Elle raised her eyes in surprise. “Really? I think that’s great. I’ve been trying to get Mama to do something like that for years. I wonder why she’s suddenly decided to follow my advice.”
“She’s probably doing it because my mom is going with her,” Coco said. “Maybe she didn’t want to go alone.”
“I would’ve gone with her,” Elle stated.
“It’s not the same as when you and I go to the spa. It’s different when Mama and I go.”
The food arrived.
Elle said grace. Then, picking up her fork, she murmured, “I guess you’re right. What are Aunt Eleanora and Uncle Daniel up to?”
“They’re getting ready to take a cruise to Greece,” Coco announced. “My mother’s been wanting to visit there for a long time now. They have been traveling more since Dad retired.”
“Is Michael running the business?” Elle asked. “Mama said your dad retired a few months ago.”
“Mama made him do it,” Coco said with a short laugh. “Daddy went kicking and screaming. Michael manages the factory and Daniel is overseeing the stores.”
“My father loved working for the company.”
“Daddy says that he was the best accountant they’d ever had. We all still think about your father a lot,” she told Elle. “He was a really nice man.”
“I don’t really remember him like the others do, but I still miss him.”
“I can’t imagine what I’d do if something happened to my dad.”
“You’d find a way to go on,” Elle said. “You hold on to the memories that you shared. Nothing can take them away from you. At least that’s what my mother always says.”
“I always thought that your parents had the perfect marriage,” Coco told her. “I feel the same way about my parent’s marriage.”
Elle shook her head. “Trust me, Coco. No marriage is perfect. When Brennan and I were dealing with the baby mama drama, my mom told me that she and my dad separated at one point, but they found their way back to each other. Marriage is hard work, but when you truly love each other you can work through anything.”
“Do you and Brennan ever see Lauren?”
“Not really,” Elle responded between bites. “When he found out that she wasn’t his child, but his sister, it messed him up. He loves Lauren, but he still hasn’t forgiven Charis for the deception. I think he feels betrayed mostly by his father. That’s what bothers him the most.”
“You handled it well when you thought that Lauren was your stepdaughter.” Coco sliced off a piece of her stuffed flounder and stuck it in her mouth.
Elle shrugged. “There was nothing else I could do. It wasn’t her fault—she didn’t ask to come into this world. I couldn’t stand Charis, though.” She took a sip of her water. “Coco, I’ll be honest with you. It did bother me when I thought another woman had my husband’s child. It would bother any woman.”
Coco didn’t respond.
After lunch, she went back to the shop and stayed until her assistant manager arrived.
“I’m leaving early today,” Coco told Valencia. “Bryan will be in around two thirty. He’s working until closing.”
She left and drove over to her parents’ house.
Maybe I can get some answers from my dad. He and Uncle Prescott were close friends, so they probably confided in one another.
Coco found her father out in the backyard. One of his favorite pastimes was gardening. “Hey, Daddy.”
“I’m a little surprised to see you, Coco. I thought you’d be creating another one of your delicacies.”
“I meant to bring you some of my chocolate-covered oranges,” she told him. “They’re delicious.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “Chocolate doesn’t go with everything, sweetheart.”
“But it does, Daddy,” she said with a smile. “You just have to find the right ingredients.”
Coco followed him into his office.
“So what did you come here to discuss, baby?”
She sat down on the love seat beside him, her fingers tense in her lap. As casually as she could manage, she asked, “Daddy, do you remember anything about the time Aunt Amanda and Uncle Prescott were separated?”
“Honey, that was a long time ago and it has nothing to do with you.”
Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Daddy, I think there’s something you should know.”
His body seemed to tense up. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“I think Ransom might be Uncle Prescott’s son.”
Her father’s expression remained blank. “Why do you say that?”
“Lots of reasons,” Coco replied. “For one thing, his name is Ransom, and he looks a lot like them. I didn’t realize it until we were going through the photo albums.”
“We? Ransom was with you?” her father asked.
Coco nodded.
“How did he respond?”
“We didn’t talk about it, Daddy. I’m not sure he’s figured it out yet, but he will eventually. All he knows is that his father was separated when he got involved with Ransom’s mother, and then he decided he wanted to be with his wife and kids, so he broke off the relationship, not knowing that she was carrying his child.”
Coco eyed her father. He didn’t seem too surprised by what she was telling him. “You already knew this, didn’t you?”
“I suspected it when I met him,” he admitted. “Prescott told me about the woman. Her name was Robina Winters. He cared for her, but it was Amanda he loved. When your young man told me his name was Ransom Winters, I knew.”
“So what do we do?” Coco asked.
“Nothing,” her father stated. “If Ransom is seeking answers, let him be the one to find them. You don’t need to stir up trouble—it will find its way all on its own. Trust me on that.”
“Are you telling me that I shouldn’t tell Ransom that my best friend is his sister?”
“Coco, you don’t say a word. If he’s looking for them, he will find them. You stay out of this, because it could all blow up in your face.”
She only half listened as she struggled with her conscience. Coco felt as if she was betraying all of them by withholding this information. She knew that Elle would want to know if she had another brother walking around somewhere. Coco knew that Ransom wanted to meet his siblings.
“Sweetheart, I hope you’re listening to me,” her father said.
She couldn’t help frowning in response. “I heard you, Daddy. I just wish I didn’t know any of this. I hate being in the middle of this situation.”
“Then take yourself out of it,” her father advised. “And Coco, stay out of it. It’s best all around.”
She stirred uneasily in her chair, hoping against hope that her father was right.
“Okay, to make dark chocolate, you need chocolate liquor, sugar and vanilla,” Coco announced as she and Ransom walked through the factory. She had come over to check on an order that was about to be shipped.
Ransom had tagged along with her so that he could check on Benjamin. He and Coco were deep into a conversation on the chocolate-making process.
“The ingredients are mixed together and kneaded until well blended,” she explained.
“You’re so comfortable in this environment, but you panic in the kitchen,” Ransom noted.
“I spent a big part of my life in this factory, but not much time in the kitchen preparing meals,” Coco responded.
“You really are a good cook. You just don’t give yourself enough credit.”
She hugged him. “That’s my baby.”
“So is this the same way you make milk chocolate?” Ransom asked.
“You know what? I’m going to let Benjamin answer that for you.”
“Mr. Winters, it’s like this. To make milk chocolate, the milk and sugar are mixed together and then blended with chocolate liquor.”
“So what is your job?” Ransom asked.
“After everything is mixed, it comes through this machine right here,” he s
aid, pointing to a series of heavy rollers. “I make sure that the mixture travels through here smoothly. It can take up to seven days to finish this process.”
Ransom seemed impressed.
“Do you remember what this process is called?” Coco asked Benjamin.
“Conching,” he answered with a smile.
“You’re doing a great job,” she told him.
“My grades are up, too,” he said. “I passed all of my final exams. I’m glad school is almost out because I’m going to work forty hours during the summer.” Benjamin smiled. “I’ll be able to get all of us some school clothes for next year.”
“Benjamin, I don’t want you worrying about college,” Ransom said. “If you get accepted, I will pay for your tuition and books.”
“You serious?”
He nodded. “You have to do your part, though.”
“I will. I wasn’t going to take the SAT because I didn’t think I’d be able to save enough money for college.”
“Stanley Chocolates also gives scholarships,” Coco announced.
“I can get one because I work here?”
She nodded. “You sure can. Like Ransom just said, bring in your college acceptance letter and we’ll start the paperwork.”
Benjamin looked upward. “Thank you, God,” he whispered.
Coco walked away to keep from crying.
One of the older men who worked in the factory came over. “He’s a good kid,” he told her. “And a hard worker. I’m glad y’all took a chance on this one.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
She headed back to her shop. It was almost time for Valencia to clock out, and Coco was working until closing tonight.
Ransom rejoined her a few minutes later.
“I’m going to have to stay on him about that SAT. He needs to go on and get it out of the way.”
Ransom’s going to make a great father one day.
Coco felt a thread of guilt over the secret she was keeping from him. He deserved to know, but she couldn’t risk tearing apart Elle’s family.
Ransom gave her a slight nudge. “Hey, I thought you were telling me about the chocolate-making process. So what comes after the kneading?”
Coco smiled. “Tempering,” she responded. “This process allows you to solidify chocolate. After that the mixture is poured into molds and placed in a cooling chamber.”
“This is just the base for you, though,” Ransom said. “You add more ingredients for your gourmet products, right?”
“Yes. I add spices, flavors, fruit—whatever it calls for.”
“So if I give you some ingredients, do you think you could create a candy bar with them?”
Coco met his gaze. “Is this a challenge?”
Ransom nodded.
She spoke eagerly. “What do I get if I win?”
“What do you want?”
She broke into a smile.
Before she said anything, Ransom cocked his head to the side and said, “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”
“It won’t be so bad. If I win, I want you to take violin lessons for two weeks.”
“That’s it?” he asked. When she nodded, Ransom held out his hand. “Okay, you’re on.”
She shook hands with him. “Okay, give me the ingredients.”
“I only have one,” he said. “Applewood bacon.”
“Excuse me? You want me to come up with a bacon bar?”
Ransom nodded. “You can use any other ingredients you like, but it has to have bacon.”
Bacon. I’m not real sure about this, but there is no way I’m going to let Ransom win this challenge.
“Are you certain? You want bacon in chocolate?”
He nodded a second time. “What doesn’t go with bacon?”
“Chocolate,” Coco responded. “I’m up to the challenge, but I’m not sure on this one, Ransom.”
“Give it your best shot, sweetheart.”
“You can count on that,” Coco said. “I’m not about to let you win.”
Ransom laughed. “We’ll see.”
He showed no signs of relenting.
“Okay,” Coco said. “I’ll get started on it tomorrow. This is going to be so much fun. I’m going to enjoy teaching you the fundamentals of playing the violin.”
“We’ll see,” he repeated. Then he raked his eyes boldly over her body.
Coco found herself extremely conscious of Ransom’s virile appeal. She yearned to be crushed in his embrace, and ached for his touch. Her feelings for him were intensifying.
Before either one of them said a word, they fell into each other’s arms, kissing hungrily.
The sound of the door opening forced them apart.
“I’ll see you later, Ransom.”
She didn’t dare look up at the person standing in the doorway for fear he knew why her face was so flushed.
On Saturday, a frustrated Coco spent the day in the factory kitchen. “Michael, I have to win this challenge,” she said. “But I’m not really getting anywhere.”
“What have you tried so far?” he asked.
“Just about everything,” Coco admitted. “I keep thinking about chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and syrup. It’s the perfect combination, but my challenge is incorporating that in chocolate.”
She pointed to a mixing bowl. “I tried combining the chocolate, syrup and bacon in there, but the bacon was too salty.”
“You’ve been at this all morning,” Michael told her. “Why don’t you take a break?”
“What about the salt from alder wood smoke? Michael, do you have any over here?”
“I’ll get it for you,” he said. “But why are you doing all this? For Ransom? Why is it so important?”
“Because you know how competitive I am,” Coco answered. “Michael, you know that I have to win.”
“I don’t know about this one, sis. Candy with pieces of applewood bacon in it?”
She nodded. “I have to keep trying.”
She mixed wood-smoked salt into the milk chocolate and bacon combination. “Since it’s bacon, I’m thinking this will do the trick.”
Michael didn’t look convinced.
“Try it,” she said.
“I tried the last couple of batches,” he told her. “I have to sing tomorrow at church. You’re not going to make me ill.”
“Chicken,” she muttered, and sampled the mixture. “Michael, you’ve got to try it. I like it.”
He shook his head.
“Please…”
Michael dipped a spoon into the mixture, then another. “This is good.” He gave her a thumbs-up.
“I hope Ransom’s ready for violin lessons,” she said, pouring the batch into the molds.
I win. I win.
Chapter 10
Coco pulled the folds of her sweater together as she and Ransom strolled along the beach. She could hardly wait for them to get back to his house so that she could give him the candy bar. She had even designed a custom label that read D-Unit’s Bacon Bar.
“Cold?”
“It’s a little breezy out here, but I’m fine,” she told him. “I love being out here on the beach. I can see why you bought a house in Santa Monica. It’s beautiful out here at night.”
Ransom agreed. “I like coming out here in the evenings. Not a lot of people.”
She looked up at him. “You come down here often?”
“In the evenings?” he asked.
When she nodded, he replied, “Not as much as I’d like.”
“I love it out here. It’s very romantic,” Coco said. “You know…moonlit walks and all.”
“So you consider this romantic?” Ransom teased. “Our walking on the beach in the moonlight.”
Coco gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Yeah, I do.” She savored the sultry sounds of Ransom’s laughter. The man was sexy through and through….
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“You and how you make me feel.” She rubbed her arms through
the sweater, trying to ward off the goose bumps from the brisk ocean air.
“I don’t make you itch, do I?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “Not at all.”
Ransom wrapped an arm around her. “Better?”
Nodding, Coco replied, “Much better.”
After their walk along the sandy shoreline, she and Ransom sat down on a huge beach towel that he’d pulled out the trunk of his car, talking as they watched the waves splash toward them and retreat.
“What would you like to talk about now?” Coco asked.
“How about this?” Ransom leaned forward and kissed her.
His kiss was slow and thoughtful, and sent spirals of desire racing through her. “Mmm…I love the subject matter.”
“Why don’t we head back to the house?” Ransom suggested. “I know that you’re cold.”
“Thank you,” she said with a chuckle.
They left the beach and went to his house.
Coco loved the design of Ransom’s home and the amazing ocean, mountain and city-lights views from the many rooms. He had given her a tour the first time she came to the five-bedroom house with its fabulous West Indies decor throughout.
From where she was standing now, she had a fantastic view of the outdoor-lit, colorful flower garden, the raging ocean and the sprawling deck out back. Ransom was having an outdoor kitchen installed. Grilling was one of his favorite pastimes.
Coco turned away from the window.
This area is so beautiful, she thought. Her eyes traveled from the faux-finished stucco walls to the hand-painted furniture to the huge overstuffed sofas. She’d asked him why he had so many bedrooms, and Ransom responded that they came with the house. Then he’d told her that he wanted to marry and settle down, so he’d kept that in mind while searching for a home.
She glanced down at the marble floor. Coco loved hardwoods, but she had to admit Ransom’s flooring was really nice.
“So, remember that little challenge you issued to me?” she asked.
He grinned. “You want to back out?”
She shook her head. “Not at all, baby.”
“Then what?”
Coco pulled a candy bar out of her purse. “I’ve been waiting all night to give this to you.”
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