Blueberry Point Romance Collection, page 22
She shrugged again. “It’s just decorating. It’s not like I’m performing heart surgery.” She paused. “Or helping someone with their retirement portfolio.”
He threw back his head and laughed. He had nice teeth too. Lucy tried not to stare too long.
“What you do is just as important,” he finally said.
She shook her head and looked into her lap. “Plugging plastic flowers into pots? Hanging stars on fake trees? I don’t think so.”
He rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. The lit candle in the golden glass votive between them made his eyes dance. “You create beauty.”
Her throat was dry when she swallowed. “It’s superficial.”
“It makes people feel good.”
That was true. It made her happy at least.
He cocked his head to the side, grinning. “You’re not denying that.”
Lucy leaned back in the chair. “You got me.”
Their waitress came for their drink order. Trec asked Lucy what she’d recommend for an appetizer, but the only appetizer she’d ever ordered was the mozzarella sticks. They were the cheapest. When she suggested them, Trec didn’t hesitate.
“Good choice. Mozzarella sticks are vastly underrated,” he said which made Lucy smile.
When the waitress left, Trec cleared his throat. “So, now that the festivities are over, what will keep you busy between now and Christmas?”
“Mostly work.” She was taking extra hours during the week since Sally closed the shop for two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. It hurt financially, but luckily she had a little in savings to tide her over.
“Of course.”
“And I’ll have to dismantle the tree tomorrow. The person who bought it will pick it up at the shop on Monday morning.”
“That’s a lot of work. First the decorating, then undoing it.”
Lucy shrugged. “I don’t mind. It’s what I do.” Again, the self-consciousness crept up. Why did he make her feel so inferior? He’d done nothing to encourage it.
“You probably don’t have to bring home work at night, do you?” he said. “That must be so nice. To be able to rest your brain.”
She bristled. It must have registered on her face because Trec straightened in his seat.
He lay his hand on the table in front of her. “I didn’t mean anything by that. It came out a little more awkward than I thought it would.”
“It’s nothing. Really.”
“All I meant was I’m on call until I go to sleep, and even then my mind doesn’t turn off right away.”
Lucy swallowed. “Lucky for me, artificial flowers don’t give me that much grief.”
He smiled, but it was crooked, unsure.
It set the tone for the rest of the dinner. Lucy couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out of her league. All of the real-world problems he solved during the day seemed so much more important than working as a florist in a blip of a town four hours from the big city. She tried to keep the conversation lighthearted, but her tone sounded flat.
The bill came and Lucy thanked him profusely when he paid. Before he put his wallet away, Trec held out one of his business cards.
“If you ever need financial advice—”
Lucy deflated. Of course. That was all she was to him, another potential client. She took the card and studied it, afraid to look at him for what her face might reveal. Lucy just wanted to leave.
His gaze rested on her face. “Or if you want to, you know, meet for dinner again. I hear Sego’s is nice.”
Sego’s was nice. Nicer than any restaurant she could afford.
She walked ahead of him out of the restaurant. “We’ll see,” she said over her shoulder. It was an easy out, him living so far away. There wouldn’t be any chance of them bumping into each other. It was just as well.
They were in the parking lot. She didn’t want to drag out the goodbye longer than she had to. Her car was in the opposite direction as his.
“It was nice seeing you again,” she said, sticking out her hand.
His expression was unreadable as he looked at her hand. Then he shook it.
“Yes, very nice,” he said. “Lucy, I…” he started to say, still looking at their intertwined hands. “Well, I guess it’s goodbye.”
Lucy could only manage a nod. She hurried to her car, wondering if her relief was greater than the regret tugging at her heart.
Chapter Ten
So many custom arrangement orders had come in that morning. Even with her and Sally working straight through until closing for the next ten days, Lucy wondered how they would finish on time before Sally closed Buds ’N Blooms for the last week of December and first week of January. Sally blamed Lucy for the influx of business. “Once everyone got a look at your festival tree, they wanted something like it on their table for Christmas dinner,” Sally had said earlier. Sally wasn’t complaining, of course.
Lucy placed the newly completed centerpiece on the wire rack behind her, attached the name tag, and plucked the next order ticket from the book. She sipped the hot chocolate Sally had just made her.
White chrysanthemums, red roses, magnolia leaves, pinecones.
Plaid ribbon and a silver container.
Lucy gathered the flowers and other supplies from around the workroom. She turned the radio volume up, letting the strains of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” set the pace for getting these arrangements finished. She’d made so many centerpieces since Thanksgiving that her mind easily wandered while her fingers plucked and tucked, twisted and tied the arrangement together. Her thoughts returned to Trec as they had constantly since she’d said goodbye to him in the parking lot at Red’s Saturday night. As usual, she’d read too much into his kindness. His attentiveness to her the whole weekend—at the sponsor dinner, at the auction, then Red’s—could be explained by his pure professionalism. To him, she was like a business associate, someone to repay for a favor or transaction received. She helped him after his tree debacle, so he bought her dinner. Simple as that.
She shook her head as she stuck the pinecones into the florist’s foam.
But she’d liked him. Really liked him. He didn’t seem insincere. In fact, once she could see beyond those mesmerizing eyes and his self-deprecating humor, she found him very down to earth. That was the trouble. Obviously he didn’t think of her the same way. Passing off his business card and then the quick departure proved it.
Sally poked her head into the workroom.
“Lucy, someone is here to pick up the auction tree.”
Lucy wiped her hands on the apron. “Okay, I’ll be right out.” The boxes were already waiting by the door. She’d just help load them.
She picked bits of floral foam from her sweater sleeves then washed her hands. The stuff stuck everywhere.
Sally was at the counter when Lucy walked into the front of the shop. Lucy looked around, taking another sip of her hot chocolate and a cookie from the plate of gingersnaps she’d brought in earlier for Sally and their customers. At present, they were the only ones in the shop.
“He’s loading the first box,” Sally said in answer to Lucy's puzzlement.
Lucy could see through the front windows that snow had begun to fall again. The world outside was shrouded in white. “Will it ever stop?”
“I’m not counting on it until April,” Sally said, separating silk poinsettia stems for another arrangement.
Lucy passed the counter, admiring Sally’s work. “That’s really pretty.”
“I feel like they’re all starting to look the same to tell you the truth.”
Lucy giggled and squatted to lift a box of ornaments for the tree. She froze.
She retraced her steps to the counter where Sally worked. There on the counter next to the silk flower stems and the green wire was a bird. Its dollar-bill wings and white paper cutout head tucked into the center crease looked decidedly amateurish surrounded by the mass-produced Christmas decorations. She picked it up by the red pipe cleaner hook and twirled it slowly between her fingertips. Her breath caught.
“Where did this come from?”
Sally stopped what she was doing as if she noticed it for the first time. “He must have brought it in.”
“He?”
The front door opened as if to answer her question. A gust of wind set the tiny bell ornaments on the nearest tree tinkling in harmony. Lucy turned.
“You asked me to make you one. I thought I’d deliver it personally,” Trec said. His dark overcoat was dusted with snow. He brushed it from his hair. “Since I had to pick up my tree anyway.”
Lucy wondered if he could hear her heart pounding beneath her sweater. It was at least loud enough to drown out his words, because she didn’t hear him correctly. “Your tree?”
Trec came toward her. “Yes, the tree I bid on at the auction. And won.”
“You bid on my tree? But I thought…the woman, Helen.”
She couldn’t remember the woman’s last name, even though she’d written it on a slip of paper along with her phone number to coordinate a time to pick up the tree. Lucy was almost too flustered to remember her own name at the moment. Beside her, Sally’s smile was nothing short of euphoric.
“Helen is my assistant Amelia’s mother. She comes to the festival every year.” He took a step closer.
“But…why did she bid on it?” She put her hand on her chest, hoping to still the mad beating.
“Because it’s a beautiful tree, and I don’t have one.”
Lucy couldn’t keep the smile from her face. He’d come all the way back from the Twin Cities for her tree. Or had he even left Hendricks this past weekend? A little spark of hope wriggled its way into her heart. Had he come back for only the tree?
“Of course I know nothing about decorating trees.” His eyes burned into hers, a little smile having lit them on fire. “Light strings might be the death of me.”
“That’s true.”
“So I’ll need help setting this one up again.”
Lucy shifted her weight and glanced toward the windows, feigning indifference but felt herself grinning like a goon. “I might know someone. Her specialty happens to be stringing lights.” The hot chocolate felt as if it ran through her veins, sweet and warm.
“And I suppose I’ll have to take you to dinner again,” he droned with an equal measure of boredom.
Lucy looked at the remaining boxes by the door and then at Trec. His expression was so anticipative and bright.
“Dinner would be wonderful.”
She bent down to retrieve one of the two remaining boxes. Trec lifted the other under his arm and opened the door for her. Outside, fat snowflakes surrounded them like they were walking through their own personal snow globe. Lucy slipped the box into the back of his Jeep. When he’d shut the hatch, Trec turned toward her.
He was so close Lucy could smell mint on his breath. The smile disappeared, and he grew serious. “Unless you’d rather keep it…more professional. Instead of dinner, I could compensate you for your time, for gas. You could send me an invoice.” His eyes searched hers.
She lifted her hand to brush the flakes from his shoulder and his fingers were there in an instant to take her hand. Trec’s touch was firm yet gentle. His thumb caressed her palm, sending a steamy river of delight running up her arm.
“Compensation and invoices? That takes all the fun out of decorating,” she said, smiling up at him. “Let’s stick to dinner.”
He nodded, drawing her closer, tilting his head ever-so-slightly to conform to hers. When he brushed his lips against her mouth, Lucy melted. They were warm and soft, and despite not wearing a coat herself, Lucy was far from cold. Trec’s arms pulled her into the folds of his dark overcoat, cocooning her from the elements, while their kiss deepened.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he whispered.
A Special Note to Readers
I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories of these special couples as much as I loved writing them. If this was your first time in Hendricks, I hope you’ll visit again soon. One way to enjoy the series is through the exclusive Blueberry Point goodies you’ll receive when you sign up for my newsletter, Welcome to the Sweet Life. You’ll get access to free content, monthly giveaways, a sneak peak at what I’m working on, and notice of special sales events. I’d love for you to receive the inside scoop on my author news so we can stay connected.
Chocolate Oatmeal Dream Drops
A simply delightful cookie to make, eat and/or share. Darcy doesn’t mind at all when Grace decides to make a double batch to give away!
1/2 stick margarine
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 tsp. almond extract
1 3/4 c. quick oatmeal
3 T. cocoa
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. nuts
Blend margarine, cocoa, sugar and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then cook for one minute while stirring. Remove from heat and add flavoring and oatmeal. Drop onto wax paper, one at a time, then sprinkle with nuts. Keep refrigerated or freeze them.
Lazy Days Lemon Coconut Cookies
A staple at Blueberry Point Lodge for summer events, these delicate cookies taste like sunshine.
* * *
3/4 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. coconut
* * *
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg, vanilla and lemon extract. Mix in flour and coconut until well-blended. Shape into one-inch balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely before frosting with Lemon Butter Frosting.
* * *
Lemon Butter Frosting
* * *
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/8 tsp. salt
2 c. sifted powdered sugar
4 tsp. lemon juice
* * *
Beat butter, lemon peel, salt and powdered sugar together until creamy. Add lemon juice gradually. If necessary add a drop or two of water for desired consistency.
Kiley’s S’mores Bars
These delicious chewy bars are the perfect end note to dinner on a fall night.
* * *
2 c. flour
2 c. crushed graham crackers
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 c. marshmallow topping
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
* * *
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 13x9 glass pan. In one bowl, combine flour, graham crackers, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In another bowl and using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together on medium speed until well combined. Beat in eggs. Slowly add flour mixture on a low speed.
* * *
Press 2/3 of dough into pan with your fingers until even. Spread marshmallow topping evenly over the dough. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Drop teaspoon-sized pieces of remaining dough on top of chocolate chips. Bake for 30 minutes or until top turns golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before slicing into bars.
Not-So-Snappy Gingersnaps
Melt-in-your mouth chewy is a better way to describe these buttery sweet cookies. We enjoy them year round too!
* * *
3/4 c. Crisco
1 cup sugar + extra to roll in
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. ground ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
* * *
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Beat together Crisco and one cup of sugar. Add egg and beat until light and fluffy. Add molasses and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon. Add these dry ingredients to the first mixture and beat until smooth and well-blended. Roll dough into one-inch balls and roll in sugar before arranging on the cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes until the tops begin to crack. Makes about 40 cookies.
Also by D.E. Malone
Hearts in Hendricks series
Love Like Water
Love Like Fire
Love Like Air
Love Like Forever
* * *
Blueberry Point Romance series
Love, Lies and Lavender
Love, Lies and Mistletoe
Love, Lies and Lullabies
Love, Lies and Lemon Pie
Love Between the Lines, a free novella
* * *
Silver Leaf Falls Novella Series
A Forever Kiss in Silver Leaf Falls
* * *
Middle Grade (writing as Dawn Malone)
Bingo Summer
The Upside of Down
About the Author
D.E. Malone writes contemporary romance and is the author of the Hearts in Hendricks and Blueberry Point Romance series. She also writes for middle grade audiences as Dawn Malone. Her work has appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Highlights for Children, and other magazines and newspapers. When not writing, she loves spending time outdoors in the garden, hiking, and exploring places off-the-beaten path. She lives in Illinois with her husband and a lab-mix rescue. Sign up for her newsletter Welcome to the Sweet Life for new releases and other bookish news. She’s on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads as dmalonebooks.
