Tanyalee was so excited and nervous that anyone would think it was her bakery having its grand opening and her lifelong dream coming to pass. Which would be an honest enough mistake, since Tanyalee wasn’t known for her outpouring of genuine happiness on someone else’s account.
Life sure was full of unexpected twists these days.
Candy popped out from the kitchen, her cheeks pink and her eyes sparkling. She was headed across the hall toward her office when she noticed Tanyalee behind the counter. She hurried her way.
“Tanyalee! Thank you! Thank you for everything!” Candy pulled her into a quick and tight hug and kissed her cheek. Tanyalee tried not to react with surprise, and instead returned the embrace, noticing that Candy was clearly getting rounder and softer by the day.
“Maybe you should sit for a minute and put your feet up.” Tanyalee knew that Candy had been baking all night for the grand opening, and the last thing they needed was for the pregnant baker to be too tired to enjoy her big day. “I’ll just get you a sweet tea and—”
“I’m absolutely fine, but thank you.” Candy pulled back and smiled at her. “I wanted you to know that I couldn’t have done this without you, Tanyalee. Your design instincts were perfect, and it has been such a comfort to know I could rely on you to show up on time and do what needed to be done and then some. You kept me on schedule, and I feel lucky that you’re going on this journey with me.”
“Oh!” Tanyalee must have sounded like a dullard, but she could think of no way to respond to all that praise. Though many had admired her taste through the years, no one had ever accused her of being reliable and hardworking. Yet another first.
“And you look very pretty today.”
“Thank you!” Tanyalee touched the neckline of the vintage cocktail dress and fiddled with her pearls. The touch of her fingertips against the smooth, individually knotted gemstones always seemed to center her. “You look beautiful as well, Candy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so beautiful.”
Candy patted Tanyalee’s forearm and smiled, then glanced around the dining room. “Are there any last-minute issues I need to know about?”
Tanyalee shook her head and gestured widely. “We’re fully stocked with product and ready to refill from the back. The register is prepped and we’re online for credit authorizations. Five different coffees are ready, along with hot water and cold tea, and our refrigerated case is loaded with all the juice and soda we could need. Fern will be clearing off the café tables during the event and the Asheville TV news crew is set to arrive at about twelve-thirty.”
Candy took a deep breath and brought her knuckles to her lips, as if she were about to break into tears. Frankly, Tanyalee felt damn near waterlogged from all the crying lately, her own and that of others. No one ever mentioned that living honestly would require stocking up on tissues and handkerchiefs.
“It’s going to be wonderful, Candy. Please don’t worry.”
She whipped her head around, eyes wide, then broke into a huge smile. “Oh, I’m not worried in the least! It’s just that … well, this is the happiest day of my life, Tanyalee.”
As if on cue, Turner Halliday burst through the front door. The instant he made eye contact with Candy, he whipped out a huge bouquet of flowers from behind his back and made a beeline right to her, eyes flashing. Tanyalee worried she was about to witness a private moment, so she made herself busy stacking menus that didn’t need to be stacked and fluffing napkins that didn’t need to be fluffed. But she couldn’t help but sneak a peak.
The handsome sheriff grabbed his lovely fiancée, gently supported her back and dipped her as he laid a spectacular kiss on her lips. Tanyalee nearly gasped—it was a kiss worthy of a Hollywood romance. And she immediately thought of Dante.
Dante.
Tanyalee grabbed her cell phone from her bag and moved from behind the display case and into the dining room. She stood by the picture window, looking out from behind the glittery letters that spelled out CANDY PANTS BAKERY. What she saw was a pretty enough scene—the Great Smokies serving as the backdrop to the quaint brick and clapboard buildings of her little mountain town. And for the very first time in her nearly thirty years, a question found its way into her mind. Was this was where she planned to spend the rest of her days? Would she ever leave Bigler? Was there anything better out there for her, and if so, would she be brave enough to go looking for it?
Tanyalee touched her forehead to the cool glass, smiling to herself. Of course she was brave enough! In fact, now that she knew just how resourceful and honest she could be, she could do anything she set her mind to. True, Granddaddy had offered to help her financially, which she greatly appreciated, but Tanyalee knew the time had come to do it on her own, without the help of a granddaddy or sugar daddy.
But … what would she do about Dante?
She checked her phone. He had called already this morning but left no message. Tanyalee decided that once the grand opening was done, she would call him back. They could talk things out, clarify what they were doing with each other and what they wanted from each other. Because, really, Tanyalee didn’t quite know how to label their strange and powerful connection. Dante was only supposed to be a one-time thing, a quick fling before she went home to the business of living a new life.
And now here they were, months later, and Dante had become a part of her new life.
It suddenly dawned on Tanyalee why she hadn’t been able to understand their relationship—it was because it was an alien experience. For the first time in her life she was frighteningly attracted to a man who seemed to have her best interests at heart. She wanted to be with a man because of who he was and how he made her feel, not what he could do for her.
And more importantly, it suddenly occurred to her she was being ridiculous! How could she refuse to forgive Dante because he had withheld details from her? She’d just gone around seeking forgiveness from half the town!
Tanyalee heard herself gasp. Lord love a duck! What am I waiting for?
She stepped out onto the sidewalk and called him. It had been two long weeks—two weeks without seeing him, touching him, smelling him—and she couldn’t bear it anymore. As the phone rang she tapped her foot on the sidewalk, suddenly aware of the bite of autumn in the air.
What? She got his darned voice mail?
“Hello. This is Tanyalee and I am calling you back,” she said into the phone, rather snippily. “I was hoping you would pick up since I do believe we have a few things to—”
“Can’t talk.” Dante’s deep voice was hushed and hurried, but it was enough to send a little thrill through her belly. “See you later at the bakery.” Click.
Tanyalee stared at the silent phone. Well, I never!
* * *
The hours raced by in a blur of credit cards and cash, chitchat, refilling coffee dispensers, and keeping Fern on point.
“These people are mowing through food like they ain’t eaten since the Fourth of July!” Fern made this observation as she carried a tray of dirty plates, cups, and flatware back to the kitchen.
Though the festivities were scheduled from noon to three P.M., by two-thirty the place was still packed with people. It seemed everyone in Bigler had stopped by. Tanyalee visited with people she hadn’t spoken to in years—a whole slew of Viv’s neighbors; the entire newspaper employee roster; Turner’s mother, brother, and nephew; and Candy’s mother, Jacinta, and her new boyfriend from the senior home, Hugo Stevens. She had a chance to visit with her probation officer and his pretty but shy wife, Laureen. It was clear that they’d patched things up, and Temple Smathers winked at Tanyalee as they walked off with their croissants and herbal tea.
Of course, Tanyalee encountered a few men she’d dated in the past, and was kind to every one of them. Poor Buddy McGreevy, who owned that car repair shop just down the street, seemed a little shocked at the sight of Tanyalee behind the counter. She was sweet as pie with him, which seemed to confuse him even more.
And speaking of pie, Tanyalee had already filled out the paperwork for thirty-four advance holiday orders, Christmas cakes and pastries and Thanksgiving pies and dinner rolls. This caused Candy to squeal with happiness.
Cheri had arrived quite early so she could help out wherever needed. The first thing she did was hug Tanyalee and tell her how happy she was to see her. The second thing she did was jump up and down with Candy and kiss Turner’s cheek. Of course, J.J. didn’t show up early with Cheri. He wandered in at two-fifteen and kept all the way to the other side of the dining room, putting as much physical space between himself and Tanyalee as the square footage would allow. At least he’d shown up. Fancy that—they were in the same confined space and the world didn’t end! Tanyalee supposed it was a start.
But there was no sign of Dante. Tanyalee kept glancing up to be sure she hadn’t missed his arrival, scanning for a dark head of hair rising above most everyone else. She didn’t see it. She checked her phone for messages from him. There were none.
Suddenly, Tanyalee was hit by a wave of worry. Had she pushed him away? Was he so impatient that he couldn’t wait a couple weeks for her to sort out her life? And if that were the case, then why had he told her he’d see her here at the bakery?
Just before three P.M., the front door opened and a striking woman with glossy black hair entered under a man’s arm. Tanyalee was impressed that a gentleman held the door open for a lady like that.
The arm belonged to Dante.
Tanyalee froze, a thousand questions prickling at her brain. Who was the woman? Why was Dante with her? Could it be that she was actually … jealous?
Just then, Tater Wayne—Thomas—pushed his way through the clusters of customers to reach the woman. He kissed her hard and shook Dante’s hand, then swept her into the room and headed toward Turner, Candy, J.J., and Cheri.
Well, what about that? That woman was Tater’s—Thomas’s—girlfriend and Dante’s boss! Tanyalee felt her entire body flood with relief.
As if sensing she was near, Dante turned his head and his dark and intense gaze found her. Tanyalee couldn’t move. He didn’t look away and he didn’t blink, just strolled toward her, every inch the gorgeous man from two weeks ago and completely in command. Tanyalee suddenly experienced déjà vu—this was just how she’d felt at O’Hare airport the first time their eyes met. Now as then, the noisy environment faded to silence. No one else existed in the room, in Bigler, in all of North Carolina, or the entire world. He used his eyes to hold Tanyalee in place until he could get to her.
Dante reached the counter. He flattened his palms on the glass surface of the display case and leaned in. “I need something sweet.”
Lord-ee! Tanyalee felt her legs wobble and gripped the edge of the counter to stay standing. Knowing how Dante’s vortex of manliness could suck in the attention of everyone in a room, she gestured to the only remaining items in the bakery case—two poppy-seed muffins—and pretended to be just a cashier dealing with just another customer. “What a shame,” she said kindly. “I don’t think there’s a single thing I could offer you.”
The corner of Dante’s mouth twitched and his eyes flashed. “I beg to differ.”
Fern chose that moment to walk by with another tray of dirty dishes. She raised her chin at Dante and smiled. “Yo,” she said, slowing to a stop. “You know how to bowl? You free tomorrow?”
Dante smiled at Fern. “Miss Bisbee, lovely to see you after all this time. And yes, as a matter of fact I do know how to bowl. I was the Northeast conference junior champion and placed sixth overall at Nationals. And I’ve got nothing planned for tomorrow, why?”
Fern’s mouth went limp. “Are you shi … kidding me?” She wiggled her eyebrows at Tanyalee. “We’ve got our team! Sign him up.”
Oh, sweet Jesus. For the next couple hours, Tanyalee could barely concentrate as she and Fern tidied up and closed the register. Dante was still there. He occasionally glanced at her and smiled. He’d even introduced her to his boss, a rather uncomfortable experience as Tanyalee sensed she was being mentally frisked and arrested.
The crowd dissipated, but Dante stayed well past the end of the event, eventually joining a handful of people gathered around a few café tables. The group included Candy and Turner, Cheri and J.J., Aunt Viv and Granddaddy Garland, Bitsy Stockslager and her husband, Kelly O’Connor and Tater (Thomas, dammit!), and Temple and Laureen Smathers. Tanyalee kept an ear out during the chatting and laughing, making sure she did not hear her name. Wouldn’t that be a fascinating topic of conversation? That little group happened to have intimate knowledge of Tanyalee’s entire life from birth to childhood, marriage, miscarriage and divorce, assorted misdemeanors and felonies, conviction and probation, and even her most insanely private sexual desires.
Thank God they talked of nothing but home-repair projects, weather, gardening, crime rates, and the tourism economy while they drained the last of the coffee.
“He’s hot.” Fern whispered this as she cleaned the glass counter. “You should go for it.”
“Fern Bisbee!” Tanyalee felt herself blush from hairline to heels.
Luckily, Bitsy soon decided to take Fern home. Everyone congratulated Candy and headed out the door, and soon Candy thanked Tanyalee for all her hard work and told her she could go home for the evening. “Turner and I will make the dessert delivery to Cherokee Pines.”
So Tanyalee fished her car keys from her bag and headed out the kitchen door. Of course, she was disappointed that Dante had not made plans to see her later. He hadn’t even left her a voice mail or texted her. She feared his “man of mystery” routine would get old real soon.
She made her way toward the edge of the rear parking lot, where she had left the Cadillac. Right there under the security lights was a handsome man in a suit, leaning up against the driver’s side with his big arms crossed over his chest.
He smiled at her.
Mystery solved.