Charmed by Chocolate (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 6)

by Steena Holmes

  Leah attempted to pick at her piece of brownie, thankful she’d at least eaten a bowl of oatmeal before she’d come over. “Maybe that part won’t come out,” she said hopefully. So far, the media had been quiet about her remarks, only highlighting her broken heart and making fun of how she couldn’t handle her drink. Nothing had been said yet about Marietta.

  “And I’ll go off sugar for the rest of my life,” Grams said with heaps of sarcasm. “Get your head out of the clouds, girl. Own up to your mistakes before everyone finds out.”

  “But how?”

  “You can’t expect me to think of everything, can you? Have you talked to Wade about any of this?”

  Leah scrunched up her nose at the mention of Wade’s name.

  Had she talked to him about this? No…and it took everything in her not to.

  She wanted to.

  She needed to.

  It killed her not to.

  Wade was her best friend. Until she’d went on the show, they shared everything.

  Everything.

  “He called last night,” she whispered.

  “Well, of course he did. You guys talk all the time.” Grams tapped her fork over her plates of brownie, apple crumble, and cinnamon bun, as if trying to decide. “That doesn’t answer my question though.”

  “Things aren’t the same anymore.”

  Grams dropped her fork. “What? Why the hell—pardon my language—not?”

  Leah caught the are-you-crazy look on her grandmother’s face, and she threw her hands up in the air with frustration.

  “Don’t you give me any of that ‘he doesn’t feel the same way anymore’ nonsense either,” Grams continued, ignoring Leah completely.

  “He doesn’t.”

  “That’s nonsense.” Grams dug into the apple crumble and took her first bite, the pure enjoyment on her face from the crisp, tart apples and sweet crumble eased a knot in Leah’s heart she didn’t realize was there.

  “Girl, you’ve still got it.” Grams took another bite before leaning backward with a contented sigh. “No one can make a crumble like you.”

  “I made an extra and placed it in Dylan’s freezer so you’ll have some after I leave.” Leah had meant that to be a surprise. She’d even written a note labeled For Grams only…hands off, for Dylan in case he thought it was another treat for him. She’d made enough cinnamon buns to fill half his freezer, which should last him a few months at least.

  “Of course you did. That’s why you’re my favorite granddaughter.” Grams winked.

  “I’m your only granddaughter.” Leah rolled her eyes and took another bite of her brownie. She’d added a bit of caramel into the mix and liked how it tasted.

  “When are you leaving?” Grams asked.

  “Tomorrow.” There was a bit of regret in Leah’s voice, and she didn’t try to mask it.

  “I see.” Grams watched her, assessed her as if trying to read her mood, which, truth be told, shouldn’t be too hard.

  She was stressed.

  When she was stressed, she baked. Just like—

  “Your mother used to stress bake. You remind me so much of her. I would never tell my mother this, but my daughter out-baked her grandmother when it came to apple pies. Your crumble takes me back.”

  Leah leaned her elbows on the table. She loved whenever Grams talked about the past and especially about her mom.

  “I remember the first time your mom made an apple pie all by herself. She was eight years old and wouldn’t let my mom help her with the pie crust. We sat at that kitchen table, coffees in front of us, and just let her do her thing. We both thought the apple pie would fall apart or the crust would be soggy, but dang if she didn’t hit it out of the ballpark. At eight years old.” Grams wiped an errant tear that fell down her cheek and smiled.

  “You miss her.” Leah breathed the words, her heart aching from missing her mother.

  “I miss them both.” Grams gave her head a small shake. “There’s another thing about your mother you need to remember. She was stubborn to a fault and never…” She leaned forward and grabbed a hold of Leah’s hand, squeezing tight. “Never gave up on something she wanted.”

  The look she gave Leah…it said it all.

  “It’s not that easy, Grams.” She needed her grandmother to understand.

  “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years, it’s that love is worth it. It’s always worth it.”

  Love. Leah wanted to agree, she really did…but…she was too late. She’d made the mistake to think that Wade would always be there, that he would remain that one constant in her life and his love was something she could always fall back on. Instead of taking her time and not accepting what was already in her heart, she should have jumped in when he gave her the chance.

  Leah tried not to live with regrets—tried being the optimum word there. But she had a feeling she would always regret giving up the one thing she needed the most in her life.

  Wade.

  Their relationship was different now, and she’d cried herself to sleep last night once she realized that. For some reason, she thought they could maintain the level of friendship they’d had for the past few years…but there was no coming back from blurting out I love you and not having it said back in return.

  “It’s not too late, Leah. Trust me. That boy…he’s just waiting for you to open the door and let him in. So do it. Let him in.”

  Leah swallowed past the thick piece of brownie she’d just taken a bite of.

  Let him in? Open the door? She’d tried that once, and he’d slammed it back closed by his silence. Could she do it again?

  She wasn’t too sure if she could handle having her heart broken all over again.

  Chapter Eight

  Even before stepping foot outside, Leah wound her scarf tighter around her neck. Snow was flying everywhere, and she could feel the chill in her bones even before she opened the door.

  Good thing she was heading home soon. These rubber boots weren’t doing much to keep her toes toasty warm, despite the thick wool socks and toe heaters she shoved inside before walking over this morning.

  Head down, nose buried in her scarf, Leah headed down the walkway toward the sidewalk, not really paying attention to where she was going. All she wanted to do was head back to her brother’s house, draw a warm bath, and then have a lovely little nap.

  To say she was tired was an understatement.

  Worn. Weary. Wiped.

  It wasn’t just the fact she hadn’t slept. It was everything. The stress of what she’d done, of everything she’d gone through, it was like it all hit her at once. Her steps faltered and her foot slipped beneath her, sliding on ice. For one brief moment, she was free-falling backward until a strong grip stopped her.

  “Oomph.” The word rushed out from the impact.

  “Careful there, Leah girl. Those rain boots aren’t meant for ice, and I haven’t put any sand down yet.”

  Wade, of all people, steadied her as she stood, his hand remaining on her arm until she stepped back.

  “Thanks.” She cleared her throat, unsure of what else to say.

  “I figured that was your baking in the dining area this morning. No one else makes apple crumble like you.” He looked her steady in the eyes. For one split second, Leah wanted to wrap herself in his embrace, tell him she was sorry, and…

  And nothing. She pushed herself away from his touch and looked off into the distance.

  “You must have been up all night baking that stuff. Either that or you were up at the crack of dawn.”

  Leah stole a glance toward Wade when she heard the teasing in his voice.

  They both knew she wasn’t a morning person.

  “How about never went to bed?” The moment she said that, she realized her mistake. “I got your text last night but it was close to three in the morning when I saw it. I was going to respond today…”

  “I came by last night.”

  “You did?” Stupid question. He obviously had
or he wouldn’t have said it.

  “Your bedroom light was on, so I threw some stones at it. Figured you either didn’t hear or didn’t want to see me.” He looked away, as if afraid of what she’d say.

  “Then why didn’t you come to the front door like any normal human being?”

  He shuffled his feet, stuck his hands in his pockets, and shrugged. “Figured you didn’t want to see me,” he mumbled. He stole a glance then.

  She wanted to move closer, to take his hand and tell him the complete opposite.

  Instead, she stayed in place and said nothing to contradict his words. It was easier that way.

  She noticed he wasn’t looking at her but rather at the scarf she wore around her neck. She fingered it, the wisps of a smile playing with her lips.

  It was the ugliest scarf she owned, full of holes and knots, but when wrapped three times around her neck, it was the warmest.

  It was also the most special one.

  More so than the scarf Betsy had brought her back from Venice.

  Wade had made this for her one Christmas, and it was the only scarf she wore now in the middle of winter.

  “I can’t believe you actually wear it.” His voice broke as he reached for one of the ends that hung down toward her waist.

  Did she mention it was also the longest scarf she owned, even when wrapped three times around her neck?

  “I’m outside in the middle of a snowstorm; what else would I wear?”

  He let go of the scarf and held his hand up to catch a few errant snowflakes. “I hardly call this a snowstorm.”

  Okay, okay, without the nasty wind, it was barely snowing. She’d give him that.

  But still. Snow was snow and if it was swirling around her, it was a snowstorm.

  “You’d never know you grew up here.” He reached for a pail by his feet and started to sprinkle sand on the sidewalks.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” She stepped out of his way and wiggled her toes to help keep them warm as she inadvertently stepped into a snow pile.

  “Oh, come on. Like I have to spell it out, sun girl.” He kept his gaze on the task at hand, not looking at her.

  She frowned. “What’s wrong with preferring the sun over the snow?” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  Wade chuckled, and the sound of his laugh was like stepping into a hot bath. It was the best feeling in the world on a cold winter’s day.

  “Why are you laughing at me?” She tried pretending she was bothered when it was really the one sound she loved to hear the most.

  “What happened to the girl who built snowmen, skied along the trails, and snowshoed all over the countryside? The one who swore she felt more alive living outside than anywhere else?”

  “I’m still that same girl.”

  “Are you?”

  “Of course I am.” He thought she’d changed? She didn’t like that. “I just prefer the sun, the sand, and the surf rather than the snow and being cold. So very, very cold.” She rubbed her hands together and wished she’d chosen warmer mitts rather than the thin leather ones she’d found in her room.

  Wade set the bucket in his hands down, took her hands, and peeled off the thin pieces of leather.

  “What…” It didn’t take long for her to understand what he was doing. He sandwiched her cold digits between his. He was like a heat lamp, and she instantly felt the warmth seep into her skin.

  “Do you ever get cold?” She looked up at him and was swept away at the look on his face.

  It was as if standing here, with her, warming her up, was all he wanted to do. Like there was nothing else in the world but them in this moment.

  “You’ve been away too long, is all.” His husky voice was doing something to her, something she didn’t want to admit. Something that was close to making her remember how she felt about him…and how much it hurt to have him turn from her.

  She pulled her hands away and stuffed them in her pockets.

  “Yeah, well…I’m leaving soon, anyway.” She swallowed hard and refused to look at him, not wanting to see if there was a look of relief or disappointment on his face.

  She didn’t think she could handle either, truth be told.

  “I, ah…I should go.” Leah stomped her feet on the ground to dislodge the snow on her boots and turned from him.

  She’d taken five steps. Five steps away from him before he called out.

  “What are you doing this afternoon?”

  She half turned. “Right now, my only plan is to sleep.” She pulled the scarf up over her mouth and nose.

  “Well, Sleeping Beauty, once you get that rest, dress warm and be ready at four o’clock.”

  Leah scrunched the scarf down to her chin and gave him a measured look. She didn’t quite like the glint in his eyes or the way his chin dimple deepened as he barely contained his laughter.

  She knew he wanted to laugh. She could see it, and she knew him.

  He had something up his sleeve.

  “What’s happening at four o’clock?” she asked.

  The man who wore only a thick wool sweater and scarf shrugged his shoulders before giving her the shooing gesture.

  “You’ll see. Now go, get warmed up and sleep.” He picked up the pail and continued to sprinkle the sand.

  Leah shook her head and continued toward home. He wanted her to dress warmly? He’d better not be taking her out into the bush to track deer or something crazy like that. Oh, who was she kidding? That was probably exactly what he had up his sleeve.

  No way. There was no way she was traipsing out into the snow. Not today. Not tomorrow, not any time soon.

  If she had proper clothing…maybe. Wade was right—once upon a time, she loved being outside in the cold. She would come home to Marietta excited about the adventures Wade would take her on into the bush.

  When she’d seen his text early this morning, and by early, she hadn’t lied; it had been around three in the morning when she stumbled her way up to her room for a change of clothes after soaking the sleeves of her arms in the sink. Her heart sank to realize what she’d missed.

  She’d been tempted to text him back but knew he slept with his phone on the charger beside him, and the last thing she wanted was to wake him up.

  She should have texted him this morning, though. She shouldn’t have ignored him.

  It didn’t take long to reach Dylan’s front porch. She looked back to see if she could still see Wade and, sure enough, he stood on the sidewalk, facing her. Probably watching to make sure she made it home okay.

  She lifted her hand in a wave. Even though she couldn’t see the smile on his face, she felt it and it warmed her to the tip of her toes.

  She sagged against the door after closing it behind her. Why had she waited so long? Why hadn’t she seen what was right in front of her?

  That man out there—that man was the best thing in her life and she’d taken him for granted.

  She didn’t blame him for not waiting for her, even though he’d promised he would.

  She blamed herself.

  *

  After several blissful hours of sleep, Leah pushed the blankets off and rolled out of bed. She stood at the window, curtains opened wide. Instead of a flurry of swirling snow, everything was bright, beautiful, and the snow even sparkled like diamonds.

  Donning a warm sweater and her Mukluks, Leah headed into the kitchen where she found a note from her big brother. The same big brother who had taken one look at her earlier and helped tuck her into bed, even heating up one of the throw blankets she’d been using earlier and placing it at her feet.

  Go grab a hot cocoa from Copper Mnt Chocolates. I paid for it already. Sage wants to chat.

  Good luck.

  Any good mood Leah had upon waking quickly evaporated.

  Sage wanted to chat? That didn’t sound good. In fact, it sounded ominous.

  He should have left out the last two sentences. She would gladly have made her way to Sage’s shop for a hot co
coa.

  She unplugged her phone from the wall charger where she’d left it earlier and saw the exact same message via text.

  This thing with Sage, she texted back. When you say chat, do you mean a good, let’s-catch-up kind of chat or…

  Ten seconds, or what seemed like an eternity later, Dylan finally replied.

  I didn’t think to ask. Heading into work. See you tonight.

  Didn’t think to ask? What kind of man didn’t think to ask when a woman said she wanted to chat?

  “Karma, let’s be friends today, okay? Pretty please?” She’d had enough of bad luck and unpleasant experiences come her way the past month; it was time for something good to happen in her life.

  The first thing on her to-do list tomorrow after flying home was to contact the office at KIND to see if they could send her on a road trip or something.

  While she got ready to head down to the chocolate shop, Leah sent her boss an email, asking exactly that. And if they could talk about a time frame for her to come back to work. The media frenzy was bound to die down. Hopefully by now, something else had cropped up on the show for the sharks to circle around.

  Maybe that was why Betsy had been calling.

  On that note…

  “Oh. My. God. Leah, you actually called me back,” Betsy answered on the first ring. “I was starting to think you were ignoring me, weren’t you?”

  It was great to hear Betsy’s cheerful, carefree, and chipper voice even though technically she was still mad at her.

  “I wasn’t ignoring you.” Well…maybe a little. It wasn’t so much as ignoring as not being ready to talk to her. There was a difference.

  “Really? You’ve been so busy hiding in that backwater little town of yours that you can’t spare a few minutes for your BFF?”

  “That wasn’t nice. We’ve texted.” Leah sank down in a chair. She heard the hurt in Betsy’s voice and had a little twinge of guilt. She should have called back sooner.

  “Texting is not the same and you know it. Doesn’t feel nice being ignored, I’ll say that much. You’re not still mad at me, are you?”