A Thankful Heart (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 2)

by Melissa McClone

  “We’re close.” Dakota tied the box with ribbon. “Two more who were at a rescue in Bozeman were adopted yesterday.”

  “You’ll do it.”

  “Thanks. We have a couple of days left.”

  She’d accomplished more adoptions this month than anyone at the rescue thought she’d do, including Lori. The donation still wasn’t theirs, but everyone was hopeful they’d get it.

  But Dakota worried about Rascal. He needed more training or someone who would invest the time and money into obedience lessons.

  She placed the box of candy in a bag and handed it to Rachel. “Have a great day.”

  Her voice almost sounded cheery. Progress?

  “Thanks.” Rachel pushed the stroller out of the store.

  Sage came out of the back. The copper apron brought out the natural color in her face and made her hair look fiery. “Portia called me. She’s not feeling well. I’m going to cover the rest of her shift.”

  Thinking about the Portia’s situation put Dakota’s into perspective. Things could be much worse for her. “They shouldn’t call it morning sickness when it lasts all day.”

  Surprise filled Sage’s expression. “So you know? Portia told you?”

  Dakota nodded. “Her ex Austin came by the shop looking for her.”

  “I wish I knew what was going on.”

  “That’s as much as I know. Portia will tell us when she’s ready.”

  “I hope so.” Sage rearranged the tongs. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m good.”

  “I haven’t seen Bryce around.”

  Dakota shrugged. “Me, either.”

  Sage’s brows drew together. “You’re okay with that?”

  Was she? “He’s going back to Seattle. This was doomed from the start.”

  She’d known that logically at the beginning, but his toe-curling kisses and attention had blinded her to the truth. She’d only seen the parts of him that she wanted to see. She still had no idea how to choose a man because Bryce was another Mr. Wrong.

  “But maybe there’s some other guy out there who wants to stick around Marietta. And likes dogs and chocolates as much as I do.”

  Sage smile softly. “I’m sure there is.”

  “I’m going to clean.” Dakota put on gloves and grabbed a rag from the bleach to wipe down the tables.

  “I’ll straighten back here.”

  Of course, Dakota had already done that. Sage, however, had exacting standards. That was what made their boss and her chocolates so special.

  Dakota stepped around the counter.

  “Just remember,” Sage said. “Love seems to find you when you’re not looking for it. That’s what happened to me.”

  “I’ll remember that. Thanks.”

  Love had found Kelly at Grey’s Saloon with that cowboy who’d asked her out. The two had been dating ever since. Dakota was happy for her best friend, but she wasn’t going to find love when her heart needed time to heal.

  Until then, she would take care of her foster animals and indulge in chocolate. Not a bad way to bide her time, but after Bryce, she’d learned she needed more balance in her life. Volunteering filled her heart with joy and the animals gave her the love she so craved, but she’d gone overboard, especially after Craig. Never taking a day off for herself was stupid. She could volunteer, but still have fun and do things for herself, too.

  And speaking of Craig and Bryce and all the other Mr. Wrongs in her past…

  It was time to shut down the Chocolate Is Better Than Men Club. The CIBTMC had begun as a joke between her and Kelly, and as the only remaining member, Dakota knew the time had come to disband. She needed to look forward, not back.

  And she would.

  Starting this weekend, she would work on her house. She’d talked about putting down roots, and she’d lived longer in Marietta than she had anywhere else, but she’d yet to make the house her own. No more putting off the projects she wanted to do until York or Nevada was around. Three years was too long to feel like a guest in your own home. It was time to change that.

  No more imagining what the house could look like someday. Dakota had her inheritance.

  Time to turn her dreams into reality.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dakota didn’t know why Walt had invited her over. She hoped he wasn’t trying to get her and Bryce back together. Not that they’d been dating long. If what they had done could even be called dating. But this was Walt, and she wasn’t going to avoid him, so after work, she headed over to his house.

  Standing on his front porch, she blew out a puff of air and rang the doorbell.

  “It’s open,” Walt called. “Come in.”

  Pasting on a smile, she stepped through the door and held up the Copper Mountain Chocolates bag. “I brought chocolate.”

  “You’re the best.”

  If only Bryce thought so. No. Don’t think about him.

  She crossed the living room and handed Walt the small bag. “Sage made her dark chocolate cherry hazelnut bark this morning.”

  Walt took a peek inside. “Yum.”

  Dakota wiped her sweaty palms on the thighs of her jeans. “So what’s up?”

  Please don’t let it be, Bryce.

  “I want to adopt Scout and Pierre.”

  A mix of emotion flashed through her—surprise, regret, relief, and pure joy. A Mastiff seemed to be pressing against her chest. She struggled for a breath. “Really?”

  “Yes.” The smile on his face confirmed the words. “The two are a bonded pair, and they would do better if they stayed together.”

  “They would, but are you up for handling two pets?”

  “Pierre is easy since he doesn’t go outside. I can have Bryce install a doggy door for Scout, and once I’m back on my feet, I’ll be able to take him for walks.”

  She ignored the pang hearing Bryce’s name brought. “You’ve thought about this.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” Walt admitted. “It might not be the perfect time with my legs, but a home needs animals, and those two are right for me.”

  Dakota grinned. “I’m convinced.”

  Her heart filled with affection for this man who’d done so much for the rescue. Two more names could be crossed off her list. Maybe they would make the Thanksgiving deadline.

  “Scout and Pierre are so lucky,” she said. “They will have a wonderful home with you.”

  “I’m the lucky one.”

  One question hammered at her brain. Dakota needed to ask it, even if she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. “Have you spoken to Bryce about this?”

  “No. He can’t see past getting me to move to Seattle, but he’ll come around to my staying in Marietta and adopting the two.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Walt—”

  “My son is only thinking about what he wants. I’m not moving to Seattle. This is my home, and I intend to stay here with Scout and Pierre.”

  The certainty in Walt’s voice didn’t ease her concerns. His decision wasn’t going to sit well with Bryce, but she couldn’t do anything about that. Bryce didn’t want to listen to reason. Not from his father and not from her.

  “I understand.” But that didn’t lessen her worry for the two men. “I hope this adoption doesn’t drive you and your son farther apart.”

  “My son may have shown up in Marietta because of my broken legs, but he arrived with an ulterior motive. This is the first time he’s visited since I moved here three years ago. From the get-go, all he could talk about is how great Seattle is versus how little Marietta has to offer. I may be old, but I’m not going to be talked into doing something that will make me unhappy because my son feels bad for not coming home all those times his mother asked. We’ll get through this once Bryce realizes he’s being driven by guilt, nothing more.”

  “You have it all figured out.”

  “I know Bryce. He’s more like his mother, but I can see a lot of myself in him.”

  She
saw similarities between the two Graysons. Each wanted the other to move. That was why Walt had played matchmaker. Both men had failed. But the differences between the two were more striking. Walt was about community and service, whereas Bryce focused on himself and his needs.

  Maybe someday, she’d come to realize that things had worked out for the best. She’d finally realized that with Craig, but the pain she felt now over Bryce was so raw. It was too soon to rationalize anything. Her heart hurt too much.

  “How soon before Scout and Pierre can move in?” Walt asked.

  “I’ll turn in the paperwork tonight. Since you’re a longtime volunteer, the approval process is a formality. I can bring them over tonight, unless you’d rather wait until the morning. I could come before my shift.”

  “Tomorrow. You and Rascal can have one more night with them.” Walt rubbed his hands together. “There’s so much I’m going to need.”

  “I can help with that.”

  “I was hoping you’d offer.”

  Walt’s excitement warmed her heart. She hoped Bryce would be happy for his father. “You can use Pierre’s current cage until I can get you a new one.”

  “Thank you. I’m also drawing up plans to construct a rat habitat. Would you like to see?”

  Anticipation filled Walt’s voice. He sounded more like a ten-year-old boy than a grown man.

  A much-needed smile spread across her face. “I’d love to see your plans for Pierre’s enclosure.”

  *

  As Bryce entered the kitchen from the backyard, he heard voices in the living room. His father’s and a female one.

  Not one of his card-playing friends.

  Dakota.

  Bryce’s heart beat triple time. What was she doing here?

  She was friends with his dad, but he hadn’t expected to find her here today. Not after last night.

  This must be his father’s doing.

  Bryce stepped into the living room. “Hello.”

  Dakota sat on the couch. She held a drawing.

  Uncertainty flashed in her eyes. “Hey.”

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “I’m showing Dakota my plans for the enclosure I’m going to build Pierre,” his father answered.

  Bryce’s neck stiffened. “Tell me you’re not going to let my dad adopt two animals.”

  Her smile disappeared. “Why would I stand in his way?”

  “Because he doesn’t need them. The only reason he wants the animals is because he’s lonely. If he’d stop being so stubborn and move to Seattle, he wouldn’t need to adopt and waste his time and money on pets he doesn’t need.”

  Walt shook his head. “Bryce—”

  “Pets are not a waste of time or money.” Dakota stood. Her eyes darkened, and lines formed around her mouth. “Pets not only provide companionship, but they also help with their owner’s stress levels and health. They are a blessing.”

  Figures she’d given his father the spiel that she wouldn’t give to him. “You have to say that. It’s your job.”

  “Your job as his son is to love your father and respect his decisions. Maybe you should start doing that instead of trying to make him to do something he doesn’t want.” She took a breath. “Just because you prefer living in a city doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. Instead of trying to force the issue, why not do what’s best for your father? Not make him start over in a new place where he has no friends or connections except for you.”

  Bryce pressed his lips together. “You don’t understand.”

  “Don’t I?” She stared at him. “My parents decided to follow their dream of sailing off into the sunset, far away from their three kids. I wish they were closer, so I could see them more often, but my siblings and I never tried to talk them out of it. Not once. We supported them, helped them downsize, and moved them onto the sailboat. That’s what family does for each other.”

  He started to speak, but then stopped himself.

  Dakota folded up the plans and placed them on the coffee table. She didn’t look at him, but focused her attention on his father. “Text me your shopping list, and I’ll pick up what I can tonight.”

  She was leaving again.

  Say something.

  An internal voice told him to speak up.

  To acknowledge her.

  To apologize.

  To tell her that even though he’d tried not to fall for her, he had.

  But he couldn’t.

  “Sounds good,” his father said. “If Bryce won’t install the doggy door, I’ll have one of my crew do it.”

  “That’ll work.” Dakota left without looking back.

  His dad shook his head. “You’re going to let her go?”

  “What choice do I have?”

  “That’s what you need to figure out.”

  “I’m not the villain here.”

  His father sighed. “Could have fooled me with the way you spoke to her.”

  “My life is in Seattle. That’s why I want you to move. We need to live closer to each other, Dad.”

  “Then you move here.”

  Bryce swore. That wasn’t the reply he wanted. His stomach hardened into a stone. His head hurt so badly the pain radiated to his jaw. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. “You can’t expect me to uproot my entire life, leave everything behind, and move here.”

  “Then why would you expect me to do the same?”

  Bryce started to speak and then stopped. He didn’t know the answer to that question.

  “That’s how I feel about my life here,” his dad continued. “Yet you’re asking me to do just that.”

  Dakota’s words echoed through Bryce’s head.

  Walt’s created a life for himself in Marietta. The location may be inconvenient to you, but it works for him.

  Then shouldn’t your dad’s happiness be the most important thing?

  Yes. Bryce collapsed on the couch.

  Dakota was right. She had been right all along. He’d been thinking about what he wanted, not what was best for his dad, so Bryce wouldn’t repeat his past mistakes.

  She’d tried to tell him, but he hadn’t listened to her or to his dad. “I’m as stubborn as you are.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?” his father asked with a serious tone that matched his facial expression.

  Bryce had no idea. He’d hurt Dakota again. Done the same thing he’d done two times earlier, only this time was worse. He’d hurt her badly. Betrayed her trust. No way would she forgive him again, and he didn’t blame her for that.

  He paced the length of the living room. “A simply apology isn’t going to cut it.”

  His father rubbed his chin. “Nate Vaughn at the Bar V5 Dude Ranch always says to go big or go home.”

  “What if I don’t want to go home?” Bryce thought about the words he’d just said and repeated them in his mind. He’d considered Seattle to be home for so long, but now…

  His dad’s eyes gleamed with understanding. “Then that might be your answer.”

  Bryce froze. Could it be that simple?

  *

  Wednesday morning, two hours before her shift began at the chocolate shop, Dakota arrived to drop off Scout and Pierre. She didn’t see the van in Walt’s driveway. That meant Bryce wasn’t here. A mix of relief and regret battled inside her.

  She let the relief win.

  After she unloaded supplies and the cage, she returned to the car. Rascal was in a crate in the back. “This is going to be great for Scout and Pierre, but I hope you aren’t too lonely being the only animal at home.”

  Rascal’s tail wagged.

  Such a happy guy. “Let’s go turn in the adoption paperwork.”

  Dakota drove to the rescue. Rascal would be fine in his crate at home, but she would keep him with her as long as possible this morning. He was used to seeing others during the day, so this would be a transition period for him.

  Her, too.

  A few minutes later, she sat in the recently repaire
d office. The smell of fresh paint was still in the air, and the new tile floor gleamed.

  Slowly, and carefully, she typed in the information from Walt’s adoption form. Two other adoption forms were waiting to be put into the database. The final two cats had found a forever home together in Livingston.

  That only left Rascal from the list of adoptable pets. The remaining Lonely Hearts animals had also been placed.

  “Oh, my sweet boy.” She rubbed his head. “Maybe I should just keep you for myself.”

  His tongue hung from his mouth, as wild looking as his long fur.

  Dakota could adopt him. He liked having other animals around and wouldn’t cause trouble with the other animals she fostered. Except…

  She’d always seen Rascal as a family dog. He loved running and playing with Bryce, and the dog was so gentle around Sage’s stepdaughter Savannah and her son Braden.

  Was Dakota being selfish considering this? Thinking about what was best for her and the rescue, not Rascal?

  She wished she knew.

  “What do you want?” Dakota asked him. “Would life with me be too boring for you?”

  Rascal stared up at her with his big brown eyes full of love and adoration.

  “You’re not answering, but I know that look.” She reached into the desk and pulled out a treat from the stash hidden there. “Sit.”

  He did and then immediately stood on all fours.

  “Sit,” she repeated.

  Once again, he did. This time, he didn’t get up.

  “Good boy.” She gave him the dog biscuit.

  “Rascal’s come a long way from the wild puppy that was dropped off months ago.” Lori stood in the doorway. She wore her typical outfit—a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt with a picture of an animal. Today it was a wolf. “You’ve done a good job with him.”

  “Thanks. He’s been the most challenging.” Dakota knocked on her desk. “So far.”

  “We’ve had an out-of-state application put in to adopt him.”

  The words sank in. A familiar ache grabbed hold of her already-bruised heart. “I wasn’t expecting to hear that.”

  “Surprised me, too,” Lori admitted. “According to the adopter’s application, there’s a secure, fenced yard and other pets in the household, who get along with animals.”