There was only one week until the Harpers Point Christmas flotilla. The signs were posted on the message center outside The Sweet Treat, and anywhere else you looked in town. The hardware store was out of string lights, and Bee’s Florist was down to the last supply of mistletoe. It was hard to tell if Lottie Beasley was happy or disappointed she had sold everything from the shoot. A few of the local farms were selling fresh garland and wreaths, but decorations were sold out everywhere else. Everyone was in flotilla mode.

But without a boat, Cami was focused on other things. She stood in the open space next to the candy shop while the fudge cooled in the fridge. She was on her tenth batch this morning and it wasn’t even 9a.m. Her shoulders ached and her forearms were sore from so much stirring. She had forgotten how much muscle it took to make fudge.

The Christmas station she had set on the radio filtered through the doorway that separated the two pieces of property she inherited.

She loved this room with the big open windows and the original architectural design touches, but since opening The Sweet Treat again, she hadn’t had a chance to work on this side of the building. She thought this was going to be her first project, but somehow the stars aligned with the candy orders. Once word was out that their favorite candy store was back in business, she had to devote her energy there.

She folded her arms. At least for now this space was clean, vacant, and ready for her next project. After the holidays, she could focus her energy here. She turned to enter the candy store when her heart stopped.

Evan was in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.

“Good morning.” He smiled. It was the kind of smile that could stop traffic and hearts.

“Hi.” She stepped toward him, fighting the urge to leap in his arms.

“Coffee?” He held up a cup.

“How did you know I was caffeine deprived?” She took the warm cardboard cup from him. Could he see the grin on her face? Did he know what he was doing to her?

“What’s going on in here?” He looked at the empty room. “Not climbing ladders I hope.” He raised his eyebrows.

“No. No ladders this morning. I was just trying to figure out how I’m ever going to get to use this space.”

Evan stepped past her. He scanned the walls and ceilings. “It’s a great room, isn’t it? Feels like there are some good stories in these walls.”

Cami clasped the coffee between her hands, feeling the warmth radiate to her palms. “I remember Aunt Sophie used to tell me stories about the dances they had here. She said they danced all night.” She walked to the center. “There used to be a huge chandelier right here.” She pointed to the round medallion overhead. Part of the plaster was chipped. “It was so big the rainbows bounced all the way to the sidewalk.” She looked at Evan. “At least that’s what Aunt Sophie said.”

He chuckled. “I wonder what it was like for some of the people we know now, back when they were our age.”

“Like your grandmother?”

He nodded. “Yes, like her. Like your aunt. Like Georgia in my office. All of them. They see Harpers Point for what it used to be. And I see it for what I want it to be.”

“And what’s that? What do you see?”

His brow furrowed. “A place where people can support a family. Grow old together.”

“And you think that’s somehow lost now?”

He walked to the window, as a line of school children passed by on their way to the library.

“It’s not lost, but the rest of the world is moving faster than Harpers Point. It’s hard to keep jobs here. And without jobs, there go the families.” He turned to her. “But I didn’t come here to discuss the economic growth of the town with you.”

She smiled. “Oh no?”

“No. I came for an entirely different reason.”

“And I thought you wanted to ask me to be a trusted advisor,” she teased.

Evan laughed. “Not this time. It’s something else.”

“And what’s that?”

“I thought. Well, I was thinking. As mayor, you know I’m on the head boat for the flotilla. It’s a big deal for opening ceremonies.” His eyes locked on hers. “Would you like to be my date for the Christmas flotilla?”

Cami almost choked on her coffee. “Date?”

“I know we skipped right to the good part last week, but it doesn’t mean I can’t ask you on a date. Will you let me take you out?”

She was almost speechless. And then the butterflies flittered deep in her stomach. She nodded before the words were out of her mouth. “Yes. I’d love to.”

The way he smiled almost took her breath away. “Good. You’ll want to wear something warm. It gets cold on the water.”

“I remember.” She sipped the coffee.

He walked back to the candy shop. “I have to get to City Hall. Georgia will start calling the fire department if I’m not in soon. And I’d hate to have our finest volunteers rush your shop.”

“Yeah, let’s not let that happen,” she chimed in.

She followed behind him.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

“Sure thing.” He turned for the door. “It smells good in here. Like it used to when your aunt ran it.”

“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is one.” He winked, and her resistance almost completely melted into a puddle on the hardwood floor.

She sighed as Evan straightened his shoulders and disappeared along the sidewalk on his way to City Hall. There was more fudge to make, but for one second. For this one tiny moment, she wanted to be happy that there was a spark that had started to burn between her and Evan again. She didn’t know what would happen, or where it would take them, only there was no doubt the little flame was flickering.