What was left of July disappeared in a flurry of dust and old wood as Johnno and his crew tore out the old kitchen in the back of the shop. Added to that, Lily was run ragged between finalising some new dress designs for the store, trying to finish Holly’s flower girl dress and helping out Violet, who had back-to-back events in the first two weekends of August. She enjoyed setting up the events with her sister and marvelled at how Violet always knew what each space needed to make it pop. Every one of her events was beautiful, fun and totally unique.
For once, Lily felt confident and in control of her life; the betrayals of a few months ago had finally begun to heal. Life was moving forward and beginning to fall into place and her days were on the whole smooth and uncomplicated – so she should have known that it wouldn’t last.
Lily was upstairs hauling out a box full of musty fifty-year-old newspapers she’d found when Johnno appeared in the doorway.
‘Hi. Do you need a hand with that?’
Lily looked up and gave him a quick smile. ‘No, I think I’ve got it, but thanks.’
Johnno grinned at her; she had to admit he had a pretty devastating smile. Lily got the feeling that if he put his mind to it, most of Violet Falls’ sisterhood could quite easily be in peril. There was a certain appeal when a man leaned casually in front of you with a three-day growth, sandy blond hair, overalls and a grin.
‘It’s after five, so the guys and I are about to head off for the day.’
‘Gosh, I didn’t realise it was so late, already,’ Lily said as she put down the box.
‘I was just wondering … would you like to go out to dinner sometime? I mean, that is, if you’re not seeing anyone.’
Lily shook her head automatically. ‘No, I’m not seeing anyone. Um, I hadn’t really thought about it …’
‘Hey, no pressure. Anyway, have a think – it’s just dinner,’ Johnno said with a smile.
‘I will. And thanks.’
He gave her a wide smile before turning away. ‘See ya tomorrow.’
‘G’night.’
Lily was lost in her thoughts as she headed home. She hadn’t dated anyone since coming back to Violet Falls – romance was probably the last thing on her mind. And of course, there was that promise she made to herself: to be smart about her next relationship. But then, this wasn’t a relationship; Johnno had only asked her to dinner.
She walked up the wooden steps to the verandah and let herself in the front door.
‘Hiya – we’re in here!’ Violet called out from the kitchen.
Lily hung up her coat on the old hall stand and walked down the hallway. She stepped into the kitchen and saw her sister and Holly sitting at the small table, grinning back at her. ‘What’s up?’ she asked.
‘We’re celebrating!’ Holly said, jumping up from the table and skipping over to give Lily a hug. ‘Look, we’ve got cupcakes and pink lemonade.’
Lily dumped her bag on the floor and hugged her niece back. ‘Really? What exactly are we celebrating?’
‘A number of things,’ Violet said. ‘First of all, I got a call today from Holly’s teacher.’
‘Uh-oh, now how many times have I told you not to light a bonfire in the quadrangle, sweetie?’
Holly giggled as she grabbed Lily’s hand and led her to the table where a plate of pale pink cupcakes with silver sprinkles sat. ‘I didn’t, silly.’
‘Well, that was my first thought too,’ Violet said with a wink. ‘But according to Ms Potter, Holly is doing remarkably well and is a pleasure to have in the class.’
Lily bent down and tapped Holly on the nose. ‘Sounds like you’ve got a very clever teacher.’
‘Secondly, Holly has also been accepted into Moonbeams and Stardancers.’
‘Hey, that’s fantastic, kiddo – that’s the dance school you wanted to go to, right?’
Holly nodded. ‘Yep, Kylie and Amber go there too – it’s the best.’
Lily looked back to Violet with a smile. ‘So we do have a lot to celebrate.’
‘Sure do – I just landed the Anderson wedding as well.’
‘That’s great,’ Lily said as she reached over to give Violet a hug. ‘And huge. Congratulations.’
‘Thanks. Yep, this wedding is going to be big, but we’ve got nine months – we’ll pull it off.’
‘Of course we will. So, does that mean I can have a cupcake?’
‘Indeed you can. To celebrate we’re having backwards dinner, starting with dessert,’ Violet said.
‘Yay!’ Lily and Holly said in unison as they both snagged a cupcake.
‘So, anything interesting happen to you today?’ Violet asked.
Lily licked a bit of the pink icing before she answered. ‘Hmmm, Darren Johnson asked me to dinner.’
Violet’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Ooh, and you said?’
‘That I’d think about it,’ Lily said with a smile. ‘I don’t know. Johnno’s really nice, but I guess I hadn’t looked at him in that light before.’
‘Well, from what I gather, he’s a straight-up kind of guy and everyone in town likes him.’
‘Yeah, I guess.’
‘He’s got his own business, and let’s not forget he isn’t exactly hard on the eyes,’ Violet added with a wink.
‘I know, I know, you’re right. It’s just that it came out of the blue – I suppose I wasn’t expecting it.’
‘You don’t like him?’
‘No, it’s not that. He’s just different to the type I would usually go out with.’
‘Hey, I don’t want to sound mean but maybe that’s a good thing? You need someone you can depend on and who actually looks out for you for a change.’
‘I guess. Anyway, I’ll think about it. I like Johnno, I just hadn’t ever thought about him in that way before.’
***
Lily walked into the bakery the next afternoon and lined up with a sea of hungry people. She bit back a sigh. This was going to take longer than she thought. Maybe she should just skip lunch? As if in answer, her stomach growled in protest. Yeah, who was she kidding – she was starving, and she’d already skipped breakfast.
Lily checked her watch and saw that she’d landed right in the middle of the lunchtime rush. There was nothing for it but to be patient. The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and coffee, which made her hunger pangs even worse. She glanced around the crowded shop and gave a smile to the woman next to her. Her gaze kept wandering until it latched onto the wide shoulders of Flynn Hartley standing a little in front and to the side of her. It was wrong to ogle but, heaven help her, she just couldn’t avoid it – the man was well put together.
As if sensing her stare, Flynn turned his head.
‘Hi, Lily,’ he said. His dark eyes warmed as he smiled.
Damn. Her stomach had that feeling she used to get when she was a teenager and he’d walk past her in the school corridors.
‘Hi, Flynn. Whatcha up to?’
Flynn’s smile widened. ‘Well, I’m getting lunch.’
Lily wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Of course he was getting lunch: it was lunchtime and they were in the bakery. She felt heat in her cheeks.
‘Ah, I meant in general.’ Nice save – not.
‘I’m just teasing,’ he said as he angled his body around to face her. ‘I’m actually in town picking up a new chainsaw – I managed to kill the last one. So I thought I’d treat myself to one of Helen’s chocolate éclairs while I was here. They’re the best.’
‘Don’t tempt me,’ Lily said.
‘Go on, you know you want one.’
‘You’re the devil,’ Lily said with a shake of her head.
‘How’s your day going?’ Flynn asked with a smile.
‘Hectic. Johnno and his team have started renovating the back of the shop and I have to help Violet measure up the community hall for the sixteenth birthday party she has coming up. Then drop back to the shop in case Johnno needs anything before zipping up to Bendigo to buy some fabric. I’m kicking myself – I went to Melbourne last week for a fabric shopping adventure and forgot to buy the lining for Holly’s flower girl dress.’
‘So you’re staying in Violet Falls?’ Flynn tilted his head to one side and studied her.
‘Yes, I’m going to open up a store that specialises in event dresses.’ Lily glanced away. She was having trouble meeting his dark brown eyes and just prayed she could rein in her inner giggling fourteen-year-old schoolgirl.
‘Sorry, event what?’
‘Dresses that you wear for events and big occasions – you know, special dresses, like the ones for weddings, engagements and formals.’
‘Right – got it.’ He leant a little closer. ‘I’m glad you’re staying.’
Lily’s stomach tied in a couple of knots as her eyes locked onto his.
‘So, what else have you been up to?’ Flynn asked.
‘Um, a lot of sewing, and I’ve been helping Violet out with some of her events. Oh, and I’ve been trying to get about fifty layers of old paint off the woodwork so I can repaint it.’
‘That doesn’t sound like much fun.’
‘I have to admit, it’s not one of my favourites.’
A voice suddenly broke Lily’s awkward focus. ‘Next! Who’s next? Flynn, is it you?’
He turned around and gave the slightly harassed woman behind the counter a grin. ‘Hey, Helen. No, Lily can go next – she’s a busy woman.’
‘Flynn, you don’t have to do that,’ Lily said.
He reached back and grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the front of the queue.
‘Go on,’ he urged. ‘Before Helen serves someone else.’
‘Thank you.’
‘What will you have?’ Helen asked.
‘Um, a couple of salad sandwiches on rye, an apple juice and two cappuccinos, please.’
The woman gave her a quick smile as she hurried away.
‘You forgot a chocolate éclair,’ Flynn whispered close to her ear.
Lily tried not to focus on the sensation of his warm breath against her neck. ‘No, I didn’t.’
Trapped in the lunchtime crowd with Flynn standing behind her, Lily would have liked to say that she couldn’t wait to get out of the bakery, but the truth was she was enjoying having him that close. This was not the plan – the plan was to stay well away from addictively charming men. She should focus on her work and the errands she had to run, and that sweet, dependable Darren Johnson who had asked her out on a harmless dinner date. Anything else was just asking for trouble.
Get a grip, Lily.
She took a deep breath and tried to ignore the heat emanating from Flynn’s body as he was pushed against her in the crowd.
Within a couple of minutes, Lily’s sandwiches and coffees arrived and she paid for her purchases. As she turned to leave she glanced up at Flynn. ‘Thanks for letting me go first. Bye.’
‘No worries,’ he said before he gave her a nod. ‘I’ll see you around, Lily Beckett.’
Lily scurried out of the bakery as fast as she could and made her way to the community hall. She glanced at her watch – she’d arranged to meet Violet there five minutes ago. Quickening her pace, she tried to forget how her skin had tingled when Flynn had whispered in her ear.
Lily ran up the steps of the hall and opened the door with an accidental bang. The noise made her sister jump and swing around.
‘Sorry, sorry, sorry!’ Lily called out as she hurried forward.
‘You scared me half to death,’ Violet said with a shake of her head.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to burst through quite so enthusiastically,’ Lily said with an apologetic smile and a shrug.
‘Forgiven – that is, once I get my heart back in my chest,’ Violet chuckled.
‘Well, you have to forgive me because I brought coffee and food – and besides that, I’m your only sister.’
Violet frowned for a second as if debating the whole thing. ‘Well, I guess you did bring me coffee …’
Lily pulled a face. ‘So, what exactly are we doing in this empty hall?’
‘The layout for the party, of course. We’re turning this empty hall into something that a gaggle of sixteen-year-olds will love. I’m thinking moody lights – it’s a big open space and I want to try to give it a more enclosed sort of feel. There’s nothing more disheartening than a bare hall and fluorescent lights for a party.’
‘So, not country chic then?’
Violet grinned. ‘Not this time. So you can just put that in the box with the timeless elegance.’
Lily let out a laugh as she headed over to shut the door which had blown open. It was chilly outside but at least there was a hint of sun. ‘Does this place have heating?’
‘Yep, but as we are lowly party planners we don’t get it turned on.’
‘Well, that just sucks.’
‘Tell me about it.’
It was almost another hour before Lily made it back to the shop. She gave Johnno a wave as she slipped in the back door.
‘You had a delivery while you were out,’ he called as he stopped what he was doing and walked towards her.
‘Really? That’s funny – I wasn’t expecting anything.’
‘Anyway, I got him to leave it on the old counter,’ he said, a frown creasing his forehead. Without another word he turned away and disappeared into what would be her new kitchenette.
‘Thanks,’ Lily said as she walked through into the front room. Sure enough, a small white cardboard box was sitting on the glass counter. A bright yellow sticky note was stuck on the top of the box. Let me tempt you was written in black ink and a bold hand.
Lily grinned as she opened the box and saw a chocolate éclair nestled inside.
Yep, definitely the devil.
***
Lily was beading the lace appliqués for Violet’s wedding dress when there was a knock on the front door. With lace in hand she headed down to answer it, hoping that whoever it was wouldn’t hold her up. She needed to finish what she was doing and then get ready to go out.
‘You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?’ Jill said as Lily swung the door open.
‘Of course not – we’re going to the movies and have to leave at half six.’
‘Uh-huh, exactly,’ Jill said with a grin as she walked into the house. She was followed by Hailey and another woman who Lily didn’t recognise. ‘And what’s the time now?’
‘Oh no, it’s not six thirty already, is it?’
Hailey chuckled. ‘I see some things never change – you were always running late, even when we were kids.’
‘Five minutes – I promise I’ll only be five minutes!’
‘Sure. Oh, but before you fly off, this is a friend of ours, Mandy,’ said Jill, pulling the other woman forward. ‘’Bout time the two of you met.’
Mandy smiled and nodded in Lily’s direction. She was about the same height as Lily, with shoulder-length blonde hair and pretty hazel eyes.
Lily held out her hand and smiled. ‘It’s lovely to meet you, and I’m so sorry that I’m holding everyone up.’
‘Not a problem. I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Mandy said with a friendly smile.
‘I’ll be back in a tick, I promise,’ Lily said as she handed Jill the lace she’d been working on. ‘Could you put this back on my work table?’
‘Sure. Hey, this is beautiful.’
‘Thanks. It’s one of the straps for Violet’s wedding gown,’ Lily said before hurrying back down the hallway, letting her hair down from its messy knot as she went. In her bedroom she pulled off her hoodie, grabbed a pair of jeans that had managed to escape her painting efforts and hunted for her favourite green top. After a spritz of perfume, eyeliner and a bit of lipstick, Lily walked back down the hall, shrugging into her brown leather jacket on the way.
She found her friends in her workroom.
‘See, I told you I’d be ready in five.’
Hailey turned her head and smiled. ‘A good thing too, because I don’t want to miss a minute of the yummy Amos Valter.’
‘Don’t you mean you don’t want to miss a minute of the movie?’ Jill teased.
Hailey shook her head. ‘Nope, I meant what I said.’
‘We’ll make it, won’t we? I mean, Bendigo is only forty minutes away,’ Lily said.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll make it. I factored in you being late – the movie doesn’t start for another hour and fifteen minutes,’ Jill said with a wink.
‘I resent that!’ Lily said with mock indignation.
‘And that’s your right, honey, but at least we’ll be on time.’
‘Hey, you made this, didn’t you?’ Mandy asked as she pointed to Violet’s wedding gown on the dressmaker’s dummy.
‘Yes,’ Lily answered. ‘I mean, I’m still making it.’
‘It’s exquisite. Really, it’s beautiful.’
‘Thanks. I hope I get the same reaction from my sister. She didn’t want too much structure, just something that was flowing and dreamy.’
‘How could she not love it? It’s ethereal, and romantic. Do you think I could take some photos of it? And do you have anything else?’
‘Sorry?’ Lily said, turning slightly to cast Jill a confused look. ‘I don’t quite understand …’
‘Oh, sorry, I should have said,’ Jill said as she put up her hand. ‘Mandy here is a journalist for the Violet Falls Gazette –although she’s meant to be off-duty when we’re going out.’
‘Well, I can’t let a movie – even an Amos Valter one – get in the way of a story,’ Mandy said with a laugh. ‘But seriously, this dress is beautiful, and I would love to do a story on you and the shop. Are you taking orders yet?’
Lily opened her mouth and then closed it again as Hailey broke into the conversation.
‘Sorry, that was me – I told Mandy you were opening a dress shop. It wasn’t a secret, was it?’
‘No, of course not,’ Lily said with a smile. ‘It’s just that I’m nowhere near opening it yet. I mean, the shop is still being renovated.’
‘Tell you what, how about sometime I do a little article on you and some of your designs? We could do a small series of them leading up to the opening. I think it would really create a buzz,’ Mandy said.
‘That would be fantastic, thanks! I’d have to see if Violet would be okay about having the dress photographed or if she wants to keep it as a surprise until the wedding. But in any case, I already have some other pieces.’
‘Great! I’ll get onto it.’
‘Come on, you two,’ Hailey said as she glanced at her watch. ‘If we miss the beginning of the movie you have to shout us all popcorn.’