Page 51 of One Sweet Match Up

Perfect timing. He watched as Zoe bent down, making sure the lid to her cooler containing the frozen yogurt was in place, her cute pink knit hat tucked over her ears.

It’d taken them two hours to fill their sample cups and arrange them for transportation. Will had stopped in, so they’d put him to work, helping to expedite the process.

He knew his plan would work. In hindsight, he probably should have told Zoe what he’d been doing all this time. She’d seemed a little put off that he hadn’t been cooking.

All would be forgiven when she learned he’d spent the last three days visiting every business, hospital, police station, library, post office, and community center in a hundred-mile radius, personally inviting folks to come out, support the two teams playing, and try his new soup with her frozen yogurt. For those who couldn’t make it to tonight’s game, he’d encouraged them to stop into the shop over the next two weeks.

He’d given everyone he met an incentive beyond great food. When he wasn’t buzzing around town, he was on his phone and email working his connections. He’d secured enough donations to give out a couple of prizes tonight and several more for those to have a chance to win, but only if they visited the Ice Heaven. The grand prize being a thousand dollars.

He was going to cough up that sweet cash prize, but he’d also scored numerous items from wine to gift baskets from local store owners. Rachel came through big time with a bouquet a month for a year as her donation. Will was a cheapskate, only donating an oil change. He’d get more out of his buddy later.

He’d even gotten a donation from his former business partner, Marc, who said he’d take some time off from the Rocky Top this summer and give personal French cooking lessons. Donovan jumped on that offer. He missed his buddy. It’d be good to see him.

With prizes secured—and with some help from Bethany and Caitlin—he had postcards made that highlighted all the prizes that could be won to anyone who stopped into the Ice Heaven over the next two weeks and ordered something from the menu. He’d passed out hundreds over the last three days and dropped off a stack for Betty to have on hand for tonight’s game.

No one could say he hadn’t given it his all. Hopefully tomorrow would be a jam-packed day. And the next day . . . and the day after that. In no time, Zoe should have the cash to dig out of the red.

It was a gimmick to lure people in—who didn’t want a chance at a thousand bucks? Still, once customers tried his food, he knew they’d be back. They always came back. He grinned.

“What’s that smile for?”

“Oh nothing. Just excited to be here. I haven’t stepped foot in this place in ages.” He held the door open for her. “Smells the same,” he joked, leading the way down the brightly lit hall with metal lockers on each side. He stopped at locker 129. “This was mine.”

Zoe came up beside him. “What was in it?”

“Um . . . Books.”

“No pictures of you with Abby?” she asked, cocking her head.

He smiled. “Nah. We kept our thing under wraps. She did leave a red carnation in there one Valentine’s Day my senior year.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Yeah. It was after a fight, and I was pretty sure it was cursed. I tossed it.”

Zoe laughed, and damn, the sound melted his heart. He nodded toward the gymnasium doors. “You ready to do this?”

“I think so. Are you?”

He nodded and unzipped his jacket, showing off the jersey he’d slipped on at the Ice Heaven. It was tight as hell. He barely got it over his T-shirt. He wanted to wear it to support the team.

Zoe’s mouth dropped. “What are you wearing?”

“What?” He patted his chest. “You don’t like it?”

“No . . . it’s . . .”

He chuckled. “I know it’s a little tight. I was a lot lankier back then.”

“I’m impressed that you kept it.”

He gulped. There was no way he was going to reveal that he’d found it in the purse. “Rachel stowed it away in her closet with her cheerleading uniform,” he said as if it was no big deal and began to lead the way down the hall where they were greeted by Betty and her sister, Helen.

“About time, Toots.” Betty threw her bony arms around him for a long hug and then did the same to Zoe. “Don’t you two make a cute couple.”

“Business partners,” Donovan interjected. The last thing he needed was Zoe freaking out and running down the hall and out the school.

“Right.” Betty nodded down to the dolly. “Glad that worked out for you.”

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