The Chocolate Comeback (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 7)

by Roxanne Snopek

  The room lights dimmed and the spotlight illuminated Mark, looking slightly rumpled, and DeeDee, a barefoot princess in a bathrobe, her head held high, a confident smile on her beautiful face.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Logan said, “Mark Litton and Deirdre Cash.”

  DeeDee took Mark’s hand and raised it in the air, like a prizefighter after a winning match.

  There were still remnants of tears shining on Mark’s face, but he was watching DeeDee carefully. He wiped his cheeks with his free hand and glanced cautiously at the crowd.

  Then, to everyone’s shock, DeeDee lifted her other hand and gave a whoop. Mark jumped and tried to take a step back, but DeeDee pulled him closer.

  “Everyone falls,” she shouted. “It’s the ones who get back up who are the winners.”

  Mark smiled hesitantly, his eyes on DeeDee. Then he lifted his other hand and gave a yell, too. Then a second one.

  She wasn’t trying to torment Mark, Isaac realized. She was helping him grow. And Mark could handle it, after all.

  “This is what it’s all about, people,” Logan said as people leaped to their feet, clapping and cheering. “Helping each other up when we fall.”

  DeeDee looked at him from across the room. She tapped the side of her nose and gave him a smile of such sweetness that it was as if the crowd around them evaporated, leaving them alone together, their feelings exposed, as readable as if they were inches apart, holding hands.

  DeeDee pretended not to care about people because it hurt too much to be rejected. She didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve, like Mark did. But to Isaac, she might as well have. That perfect glittery exterior hid a soft, warm heart as vulnerable as anyone else’s.

  Jodi-Lyn claimed to love Isaac, but she wouldn’t even change dinner plans to accommodate Mark.

  What had DeeDee said? She loved them both. The same amount, but in different ways.

  She loved them.

  Both.

  If that wasn’t a relationship, he didn’t know what was.

  Chapter Twenty

  Chad Anders waited quietly at the podium, allowing the crowd to chatter for a few minutes while DeeDee and Mark left the stage. A few minutes later, Mark thundered down the side steps to join Isaac in the audience.

  “You did great, buddy.” Isaac squeezed his brother’s arm.

  “People cheered, Isaac!” Mark’s face was aglow. “I fell and people cheered. I didn’t throw up.”

  “I knew you could do it.” Though he’d needed convincing.

  The music changed again, as did the lights.

  Isaac sat up. It must be DeeDee’s turn.

  “She’s played the role of emcee,” Chad said in a grand voice. “She’s stage managed the models, she’s arranged clothing, fussed with hair, even modeled her bathrobe for us. She’s handled the decorations, the donations, every practical detail down to the water bottles for the models. And she’s done it all for the sake of her sister, Cynthia Henley, my soon-to-be wife and the soon-to-be mother of my child.”

  Chad’s voice caught. Any remaining chatter fell silent.

  “Deirdre Cash is not only beautiful and talented,” he continued when he could, “but she’s also got a heart as big as the Montana sky. Please welcome our final model, a huge supporter for Building Tomorrow and the true star of Marietta Style, my friend, and almost-sister, our own DeeDee Cash.”

  The applause was deafening.

  “Whoo-hoo,” Mark yelled beside him. “DeeDee, Isaac. DeeDee!”

  When she burst through the curtain, one arm extended, her shoulders back, her chin high, Isaac almost didn’t recognize her.

  Her caramel-streaked hair was caught up in some elaborate twist that sparkled in the lights. Long, dark eyelashes swept over creamy skin, her cheekbones and jaw as elegant as lines of music.

  She was DeeDee… but not the version he’d grown familiar with. This was a glittering goddess, raw gold glimmering in a stream. An exotic bird in a petting zoo. A celebrity among mere mortals.

  For the first time, he understood what she’d given up in returning to Marietta. She strode down the catwalk as if born to it. She wore a flowing lavender ankle-length evening gown with a slit that ran halfway up her thigh, revealing one leg and outlining the shape of the other one with every step. Isaac couldn’t tear his eyes off her.

  She was magnificent.

  She was terrifying.

  This was not the DeeDee he knew; this was someone destined for greatness.

  “DeeDee is wearing an off-the-shoulder raw silk gown designed by Valentino,” Logan read from the page, “paired with sling-backs by Jimmy Choo, and highlighted by a Gucci teardrop pendant.”

  As she passed by their seats, DeeDee gave Isaac a slumberous look. Then she lowered one heavily made-up eye and winked at him. His heart stopped. In that instant, the room disappeared, the lights narrowed, and it was just the two of them, the beauty queen with the heart of gold and the stubborn man with the feet of clay who loved her against his will. Then she looked away. The fragile, fleeting connection was lost.

  Hoots of laugher sounded, fingers poking him from behind. “That was for you, Isaac,” Austin said.

  “DeeDee loves chocolate, yoga, shopping, and telling people what’s good for them,” Logan finished.

  More laughter.

  Just then, in Isaac’s pocket, DeeDee’s cell phone vibrated. He glanced down. He’d promised to keep it safe for her during the show. The number on the screen indicated an out-of-state caller, so he whispered his excuses and quickly slipped to the back of the room to answer it, watching DeeDee at the same time.

  “Hello,” he said. “Deirdre Cash’s phone.”

  “Who’s this?” a male voice snapped. “Never mind. Get me DeeDee.”

  “Excuse me,” Isaac said. “Who’s calling?”

  “It’s Jon. She’ll know what it’s about. Put her on. Now.”

  There was an assumption, a possessiveness in this man’s voice, that set Isaac’s teeth on edge.

  He gathered his temper and looked over to the stage. He could see DeeDee showing off her shoes at one end of the runway, waiting for Logan to find his place in the program. “She’s occupied.”

  “With what?” Jon paused. “Who are you?”

  “A friend,” he answered. “Can I take a message?”

  Logan said something and DeeDee bent over at the waist, laughing. She gathered a handful of that elegant dress and sashayed to the other side.

  “I’ve already left her messages. The head of marketing wants to meet her. She’s supposed to be here. Where is she?”

  Isaac’s blood turned to ice. So what that woman, Leda, had said was true. Deirdre was leaving. “She’s in Marietta, Montana.”

  The man on the phone inhaled sharply. The barrage of words that came at him then would have been funny if not for the anger behind them.

  Isaac held the phone away from his ear while Jon shouted, trying to make sense of what he was saying. He was DeeDee’s agent, apparently. And DeeDee had an appointment in New York.

  But if that was true, what was she doing here? Had she mixed up her dates? Forgotten about it in her rush to do the show?

  Surely not. But Isaac owed it to her to make sure. No matter how much it hurt.

  “Wait a second,” Isaac said, interrupting the tirade. “Let me get her for you.”

  From the back of the room, he waved his hand in the air, hoping to catch her attention without interrupting the show.

  “I stuck my neck out for her,” Jon said. “It’s one thing for her to blow off the nose job, but if she’s not on the next plane, I’m done with her.”

  Nose job? She was considering surgery? Isaac met DeeDee’s gaze, then lifted the phone and pointed at it. She smiled at him, her eyes shining in the spotlight, and continued pacing while Logan spoke.

  “Hang on.” He forced himself not to jump to conclusions. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”

  After clicking on the flashlight app on DeeDe
e’s phone, he waved it again. He had to let her have her chance, whatever it was.

  And if she had to leave, then he had to let her go. Without blame. Look at her, after all. A woman like that deserved the spotlight.

  Isaac jumped up and down, causing the people nearest him to look over, frowning.

  “Sorry,” he muttered.

  He pushed his way up to Eric Anders.

  “DeeDee’s got an important call,” he whispered.

  “Now?” Eric said, looking horrified.

  Isaac nodded. “She needs to take this. Tell her it’s New York.”

  Eric made his way onto the stage and leaned toward Logan, who beckoned to DeeDee.

  “Excuse me,” she said to the crowd with an exaggerated shrug. “Everything’s an emergency.”

  The audience tittered.

  Isaac saw her head jerk when she got the message. Then her back straightened and her expression changed. It happened so quickly he might have imagined it. Surely no one else would have noticed.

  But he did.

  She looked at him with a soft, sweet smile that made his stomach flop over. Then, very deliberately, she shook her head.

  Isaac was confused. She had an opportunity to return to the career of her dreams, and she was giving it up?

  DeeDee gave another minute shake of her head.

  Isaac lifted the phone again, beckoning, but she only smiled again. This time, he saw sadness. The brittle shine was gone, leaving an open, tender yearning. For what? For him? Dare he hope? Once more, she shook her head and mouthed the word no.

  “Wait,” he whispered to Jon again. He had to be sure.

  She had to be sure.

  “Sit down,” Eric said, none too gently.

  Isaac yanked his arm away. “DeeDee,” he called. “You want to take this.”

  DeeDee’s eyes widened. “Excuse us,” she said with a little laugh. “Somebody’s trying to contact me. Since everyone I care about is in this room already, I know it’s not important. But my dear friend Isaac is worried. He worries a lot. It’s part of what I love about him.”

  A ripple of laughter rose from the audience. Again, she’d said it so casually, like she loved pizza or old movies. Was she that casual about love?

  Or was she saying it again, like this, because he hadn’t responded the first time, and she was afraid to confront him?

  People were looking at him, waiting for him to sit down so they could continue the show.

  He walked closer to the stage. “It’s Jon,” he said, hating that he was interrupting but desperate for her to understand. If she stayed in Marietta, it had to be by choice. Her choice.

  “It’s Jon,” DeeDee repeated for the crowd. “He’s irritated because I refused to get a nose job. What do you think, people? Isn’t this nose good enough?”

  She tapped the side of her nose again, and the crowd cheered.

  “Jon’s persistent,” she continued, “so I need your help. When I count to three, I want you to join me in saying Goodbye, Jon. Can you do that?”

  Was she serious? All this time, she’d been wrestling with this huge decision? She knew about her big second chance… and she’d decided not to take it?

  I love you and Isaac both, honey.

  Was that true?

  He spoke into the phone. “Listen hard, Jon. DeeDee has something to say to you.” Then he lifted the device.

  “One, two, three,” DeeDee said, waving her hands like an orchestra conductor.

  “Goodbye, Jon!”

  The chorus rang out. If the audience was confused, they didn’t seem to mind.

  Isaac stepped quickly to the back of the room again as the laughter settled and attention turned back to Mark.

  “Did you get that?” he asked.

  Jon let loose a string of curses. “She’s done. You tell her that for me, okay? That’s what I get for trying to polish up some rancher’s daughter from nowhere—”

  Isaac ended the call before he could say something he’d regret. Look at the commitment she’d displayed to Mark, to Cynthia, to Sage and Portia. To the entire town.

  To him.

  He stood for a moment, breathing hard, his chest thumping.

  DeeDee had an opportunity in New York, but she’d turned it down.

  She loved him.

  *

  This, DeeDee thought, is what matters. All these people. All these friends.

  The show was over. Despite Mark’s stumble and Jon’s interruption, it was an unqualified success. Donations had flowed in, and everyone had a wonderful time.

  And she’d told Isaac, in front of everyone, that she loved him.

  Would she ever get a handle on impulse control?

  Isaac stood in the corner with Mark, watching while Mark chattered with Sara Maria. Or, more accurately, to her. Sara Maria held her arms straight against her sides, but every now and then, she nodded and said something in response.

  Why wasn’t Isaac coming over to her? Hadn’t he heard her?

  Maddie’s loud laugh rose above the clatter, and DeeDee looked over. Maddie’s eyes met hers, as if drawn to her by the same awareness they’d shared as children and then forgotten.

  Or maybe only DeeDee had forgotten.

  Maddie waved and blew her a congratulatory kiss. She and Mick were folding white tablecloths, moving together, then apart, halving and quartering the unwieldy fabric in a utilitarian, yet intimate, dance.

  She’d never seen Maddie so happy.

  The entire room was bursting with the joy of a shared endeavor, with community and friendship. So why was her throat so hot and tight? Happy tears, she told herself. That was all.

  Nothing to do with Isaac’s avoidance. Mark was fine, but DeeDee had pushed him to participate, despite Isaac’s wishes. She shouldn’t be surprised at Isaac’s reaction to Mark’s fall. He loved his brother.

  Logan Stafford’s crew of high school students were busy breaking down the tables and returning them to the storage room. Behind the stage, a crowd of women were slipping clothing onto hangers and shoes into boxes. Children dashed happily between the folding chairs while their parents worked.

  Chad and Eric had their heads together at the front of the room, going over the donor sheets. Chad kept a hand on Cynthia, who’d remained in her wheelchair during the entire show, much to DeeDee’s relief.

  If the mood of the crowd was any reflection on their generosity, this would be the most successful fundraiser to date. A win for Cynthia and CH Solutions. A win for Building Tomorrow. A win for Mark and Sara Maria and their friends. They were part of this community and deserved to be included, not shut away like an embarrassing secret.

  DeeDee fingered the tiny scar on her nose. She’d made her choice. Whether Isaac loved her or not, she’d chosen to believe that she was good enough the way she was. Her breath hitched in her chest and she bit her lip to stop it from wobbling.

  She’d done this. Pulled it off. She’d made up for her past mistakes with Cynthia. Maybe she could even build a future with Cynthia’s company. For real, this time.

  Her phone, which had been vibrating like mad for the past half an hour, buzzed again.

  Jon… again.

  “What now?” she snapped.

  “I’ve got you the perfect gig to resurrect your career and you go MIA?” He paused. “DeeDee, what’s wrong with you?”

  DeeDee watched Jade and Bob, the black and white Labrador mix who shadowed her every move. Isaac wanted to get Mark a dog. She imagined Isaac jogging through Bramble Park with a golden retriever at his side, an image even more delicious than anything Sage concocted.

  She swallowed hard, willing the lump in her throat to go away. At least she had Mr. Fluffy Legs. She’d grown fond of the hideous creature.

  “DeeDee!” Desperation rang in Jon’s voice. A part of her was sympathetic. He’d no doubt put his own reputation on the line, predicting her response based on his past experiences.

  At the back of the room, another figure waved, then gave her th
e thumbs-up sign. Maya Parrish! She’d managed to come after all. DeeDee waved back, touched by Maya’s kindness, grateful that one slate at least had been wiped clean.

  All of this felt good. Whatever judgment she’d expected was no more than she deserved, so it was both humbling and freeing to realize that, aside from her family, most people hadn’t even registered her absence. But now that she was back, goodwill she’d barely begun earning poured out to her like a waterfall.

  “Deirdre Cash!” Jon sounded like he was about to burst a blood vessel. “This is your one and only chance for a comeback. Ignore this and you’ll never model again. I’ll see to it.”

  Once upon a time, his power had dazzled her. Jon could open doors for her, get her into the right parties, in front of the right photographers. Now she realized he was little more than an insect, buzzing from flower to flower, always searching for his next meal, moving on the moment something better caught his eye, desperate for something, anything, to boost him to the next rung on an endless ladder.

  “Do you know how many girls would give their eye teeth to be with me? To have a chance like this? I’m beginning to think I’ve made a mistake with you.”

  “You have, Jon. You absolutely have.” She laughed. “Thanks for thinking of me and good luck in the future, but I am out.”

  He screeched something unintelligible, and she held the phone away from her ear.

  A rush of warm, sweet air on her neck made her jump.

  “Isaac.” All the nerve endings along her throat were singing. His breath smelled like chocolate. In his hand, he held a plate of leftover Easter Egg Bark. He didn’t look angry.

  Without taking her eyes off Isaac, DeeDee lifted the phone back to her face. “Good-bye, Jon,” she said. “Don’t call again.”

  She powered off the device and dropped it into her pocket.

  Isaac’s eyes widened. His jaw dropped. He led her away from the melee, to a quieter corner.

  She thought of all the years of denial, the food not eaten, the hours of running to make up for what she did eat, the hunger, the constant fear of not looking good enough, of missing a trend, of becoming obsolete.

  She’d tried so hard, yet she’d gotten more satisfaction from running this show for Cynthia than she’d ever had showing off her feet for Dr. Dorne’s Corn and Callus Palace. She’d felt better about herself with Isaac and Mark, in jeans and T-shirts, than she ever had in haute couture with Jon.