by Hart, Cary
“I’ve got this. Thanks!” I wipe my hands on a cloth and rush out front.
Abbi and I hit it off, so I really hope she sticks around. She has a way with the customers and is very creative.
Plus, she was on board with my idea of a confessions jar instead of tips and she helps manage the bakery’s social media account. Something which has brought in a ton of new business, making today another successful one.
Peering over the long glass counter, I see Shapiro standing in the front of the sugar rush line.
“Hey! What are you doing out here?” I smile at him. “Come around back.”
“I can’t. I have a question first,” he offers.
“Okay. So, you’re the difficult customer?”
“I am. Is there any chance we can get Kool-Aid on the menu?”
“That’s your question?” I giggle at his one-track mine.
“Well, no, but I think you should. I actually have another question or more of a confession.”
“Okay.” I step closer to the counter. “You can do that with paper … the jar.” I smile, nodding toward the large glass jar on the counter as I walk around to stand between him and the case filled with today’s brownies and cupcakes.
“This isn’t really a paper and pen kind of confession.”
“Can we do this later, maybe?” I suggest, unsure of what he’s getting at.
“Nope. Has to be today. Now.” He smiles.
“What’s so special about today?”
“Nothing … yet. But I can’t wait another day.”
“For what?”
“For this.” He smiles up at me, dropping to one knee.
O.M.G.
“Penny, you are amazing, and I don’t wanna waste another day without making you mine. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I want to share my life with you.”
My heart is beating so fast I can barely hear anything else.
Looking down I see a diamond ring glistening as he holds it up and I think my heart might stop.
“Penny. Marry me?” He waits for my answer as the patrons waiting on baked goods begin clapping.
“Yes!” rushes out of my mouth and I fall into his arms, nearly knocking us both to the ground.
Our lips meet, and he mumbles against them, “Mmmm, best kiss I’ve ever had.”
“You always say that.” I giggle against his chest as he stands, lifting me with him.
“And it’s always true.”
One year later
Shapiro
It’s crazy how much has changed since that night Penny first came to my apartment, needing shelter, needing protection. I gave her a place to stay and she gave me a renewed sense of purpose.
Watching her laughing and smiling with our closest friends and my family makes my chest swell with pride.
“She looks lovely.” My sister Freya comes up next to me, holding out a flute of champagne.
I accept it and take a drink, my eyes never leaving Penny. That white lace dress is mouthwatering.
“She does. I’m a lucky bastard.”
“That you are.” She bumps her shoulder into me. “But she’s lucky too. You both are.”
“Thanks. I really wish … it’s just.” I get a little choked up thinking about Mama Ang, she would have loved this.
“I know. Me too. But she’s always with us.” She squeezes my arm.
“She would have spent weeks baking in preparation. Penny nearly did. I mean who bakes their own cake?” I joke, but I’m really impressed at all the amazing tiny cakes and desserts she made. She and Nina, with the help of Niki, Jen and my sisters, transferred the main stage and dance floor area of Spotlight into some type of grown-up candy land.
“One who was trained well by Mama Ang.” She laughs.
“Don’t forget my contribution.” I nod the at the punch table next to us.
“Yeah, about that … are you gonna man the table all night, hogging it for yourself, or are you gonna dance with your girl?”
“Hey, this might not be a traditional punch, but it’s a rare Kool-Aid blend,” I defend my Sharkleberryfinn-lime and pineapple sherbet punch. “People are crazy to be drinking what’s on tap instead of this.”
“Well, punch boy.” She slaps my arm. “It’s time.”
“Can you let Ellie know I’m ready?”
Penny is so excited to have Ellie, one of Spotlight’s own performing at our reception. But she has no idea what our first dance will be to—she told me to surprise her. They have become friends and she’s one of Sweet Confessions best customers.
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks, sis.”
“No problem, dweeb.” She turns to walk away, calling over her shoulder, “She would be so proud.”
I down the champagne, taking a deep breath as I hear the first strands to a song I’ve heard a million times. A song that makes me think of family, new and old. I walk toward my new family. My wife. My eyes locked on her as she throws her hair over her shoulder and laughs.
The strum of the guitar as Ellie prepares to serenade us matches the pounding of my heart. This song isn’t hearts and flowers, it’s Kool-Aid and cupcakes. It’s us.
I stand behind her as Ellie coos the first few lyrics into the mic.
“Sugar, sugar.”
I slip my hands around her waist where she stands talking to Nina. “Hello, ladies. Mrs. Shapiro, may I borrow you for a moment?”
“Hello, Mr. Shapiro.” She leans back into me, fitting into my arms like she was made for me.
“Honey. Honey,” I sing in her ear and she turns in my arms. “Seems, it’s time for our dance.”
“Okay, husband.” She holds tightly to me as I walk her to the dance floor. The lights are lowered and right on cue the spotlights hit on us. Illuminating us in a shower of pastel light as the song continues.
“I love this song.” She sighs.
“And I love you,” I tell her. Feeling like it’s just the two of us here as I hold my entire world in my arms.
“I love you too.” And right on cue as the song is nearing the end. It’s time.
“Ready to twirl?” I whisper.
“I thought you would never ask.” She smiles sweetly and so I twirl her once.
And then again. Her dress swooshing as she goes.
This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for. We move in slow motion as I twirl her a third time.
When she comes back around and falls into my arms, I catch and dip her. If she wasn’t dizzy with love, according to Mama Ang, she should be now.
She opens her eyes and looks up at me.
“I love you.”
It worked.
“I love you.”
“I have a confession,” she tells me as I pull her up and we stand nose to nose.
“Is it sweet?” I tease her thinking back to that first time we visited the bakery.
“I hope so.” She smiles at me, and my heart melts. “I’m pregnant.”
And now I’m the one who is dizzy.
“Penny! Are you serious?” I’m overwhelmed and bursting with the need to shout it from the rooftop and struggling to not go all overprotective caveman and lock her away immediately.
“Yes,” she cries. “Surprise.”
“Oh, Penny. You’ve given me more than I could ever have hoped for.”
I hold her face between my palms and kiss her mouth, showing her all the words I want to say.
But there will be no more locks, no more hiding. But I’ll never stop protecting her.
Them.
“Penny. About the shower? The punch …”
“Yes,” she laughs.
To the kids who I watched this summer – one, you better never read my books. Two, because of you, Kool-Aid breathed new meaning into Protect Me. Thank you for going through a gallon of Kool-Aid a day. #WhatsYourKoolAid
Cary’s SweetHarts & VIP’s – I love you guys! My reader tribe. You give me reason to keep writing. Thank you for loving my words,
for loving me and for keeping my group alive. You guys rock! #SweetHartsFoLife #LoveYouHard
Brittany – this book would not have seen the light of day without you. The summer may have kicked my ass, but you made sure I never gave up. Thank you for always believing in me. #DontStopBelievin #HyH
Stephanie – you whore! Sometimes I think we share the same brain. Then you say something like Taco Bell is not real tacos and then I realize I was wrong. #YoQuieroTacoBell #TacoGirl #TacoOG #HippyShit
Crystal R. – I love you more than Stephanie. #JustSayin #GIFstyle
Christy – you were the sanity to my summer! I wouldn’t have made it without those seven AM phone calls. #TalkSoup #GirlsRule #SideKick
Linda – through sickness and a hurricane... we did it! You were the calm in my crazy-ass storm. Thank you for all that you do! #BossLady #FairyGodmother #WheresYourCape
Missy– you said don’t worry. You told me it can be done. I believed you and you were right. You are my miracle worker! You read between the lines and then made me fill them. What can I say, but thank you! PS – I should have had you edit this section. #MiracleWorker #RealAF #LifeSaver
Marla – I skipped one too many English classes in high school. All because it was after lunch and I wanted to go shopping. Having an amazing proofreader like you, makes me realize I have no regrets. Skipping class was worth it. #WinkWink #MyMenDontTwitch #LayVsLie #TowardsorToward
Fabi – thank you for always listening. You calm my soul. #SoulSister #OilMe
Tammy – you aren’t just my beta, you are EVERYTHING. I cherish every opinion and one day. I’m going to give you more! #AlwaysMore #EagleEye
Jenni P.– we bonded over Joseph Cannata and because of that, Shapiro came to life! Thank you. #HottieAlert
Heather – where would I be without your three hundred plus pics of Shapiro? Thank you for having a major obsession with Joseph. You made my research easy. Because of you, I never have to find a face for a hero again. #ManCandy #ManHunter #matchmaker
K. Street – I feel like I struck gold with you. One of the most genuine people I know. Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders and somehow knowing when I need a break. You get me. #ShesAKeeper
Mom – your my mom, my business partner, my best friend. I love you SO much. #ImTheFavorite
Let’s not forget Spotify –thank you Spotify! I will never leave you! You are my forever! #MusicIsLife #Inspiration #FeedMySoul
Last but not least... To my husband and kids – I love you guys so much. Oops, I did it again!
#LoveYouToTheMoon #MyBuddy
Cary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing, Spotify addict, lover of all things books!
When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. Soccer mom in all sense of the word to two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband. In addition to writing full time, she enjoys binge watching Netflix, lying around in her hammock and baking up cookies for her family and friends.
Cary writes real, raw romance! In her stories the characters deal with life’s everyday struggles and unwanted drama, they talk about the ugly and they become the broken. Everyone deserves a happy ending, but sometimes before you can appreciate the light, there has to be darkness.
Growing up, if someone would have told her she would become a writer, she wouldn’t have believed them. It wasn’t until she got her hands on her first romance novel, that the passion grew. Now she couldn’t imagine her life any other way - she’s living her dream.
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Spotlight Collection
Make Me – January 2019
Own Me – February 2019
Hotline Collection
(Summer 2019)