Eli held her gaze. All nervousness seemed to have vanished. “Will you teach me how you make your truffles?”
Adeline studied him for a moment. Was this Benjamin who was asking, or Eli? Judging by the accent, it was Benjamin. “Are you sure that’s wise?” She didn’t bring up the rumors that Leanne had texted her about that morning, but from Eli’s hesitation, he already knew. His cheeks had taken on a pinkish hue, and he gave her what seemed an embarrassed shrug.
“Probably not. But will you teach me anyway?”
And then he gave her a hopeful smile, and it was so endearing that Adeline kicked her rational side to the curb. Told it to come back later. Or not. She really didn’t care if her rational side ever returned.
Adeline nodded toward the back of the store. “Right this way.”
* * *
Adeline had to laugh when they entered her work area. She’d gotten used to how things were set up, but Eli was looking around like he’d just stepped into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. His expression was full of awe as he slowly took it in.
“Everything is so…big.”
She smiled as she picked up where she’d left off, adding the sugar into the giant mixing bowl. “Good thing too, if I’m going to keep up with you and your crew’s chocolate consumption. Seriously, I’m going to have to put a limit on y’all, or you’re going to give yourselves diabetes. Especially that lovely leading lady of yours.”
Eli didn’t miss the sarcasm, and he laughed. “I know Daisy can be a bit…intense. But she’s a talented actress.”
“Intense? I was going for something along the lines of rude, condescending, vindictive…” Adeline stopped. Why was she saying all this to Eli, like they were equals? Daisy and Eli existed in the same universe, not Adeline. And everything she’d just said would probably come out around the proverbial water cooler. “Please don’t tell her I said all of that.” So far, Daisy had only treated her poorly over some chocolate truffles. But they were going to be working together, and Adeline could only imagine what the woman would do if she found out how little Adeline thought of her.
Eli laughed and waved a hand through the air, putting her at ease. “Everyone already knows Daisy is all of those things. It’s not exactly news.” He walked over to where she was removing the saucepan from the giant burner and adding a bag of chopped chocolate. “That…is a lot of chocolate.”
“Yes, it is. Turns out that the mint truffles are your guys’ favorite, with the dark chocolate chile truffles as a close second.”
“Really? You’re sure it’s the chile chocolate they like?” The actor seemed taken aback that anyone could actually like the spicy concoction.
Adeline playfully nudged him as she waited a couple of moments for the chocolate to begin melting in the hot cream. “My empty shelves don’t lie.”
Oh, gosh, was she flirting? Adeline’s arm still tingled from where she had touched him with it. And Eli didn’t seem to mind, instead smiling. His gaze was soft, and it turned Adeline’s insides all gooey.
No, no, no. This was bad. Her rational side jumped back into play, surveying the damage, as if trying to figure out how to fix things. But it no longer had control and was easily vanquished.
“Would you like to take a turn?” she asked Eli, offering him a large whisk. “If you want to help me get this smooth, I’ll add the butter and the peppermint extract.”
Eli moved to take the whisk, but paused, his fingers brushing Adeline’s. “You’re sure you trust me with this?”
No. Adeline wasn’t sure about anything nowadays. “It depends…” she said, her words slow. For the past couple of weeks, she’d been trying to reconcile the man that Eli portrayed himself to be and the man that he really was. And instead of becoming easier, it had only gotten harder. “The small fence that you erected on the beach, proclaiming the area inside as Jessie’s spot.” She paused, then allowed her gaze to find his. Looking into his eyes, she tried to ignore the excited patter of her heart. “Why did you do it?”
Eli’s lips quirked up at the edges. “Because she deserved something nice.”
That was true, Jessie did. She served the town a hundred times more than she received in return. If anyone deserved something nice, it was her. But Eli hadn’t known any of that when he’d constructed the fence—he couldn’t have. As Adeline studied him, searching for the answer, a realization struck her. Despite his frustrating acting methods, Eli was just a genuinely nice person. It wasn’t exactly newsworthy, and it wouldn’t be splashed across the front page of a magazine, but Eli had recognized someone who had a need, and he was able to fulfil it. Just like with the broken door at the bed and breakfast. And joining her for the chicken dance. Just like with everything since he’d arrived in Starlight Ridge.
Adeline placed the whisk in his hand and closed his fingers around it. “I trust you.”
That statement should have scared her—should have sent her running from the room, panicking. Adeline had never thought she’d say she trusted a Hollywood megastar.
But strangely, it didn’t scare her, and she didn’t run.
Instead, she held the whisk with Eli, showing him how to get the quick movements that would give them the texture they needed. To stand at the right angle, she found she needed to adjust her position, so she stood just behind him, one hand resting lightly on his back as she leaned forward, helping him get the desired motion. Eli wasn’t wearing his usual cologne this morning, and she found that his natural scent seemed to be pineapple and…sea salt. It was a combination that enticed her, left her wanting more.
When everything was well mixed and smooth, Adeline knew she should step back so she could get the mixture into the fridge to cool for a few hours. But just the thought made her miss his presence, even with him still standing so close.
And that scared her.
Adeline moved back so fast, she nearly sent the bowl tumbling.
Eli glanced at her over his shoulder, his brows knit in confusion as he steadied the bowl. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, just…tripped,” she said, offering him a sheepish smile.
He turned to face her. “If I did something—”
“You didn’t,” she interrupted, her words quick. She glanced at the clock on the wall, not really seeing the time, just going through the movement. “We better get this in to cool. The crew will be here soon.”
Eli looked at the clock. “I doubt they’ll be here for at least another hour.”
She did a double take. Oh. It had only been fifteen minutes since Eli’s arrival. How had time slowed? Or was it that every minute with Eli seemed to be an eternity, and at the same time, not long enough? Okay, this was getting ridiculous. Adeline did not do sappy, but here she was, practically writing a ballad.
“I guess you’re right,” she said, turning back to the large mixing bowl. “All the same, we should probably get this in.”
Eli moved forward, as if to help her carry it. But rather than lift the bowl, his hands rested on hers. “Thank you,” he said, his voice soft. “For showing me what you do back here, and what you have to do to keep your shop running. Even if Daisy doesn’t take the time, it’s been very helpful for me—helps me to understand her character better.”
Right. A movie. That was why Eli, AKA Benjamin, was here, and why he was standing incredibly close to her. For research. She’d need to keep reminding herself of that.
Adeline slipped her hands from under his and wanted to tell him she was happy to help out but she would take things from here. When she stepped back to give herself some space, though, her movements were so quick and chaotic that she stumbled backwards. Eli wrapped an arm around Adeline, keeping her from falling, and she placed a hand on his chest, steadying herself.
“I…” She didn’t know how to finish the sentence. Pineapple and sea salt and his intoxicating eyes muddled her brain.
And then she was moving in. Quickly. And there didn’t seem to be anything she could do about it. It was as if her brain w
ere on autopilot and she was just along for the ride. Her lips landed on his, and he didn’t pull away.
Great. They were kissing. Again. Something she’d determined to not repeat.
Until…
“Miss Baker,” a man called from just outside the doorway. “The door was unlocked and…”
Adeline and Eli shot apart, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at the actor. With a quick glance at where the voice had come from, she saw the doorway was empty. Whoever it had been must have seen her and Eli and then promptly disappeared.
Adjusting her blouse, though it had no need for it, Adeline grabbed the large bowl of ganache and crossed the room to place it in the industrial-size refrigerator.
By the time she turned back to where she and Eli had stood, he had also vanished, leaving her alone. The room had never felt larger, or emptier.
17
Eli placed a hand to his forehead, disoriented. Kissing Adeline was turning out to be as addicting as her chocolates. And yet, he was supposed to walk into the next room and act like it was Daisy he was attracted to.
When he followed Christopher into the next room, his friend gave him a knowing look. “That was an interesting thing to walk into, Benjamin.”
Yeah, he knew. Eli also knew it was completely his fault. He’d been the one to ask Adeline to show him the ropes, knowing full well that they would be alone in the store. Knowing that he was attracted to the real chocolate-shop owner. And he wasn’t sorry for it.
But he had an image to uphold. So he shot Christopher a grin. “What can I say? Benjamin has a way with the ladies.” He said it in the most conceited way possible, while at the same time glancing behind him, making sure Adeline wasn’t there—hadn’t overheard. Thank goodness she wasn’t, but Christopher had noticed the movement and snorted.
“If you don’t mind focusing on the chocolate-shop owner that matters for the next fourteen hours, that would be fabulous.”
It took Eli a moment to realize that Christopher was referring to Daisy. “Of course.” He threw the director another smile. “I better get to makeup.”
Christopher gave a thoughtful nod but didn’t say more as Eli turned and made his way outside.
* * *
The sun was just rising, and Eli breathed in the cold, salty air. He had to ditch his jacket, as it was supposed to be late spring right now, but at least his shirt was a little looser, allowing him to breathe. He spotted Daisy, wearing a pair of tan slacks, a loose cream blouse, and an apron with Amaretto’s insignia. He wondered if Adeline had swapped her own apron for a similar one.
He pushed Adeline out of his mind, instead running through his lines as Daisy entered the chocolate store, where she would take her place for the scene. Okay. Benjamin was in desperate need of alcohol…something to give him reprieve from the demons that were threatening to take over. Even though he’d just won his third Oscar, he felt lonelier than ever. The night he’d won his award, he’d discovered that his wife had been cheating on him with his best friend. So, of course, he’d immediately accepted a role that sent him to the smallest town in America. Or at least that was how it felt to him. There was nothing in this town except seafood and surfers. And apparently amaretto chocolate.
The assistant director, Linda, yelled for quiet on the set, then, “Roll sound.”
“Sound is speeding.”
“Scene five. Take one.”
Eli jumped up and down a couple of times, trying to warm himself until he heard, “Background!”
Hired extras began to move along the sidewalk, and Christopher yelled, “Action!”
Eli stood on the boardwalk and stared up at the sign for the chocolate shop. They’d made a temporary one, so it no longer said Starlight Chocolate Confections. Instead, in large loopy letters, it said Amaretto. A man was walking a golden retriever past the shop, but the large dog ran around Eli’s legs, trapping him. That hadn’t been in the script. But it was perfect, and Eli went with it as the man attempted to get his dog to listen, his eyes wide with horror at the turn of events.
Eli extracted himself while muttering a few choice words and threw a glare at the man, whom he recognized as Erwin, the owner of the restaurant, Seaside Bay. He hoped Erwin realized it was nothing personal.
Once Eli could move his legs again and Erwin and the dog had gone on their way, Eli opened the front door to the chocolate shop and entered. After the door shut behind him, he faintly heard Christopher yell, “Cut!”
Eli tried rubbing feeling back into his arms for the brief moment he could enjoy the warm chocolate shop, then went back out into the cold. Christopher was ecstatic with how the scene had turned out. “That was perfect,” he told Eli, then shouted, “New deal!”
There was a flurry of movement as the camera men set up to film the scene again but from a different angle.
Erwin approached Eli, apologizing profusely. His words died, however, when Christopher turned to him. “I loved what you did with the dog. Do it again, just like that.”
Erwin hesitated, his lips pulling into a frown, like he was trying to decide if Christopher was kidding. When the director didn’t give any indication that he was, and Eli gave him an encouraging smile, Erwin said, “I’ll try, but I don’t know that I can get Donna to do it again. I’ve been trying to train her to not wrap herself around people.”
Christopher waved a hand, like that was a minor detail. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Erwin nodded slowly, seeming unconvinced, but he returned to his position without further protest.
Thanks to Erwin’s poor training skills, Donna did wrap herself around Eli’s legs again, and again, and again, until they were ready to move on to the next scene.
By this point they’d been working for an hour on those three short minutes, and Eli was beginning to question his choice of filming Amaretto during the winter. There had been reasons for it, of course, but his prickling bare skin wasn’t too fond of the choice.
At least they’d be moving inside now.
Eli grabbed a stool from behind the shop’s counter and was finally able to rest for a bit as the crew set up the cameras and lighting. He couldn’t help but keep an eye out for Adeline, but he didn’t see her. Just as well. The fewer distractions, the better.
“Hey, handsome,” Daisy said, walking up and leaning against the counter. She looked nothing like her usual self and instead like someone he could find himself falling for. Her ringlets had been replaced by a ponytail, her heavy makeup by very little, and a soft smile had replaced her usual look of contempt.
“Hi yourself,” he said, returning her smile. Even though she was different than Benjamin’s usual type, he could understand how the troubled actor would be into a woman like this.
Her gaze landed on Eli’s arms, and her eyes widened just a fraction. “Oh, gosh, your arms are bright red. The camera will totally pick that up.” She leaned over the counter, her blouse falling forward as she rubbed her hands along his arms to help warm them.
Eli averted his gaze, and it landed on movement across the room.
Adeline. She wore slacks and a blouse similar to Daisy’s, and he realized she must have just come from wardrobe. She was staring at them, pain flashing across her expression.
He stood so quickly, his stool crashed to the floor, and Daisy’s hands fell away. Eli wanted to explain that it wasn’t what it looked like. He wasn’t sure why he had the inclination; it wasn’t like he owed Adeline an explanation. Benjamin certainly wouldn’t have apologized.
But as much as Eli wanted to be one hundred percent Benjamin at that moment, what he wanted more was to pull Adeline aside and make sure everything was good with them. Before he could take a step toward her, though, the calls began, and Eli had to change direction and take his position just outside the shop.
Another few moments later, he heard, “Action!”
Eli walked in, the camera on him as his gaze took in the rows of chocolate boxes. Benjamin had been hoping for full bottles of amaretto, b
ut disappointment settled in his stomach when he realized this wasn’t that type of shop. A woman was bent down behind the counter, restocking chocolates, and he approached her, hoping she’d have something that would satisfy his need to drown his sorrows.
“Excuse me,” he said, hesitant, like he was intruding.
Daisy straightened up. “Hi. Welcome to Amaretto.” A mask of fake cheerfulness oozed from her. “What can I get for you?”
Eli’s gaze bounced around the store. “Um… Do you sell amaretto?”
Daisy tilted her head, studying him. “No, I’m not licensed for that. The only amaretto you’ll be able to buy is what is in the chocolates.”
He supposed that was better than nothing.
“All right. I’ll take…” How many boxes would it take to get plastered? “…twelve boxes.”
Daisy’s lips parted in surprise. “Um…sure. What flavor of truffle do you want, or would you rather a variety? I have mint, caramel, hazelnut—”
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you have,” Eli interrupted.
“O-kay.” She walked over to one of the shelves lining the store wall and counted what she had on display. Holding up a finger, as if telling him to hold on a minute, she disappeared into the back.
Eli shifted back and forth, his gaze wandering as he waited for her to return. It wasn’t another moment before she returned with Adeline, each carrying six boxes.
“You’re in luck,” Daisy said. “These were just freshly made, and there are exactly twelve of them.”
Eli gave a curt nod. Benjamin wanted nothing more than to buy his alcoholic chocolate and get out of there. But as Adeline moved toward the counter, his gaze met hers, and he momentarily forgot what his next line was. Was he supposed to pay first, then speak?
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