Page 66 of Forbidden Flame

Izzy’s ice cream was melting faster than she could lick it.

“You’re in a race you can’t win.”

Daphne giggled. “Ice cream cones can be dangerous. When she was little, she would have been a mess.”

“Yeah, at least this one is dripping on the ground. Mostly,” I added as some of it splashed on her shorts.

“She needs a bath anyway,” Daphne said easily.

“How are things going with your pies?”

“I’ve been working hard to drum up a connection to a restaurant, but they either already have a contract with a bakery, or they don’t want pies. Everyone wants cakes.”

I chuckled. “Have they tasted your pies?”

Daphne frowned. “I don’t know.”

I shifted on the bench. “Have you offered them samples?”

“Well, no. I just assumed if they were interested, they’d ask for samples, and I’d provide them.”

“I think you need a different approach. I’d go in person with a few samples of my pies. I’d lead with ‘You have to taste these to believe it’, and ‘When you do, you’re going to fall in love.’”

Daphne’s cheeks flushed as her eyes rose to meet mine. “That’s kind of genius.”

I leaned back on the seat and took a bite of the ice cream. “It was just a thought. Your pies speak for themselves. I don’t even like pies, and I’m in love.”

Daphne laughed. “It’s worth a shot.”

“Your pies are unique and special. They have to be eaten to be appreciated.”

“I’d hoped for word-of-mouth referrals.”

“They might have heard of you, but they haven’t tasted the pies. And that’s the biggest piece of marketing you have. Besides believing in your pies.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re passionate about your recipe and the flavors you created. You need to convey that same confidence and energy to your prospective buyers.”

“That’s an interesting idea. I get so caught up in flyers, logos, and websites.”

“That stuff is nice. But if you want to get in the door, the fastest way will be through your product. Don’t let them get away without sampling a bite. If they don’t want to try them, leave a box of pie. But I’d push hard for them to take a bite. Maybe even bring a fork and hand a bite to them.”

“I don’t know if I could do that. It feels a little too sales-y.”

“I know that when you sell a product, it can seem pushy to promote it. But not if you come from a place of excitement about your product. Don’t think of it as selling something. They need your pies. Their customers want your pies. They just don’t know it yet.”

Daphne rested her hand on my forearm. “I feel excited about this in a way I haven’t in a long time. Thank you.”

“Your pies are life-changing. Just ask me how I know.”

I wanted to lean over and kiss her, but Izzy was here. She could see us, and I knew that Daphne wasn’t ready for her to know about us yet. I’d bide my time with them. For the first time, I could see a path for us, and I wasn’t willing to give it up.

Chapter 15

Daphne

I’d been riding this high ever since I starting seeing Cole again. Between stargazing in the back of his truck to watching him with Izzy riding her bike, my heart was constantly fluttering. I’d say they were the beginning-of-a-new-relationship butterflies, but I knew I was falling for him.

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