Tillie Grant had outdone herself. The massive sheet cake was formed in the shape of a moose, antlers and all. If she wasn’t mistaken, it bore a resemblance to Ed. Instinctually, Sophie lifted her head to glance out the windows she’d left cracked.No moose yet. “It’s perfect—no, it’s beyond perfect. Caroline will be so happy.” Sophie stepped toward Denver, fully intending to hug him. Half a step away, she realized what she was about to do and stopped.
Denver stuffed his hands into his front jeans pockets. “I’ll be sure to tell my mom you liked it.”
“Iloveit. Caroline will flip.”
“Speaking of the birthday girl, how long do we have?” he asked, freeing one hand to check his watch. She wondered if he remembered to replace the battery yet.
“Tessa should be picking her up anytime. They’re going to get ice cream first. I know it might spoil her dinner, but I promise her appetite for cake will be unaffected.” Her gaze slid from the table to his hand, the urge to take it into her own overwhelming. She tried to shake that urge, but that only made the longing stronger. Something was shifting inside her. Her heart might be . . . opening.
“You did all this?” Denver asked. “The party decorations?”
“Yeah.”
“You really pulled off quite the venue despite the hiccup last week. No sign of Rudolph anywhere. I’m impressed.”
“Cadence helped.”
Her sister stopped in the middle of walking by, hugging her shoulders. “Don’t let her give away too much credit. I helped her pick out a few things. The presentation, every bit of what you see, was all Sophie.”
Her heart swelled at the compliment, offering her hope that she might change her sisters’ minds by the next monthly meeting. She’d been unprepared in the last meeting with the idea so suddenly born, but she’d get her ducks in a row next time.
“You have that twinkle in your eyes,” Denver said. “What’s up?”
“I think I figured out—”
“Code red,” Cadence called out from the window. “Looks like they made it home early.”
Sophie frowned, wondering what could have caused them to deviate from the plan. People had only started to arrive, and without a room full to shouthappy birthday!it would be hard to pull off a solid surprise element.
“I’ll go see what’s happening,” Cadence said.
“No, let me,” Denver insisted, reaching for a long, rectangular box covered in flowery pink gift wrap. “I can stall her.”
“I owe you,” said Sophie.
“Good, because Malcom’s next mystery starts Monday.” With a wink that set her heart aflutter, he slipped out of the den and closed the door behind him. Sophie was definitely in trouble when it came to Denver Grant, and she had no idea what to do about it. Her heart yearned for more for the first time in years. But practicality and a need to protect her daughter from another heartbreak didn’t allow her the option to give in.
“You look like you might just melt into a puddle of warm, mushy goo,” Cadence teased.
“He bought her a gift.”
“Of course he did. Do you really thinktheDenver Grant would show up to this party emptyhanded?”
Sophie spun in a circle, scanning the room for any last-minute decorations to finish adjusting or trays of snacks that needed filling. Anything to keep her mind from spinning into that dangerous place. The same place that convinced her kissing Denver was a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
“You know, Soph.” Cadence took the stack of napkins from her and set them back on the table, in the exact same spot they’d been in. “It’s okay to like him.”
“What?”
“Oh, come on. You drool any more over that man and I’ll have to get you a bucket.”
Sophie vehemently shook her head. “No. I can’t. Caroline—”
“Caroline loves him. He loves her like his own daughter. You two aren’tonlyinterested in each other. You’ve known each other for a long time now. You have a solid foundation of friendship beneath your feet.” Cadence gave her a solid squeeze. “I say go for it. I know you want to.”
“But I—”
“Sleep on it if that’ll make you feel better. But tomorrow, dear sister, if you wake up still feeling the same way about him, go for it. Take a chance on the love I know you truly deserve.”
