Sweet message?
All the heat drained from Daphne’s face. What was Finn Dashwood talking about?
Every head in the room swiveled toward her.
His wink landed like an exclamation mark on his ridiculous statement. How dare he turn her chalkboard joke into some kind of romantic gesture? There wasn’t a single ounce of romance in that little prank.
And he knew exactly what sort of rumors his implication would spark.
At teatime.
In front of her entire tearoom.
Daphne blinked as the room narrowed into a tunnel of stunned silence, the door swinging shut behind Finn. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. She nearly did something entirely unladylike—like chase after him and pummel him with... her shoe!
Instead, she turned back to the room with what she hoped was a composed smile. “Just so we’re all clear, Mr. Dashwood does not like tea.” She nodded for emphasis. “That should clear up anything he may have implied about me. And him.”
The glimmer in Granny D’s eyes only fueled Daphne’s humiliation... and determination. She was not, nor would she ever be interested in Mr. Finn Dashwood.
With that, she bolted for the door, rounding the front of her shop.
Her carefully curated chalkboard—previously home to an elegant list of tea specials and baked delights—had been defiled. Scrawled across it in atrocious handwriting (honestly, was he six?) was a new message:
Tried coffee again.
Smelled like determination.
Tasted like success.
Gave me the energy to win an argument I wasn’t even having.
Would recommend to all tea drinkers looking to upgrade their lives.
Final Rating: ?????
Daphne inhaled sharply and snapped a glare to the front door of his pub.
Oh. It. Was. On.
Chapter 6
@TeaThymeNC:Out of sugar, running low on patience, but still steeping. If it’s too hot for tea, cool off with our newest treat: The Lizzy Bennet—a dark chocolate milkshake with a twist. Sweet, bold, and impossible to resist. #TeaLife #CaffeineAndHope #PrideAndDeliciousness
Comments:
@WisteriaGeneralStore:New merch drop: “Sweet, Bold & Impossible to Resist” T-shirts available in four pastel shades. Now taking preorders for matching mugs. #WisteriaStyle #LizzyBennetEnergy #GrannyApproved
@TGDPub:Naming a milkshake after a literary heroine and giving a neighbor chocolate? Flirtation or foreshadowing, Miss Austen? Asking for... literary purposes.??#DarkChocolateAndDenial #TeamLizzy #BeanWaterStillWins #IllTakeOneOfThoseTshirts
@TeaThymeNC:There was no flirting. There is no flirting. Just a responsible milkshake and an alarming number of unsolicited opinions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have spoons to polish. #Chocolate4All #NoRomanticSubtextWhatsoever
@GrannyDOfficial:Had one. May marry it. If Mr. Darcy doesn’t show up soon, I’ll settle for that milkshake. #GrannyKnowsBest #DarkChocolateIsMyLoveLanguage #FlirtingPairsWithChocolate
@PastorNateNHC:Some of you are dangerously close to idol worship. That said... I might have baptized mine with espresso. #CaffeinateAndRepent #GraceTastesLikeChocolate
@TheRidgesFineDining:Bold of you to create emotional dependency in one menu item. We approve. And fear you. #CulinarySassQueen #TeaRoomDominance
Finn half expected Daphne to appear later that evening with some form of retaliation—a glitter bomb perhaps or her attempt at a “strong” tea. Which, coming from her, likely meant something floral and vaguely offensive. But no sign of her. Not so much as a glare from the shop window.
