Chapter Fourteen
TREAT LIVED UP to his promises, loving Max well past tomorrow. A week and a half later they were still falling into each other’s arms at night, and Max woke up every morning in a bubble of surreal happiness. Now that the festival was over and Max was working normal hours, they had more time together. Tonight they were meandering through the quaint village of Allure, where ornate iron fences and old-fashioned streetlights lined narrow brick-paved roads and brick and stone town houses served as storefronts and restaurants.
“A shop made just for you,” Treat said as they entered Divine Intervention, a chocolate shop.
Bells chimed above the door and a woman’s voice sailed through from a room in the back of the store. “Be right out! Please don’t rob me. My hands are a mess and I just cleaned the front door. I’d hate to get it dirty again.”
“So much for those plans,” Treat replied loudly.
“I appreciate y’all holding off,” the woman called out. “At least until I get my hands washed.”
Treat and Max looked around the shop. Shelves of cute wooden blocks with sayings about chocolate on them were interspersed with bags of candies and other goodies. On the wall behind the display cases hung red sweatshirts with DIVINE INTERVENTION printed in brown swirly letters.
Treat put a hand on Max’s back and said, “Tell me the truth. Why did you choose to come to Colorado and start your life here? Was it because of this store?”
“Believe it or not, I’ve never been in this store.”
“Unbelievable,” he teased, and pressed his lips to hers. “Why, then?”
“I had interned for a festival throughout college, and I always wanted to attend Chaz’s festival, but I was in school and I didn’t have a lot of money.” Max peered into the display cases at a variety of chocolate cakes and candies. “I had corresponded with Chaz a few times and he’d left an open door for me to apply for a position.”
She glanced up and caught Treat watching her intently. That was just one of the things she adored about him. He didn’t give lip service. Although he is very talented at servicing me with those lips. When he asked a question, he was sincerely interested in hearing her answers.
“I had always admired pictures of the Village, and I had read all about the town keeping holiday lights up in the trees and the shops year-round. It seemed like such a peaceful place, where ugliness couldn’t survive. I know that sounds silly, but when I got into my car that night, I drove straight here. I never contemplated going anywhere else. Not even back home.”
Treat stepped closer, drawing her into his arms, which had become her favorite place. “You said you believe fate brought you here. I was never a big believer in fate, because of losing my mother. But you’ve changed that, Max. You’ve changed everything.”
Before she could respond, a pretty blonde breezed into the room from the back of the store carrying a tray of chocolate. Despite the cold weather, she wore cutoffs, a shirt that had SURRENDER TO DIVINE INTERVENTION printed across the chest, and a pair of knee-high fuzzy black boots. Her hair was pinned up in a messy bun, and she had the biggest blue eyes Max had ever seen.
“Hello there, lovers!” Her impossibly wide smile grew even bigger. “Carly Dylan at your service.” She opened the back of a display and slid the tray in. “Sweet of you not to rob me,” she said as she rose again, her gaze moving between them. “Then again, by the way this man’s looking at you, honey, I doubt he’d put those big ol’ hands anywhere else!”
“You’ve got that right,” Treat said, and pressed his lips to Max’s. “My girlfriend has a thing for chocolate. What do you recommend?”
“Your girlfriend has a thing for crazy-tall men. Wow, they don’t make them like you in Pleasant Hill, that’s for sure. You are one big, handsome man. I recommend chocolate syrup poured on you from head to toe.”
“Excuse me,” Max said with a laugh. “He’s a big, handsome, taken man.”
Carly waved her hand dismissively. “Honey, I have no interest in stealing anyone’s man, but look at his hold on you. He’s not going anywhere. Besides, I gave my heart away in seventh grade. Ain’t no man gonna claim it but one, and he’s too busy to realize what he’s missin’.”
“Pleasant Hill, Maryland?” Treat asked.
Carly busied herself straightening up the counter. “The one and only.”
“I’ve got relatives there,” Treat said. “It’s a nice small town.”
“A nice town, great people, and one fewer brokenhearted girl.” Carly set her hands on her hips and said, “I wish I could bottle up the energy thrumming off you two and put it into chocolate. I’d make a fortune with that love potion. So, tell me. What’s your secret?”
Treat set his loving eyes on Max and said, “First you need to have an incredible evening together followed by a big misunderstanding. Then, just when you’re trying to forget each other, if you’re lucky, fate will step in.”
Oh, this man!
“Well, y’all are inspiration, and I’ve got just the thing for you. Why don’t you two check out the shop while I put it together.”
Treat took Max’s hand and they looked over the goodies. A few minutes later Carly handed Treat a bag. When he reached for his wallet, she said, “Don’t even think about it. You can name one of your children after me and give them a fabulous life.”
“We’re not even engaged,” Max said, and shot a look at Treat, who was grinning like a lovesick fool. Her heart tumbled inside her chest.
“Thank you,” Treat said with a nod. “We’ll do that.”
As they headed outside, they peered into the bag and found a big jar of chocolate syrup, several chocolate hearts, and a handwritten note that said, You two make me want to head back to Pleasant Hill and find the piece of myself I left there. Thanks! Carly Dylan.
THEY HAD DINNER at a café and enjoyed a few chocolates for dessert as they walked through the town square. A crowd had gathered by the outdoor pavilion, where a group of young guys were playing guitars and singing. Treat swept Max into his arms and began dancing.
Max’s gaze skittered around them, and he knew she was embarrassed.
“I don’t care that no one else is dancing,” he said. “I want you in my arms.” He’d received a message during dinner about negotiations for the Ocean Edge property, and he’d been trying to find the right time to share the news of his impending trip with Max.
She smiled up at him, falling into sync as they danced. “And I want to be in them.”
“How about being in my arms in Wellfleet?”
“As in, Massachusetts?” Her eyes widened.
“I have to go to the Cape for a few days to handle negotiations for a property I’m interested in acquiring. I’d like you to come with me.”
“Oh! That sounds amazing. But won’t you have to work?” she asked, her embarrassment forgotten.
“Yes, but my team has been preparing for this and negotiations should only take a few hours. We can enjoy a few days at my bungalow and make up for the time we lost in Nassau.”
“When are you going?”
They continued dancing even after the song ended. “Sometime tomorrow. I’m waiting for confirmation.”
“Tomorrow? I’d love to go, but I can’t just take off on a Thursday and leave Chaz hanging. As much as I’d like to go, I’m afraid I can’t do that to him, no matter how wonderful it sounds.”
“Then come up Friday night and spend the weekend with me,” he suggested. “I’ll be done working by then, and we can just enjoy our time together. I’ll make all the arrangements and have a car pick you up at your place after work.”
Her eyes brightened. “Really? That sounds wonderful.”
“Almost as wonderful as you.”
She laughed. “That might be the corniest line I’ve ever heard, but coming out of your mouth it sounded…”
“Corny,” they said in unison.
“I’ll give you corny.” Treat captured her mouth in a plundering kiss. He wanted to give Max everything, to make all her dreams come true, and he couldn’t wait to share his favorite place on earth with her.