He looked at the sign on the store window and smiled. Levi’s fiancée owned a candy store called Sweet Treats, and he’d found it, along with most of the people in Sapphire Bay.
“Zac?”
He turned and smiled at the man walking toward him. He hadn’t seen Levi for three years, but it felt like only last month that they were fighting for their lives in Kabul.
“It’s great to see you.” Tears stung Zac’s eyes. He hugged his friend, relieved that he’d made it home for his wedding.
“I thought you weren’t arriving until tomorrow.”
“That was the plan, but I caught an earlier flight.”
“You should have called. I would have met you at the airport and brought you home.”
Zac shrugged. “It was just as easy to rent a truck. Do you have time to grab a coffee?”
“Of course, I do—and I know just the place.” Levi looked at the people standing on the sidewalk. “If anyone sends you an evil glare, just smile.”
“Why would they do that?”
The grin Levi sent him was so unlike the man who’d left Kabul, that, for a few seconds, Zac was speechless.
“Follow me.” Levi walked to the front of the line and opened the door to the candy shop.
If Sweet Treats sold coffee, Zac hadn’t seen or smelled it. And from the look on everyone’s faces, no one appreciated them jumping to the top of the line.
His eyebrows rose when Levi walked around the front counter and kissed a woman on the cheek. It wasn’t until she turned around that he realized who it was.
Levi smiled. “Zac, this is my fiancée, Brooke Johnson.”
Brooke held out her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Same here. I can’t believe how busy you are.”
“It’s always like this before Easter. I can’t talk now, but if you’re not doing anything for dinner, you’re welcome to join us.”
“I’d like that.”
Levi looked at the people in the store. “We’re going upstairs to have a coffee. Will you be okay?”
“Kathleen and I will be fine. Daniella should be here soon to give us a hand.”
“Give me a call if you need help.”
“I will.” Brooke took a gift-wrapped bag of fudge off a shelf and handed it to Zac. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks. Is this the fudge I could smell?”
Brooke nodded. “It’s our chocolate dream flavor. That’s the last bag.”
“Let’s go upstairs,” Levi said. “If Brooke’s customers see what she gave you, they won’t be happy.”
Zac said goodbye to Brooke, then followed his friend into the commercial kitchen. The stainless steel counter was full of egg-shaped molds filled with chocolate. “How many Easter eggs has Brooke made?”
Levi stood beside him. “So far, more than two thousand. But that’s nothing compared to what will happen over the next few weeks.”
“Who will make the Easter eggs while you’re on your honeymoon?”
“We decided not to go away until after Easter. That way, the store will be quieter and Brooke won’t be thinking about work.”
