a friendly wave from their respective shop windows.

He was impressed that her space had been ready in time for the review at all, though he suspected the majority of the work to fix what the fire had damaged was geared towards the forward-facing elements of her business and not the behind-the-scenes areas. In addition to the countless workers, Holly’s father had also made several more appearances which only made him long to have his own parents’ support. The last two weeks had shown him he could manage without his family’s assistance. His savings would be enough to get him through the next month until his shop was making an income. Though he didn’t need anything from them now, he still desired, like any child does, to win their approval.

This weekend was the last peaceful time he would have before his dream of being a full-time chocolatier could come true. He could practically taste his impending success, and it tasted so sweet his mouth watered. He’d come a long way in the past few weeks, not only with a boost of confidence in his life choices, but also letting his heart have a louder voice in his decision making. He smiled at his wingman, Alfonso, sitting beside him in the bed of the truck.

“Why so happy, bro?” Alfonso asked with his own goofy grin splashed across his face.

The truck pulled up to the corner on Main and came to a stop. “Blake Holly Hollis, that’s why,” Theodor said and jumped out of the bed of Leo’s red pickup alongside Alfonso. His feet hit the cobblestones, and he brushed any dirt or bits of straw from his bottom that he might have picked up during the short trip. Riding in the back of Leo’s vehicle was preferable to walking into town in this heat, even if it were in the exposed bed with only a horse blanket to sit on.

Alfonso patted Theodor’s back, and they stepped up to the sidewalk. “Millie drives Holly tonight.”

“I know.” Theodor came around the truck. He opened the passenger door and helped America out. Leaning in the doorway, he thanked Leo for the lift.

“Don’t mention it,” Leo said. “We were already headed this way. Do you need a ride back after the fireworks later?”

Theodor waved him off. “It’ll be cooled down enough to walk.”

“Good luck tonight,” America said. “You think you’ll win the grant?”

“I have as good a chance as anyone else. All the owners have worked so hard, and I think that Main Street is better for it,” Theodor said wondering if he really had a good chance.

“I think you’re right,” Leo said. “When I was mayor, I never would have considered that a friendly competition could have had such a big impact on the whole town. I’ll have to thank … the anonymous benefactor later.”

Theodor placed his hands on the hood of the truck. “You know who it is? Who’s giving the money?”

Leo zipped his mouth shut and patted Theodor square on his back as he came around to America’s side. “I can’t say, but you’ll find out tonight for sure.”

Theodor wished he had known who it was this whole time and could have sucked up or sidled up. “Thanks again for the ride. Have fun, you two.”

“You too,” America said and pointed at Theodor and then Alfonso. “Be good.”

Theodor chuckled in his throat. Alfonso was no doubt his best friend in town, and if he was totally honest, the Italian was probably the most loyal friend he had ever had. It was a relationship Theodor knew he needed in his life. He threw his arm over Alfonso’s shoulder, and they walked onto Main where the festivities were already in full swing and where he knew he would find Holly.

Groups of families and friends all moved in the same direction towards the old city hall. Above him, string lights hung between the building rooflines, and red, white, and blue bunting decorated each light post lining the road. All of Main Street screamed Fourth of July with patriotic streamers and wreaths adorning every corner.

---