Lucian
You guys. Forget everything I just said. Please don’t come.
Clément
Too late, mon ami.
Asher
This is going to be EPIC! Neesha’s gonna be famous!
Lucian
If Neesha hasn’t already decided to move to Seattle, this might tip her over the edge.
CHAPTER 24
NEESHA
By ten thirty, I’m a wreck. I’ve changed my apron twice, rearranged the display case three times, and scrubbed the counter in the cafe until it’s gleaming.
“Stop fidgeting,” Emmy says, straightening a stack of books. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.”
“Why didn’t you warn me about this? Why didn’t anyone?” I ask, wiping down the already spotless sink. “I would’ve made five kinds of cupcakes.” I stop and tilt my head, reconsidering. “No, seven. Definitely seven.”
Emmy gives me a pointed look. “Thisis why. Because you would have overthought it and probably made yourself sick baking all night and then backed out at the last minute. Besides, your cupcakes speak for themselves. You have no reason to worry.”
The bell over the door jingles, and we both look up at the same time. It’s just Mary-Ellen, bustling into the shop, her eyes darting around the room. “Is she here yet?”
“Is who here?” I shoot Emmy a look. “Please don’t tell me the book club knows about this food critic.”
Emmy ducks behind a bookshelf, avoiding me. Mary-Ellen scuttles over, her innocent expression not convincing in theslightest. “I may have mentioned it to a few people this morning. You know, everyone at town hall, the diner, and the post office.”
“Great,” I mutter. “No pressure at all.”
The bell jingles again, and this time it’s Lucian. Relief rushes over me. Because if there’s anyone I want here, it’s him. My heart does its usual somersault at the sight of him, which is annoying, given our current complicated situation. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet about what he said last night. But I’m certainly not going to now with Mary-Ellen around.
“Hey,” he says gently, his eyes gauging my reaction.
“Hey,” I reply.
Emmy and Mary-Ellen exchange knowing glances.
“I forgot, I need to clean up the back room!” Emmy says suddenly as she hurries toward the storage room.
“I’ll be over here…looking for a mystery book.” Mary-Ellen beelines toward the wrong side of the store and I don’t bother correcting her, since I know she’ll be eavesdropping anyway.
Lucian strides over, stopping on the other side of the counter. “How are you?”
“As terrified as one can be when they find out a food critic is coming to taste their cupcakes,” I admit. “Thanks to Mimi.”
He doesn’t look surprised, just pleased. “You’re ready for this.”
I frown. “Wait. You knew too?”
“She texted me this morning. You know Mimi Roberts—town matchmaker and secret agent extraordinaire.”
Before I can ask more questions, the bell jingles again, and a stream of townspeople enter.
