I chuckle. “I promise, that’s all I know…but I’d like to know more.”
After the words are out, I immediately want to reel them back in. What am I doing? Was that flirting? I mean it’s the truth, but I’m not usually so forward. I sit quietly, waiting for Chloe’s response.
Without skipping a beat, she asks, “What do you want to know?”
“The long story…but first, I’ll get you that cupcake.” I pull up in front of Seabreeze Café. It’s situated in the middle of our three block downtown.
“Oh this is cute.” Chloe opens the truck door and scans the teal building with the Seabreeze Café logo painted in yellow on the window.
“The food is even better.” I hold the café door for her.
Immediately, my senses are overwhelmed by the decadent smell of baked goods. No one is standing behind the small counter, so I usher Chloe to one of the three booths. “Do you trust me?”
“Uh,” she hesitates.
Of course she doesn’t. She just met me. Why do I keep forgetting that? I clarify, “Just with picking out a cupcake for you to try? From what I can tell, you’re serious about your sweets.”
She looks down at her hands and nods her head with a grin peeking through. “I am extremely serious about my sweets, but you know what? I do trust you.”
As I turn to walk away, she adds, “Don’t let me down.”
“Never,” I call back.
When I approach the counter, there’s still no one there, so I ring the bell. “Coming!” I hear from somewhere in the back.
“Hello, sir. What can I get ya?” Don, the stout bakery owner, approaches the counter.
I squint back at him. “What’s with the formal greeting?”
He whispers, “Health inspector,” and gives a discreet nod over my shoulder. I follow his movement to where Chloe is taking what appears to be a hand wipe out of her purse. She then begins cleaning a spot on the table.
I choke back a laugh. “Her? That’s Val’s niece, Chloe. She’s not a health inspector.”
Don eyes me skeptically. “You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Why’d you think that?”
“Jimmy saw her and said some lady in a fancy suit was coming in. We’re due for a health inspection, and she fits the bill. None of our normal customers dress like that. Shoot, no one in Sunshine Shores dresses like that.”
I glance back at her with a smirk. “True.”
Don takes a towel from his back pocket and wipes his forehead. “She’s gonna have all the town restaurants on edge if she keeps wearing those fancy clothes. She’s also gonna get heatstroke.”
“I’m sure she’ll adjust. She just arrived today, which is why I need two of your famous cupcakes.”
“Two cupcakes coming up. I’ll bring them right out.”
“Thanks Don, oh and can you bring two glasses of my favorite?”
“Of course.”
I walk back to the booth to find Chloe organizing the sugar packets. As I approach, I study her for a moment. Her bangs sweep across her forehead, drawing the focus right to her long, black eye lashes and light brown eyes.
Chloe looks up at me and tilts her head. “You’re back.”
“Yep. I hope you like chocolate.”
“Iadorechocolate.”
