Page 68 of Forbidden Flame

Max frowned. “I’m not sure the customers will want pie.”

“I think if you have your servers try them first, they’ll be singing their praises. These are amazing.”

Max’s eyes flashed at that remark. Every restaurant owner wanted something for diners to talk about.

The woman turned to me. “I’m Zoe by the way. I’m usually teaching, but schools are closed today. I’m so glad I was here to sample your pies.”

“Daphne Calloway. I’m ecstatic you liked them.” I felt jittery from the high of their praise.

Max cleared his throat. “We’ll offer them on a trial basis. You have a contract?”

“I do.” I didn’t, but I’d figure it out.

Max waved me off. “Let’s start with ten apple pies—”

“And pumpkin,” Mallory added.

Max gave her a look. “We’ll see how it goes. If we sell out, I’ll take a look at that contract.”

“Thank you,” I said as I gathered my things, my heart fluttering with excitement.

“You can leave those,” Mallory said of the pies I’d brought.

“Enjoy them. I’ll be back tomorrow with more.” At Max’s nod, I said, “It was so nice to meet you.”

I didn’t take a deep breath until I was standing on the sidewalk. I wanted to pinch myself to confirm that it wasn’t a dream.

I went back to the van and sat in the front seat to call Cole.

“Daphne?” It was noisy in the background.

I glanced at the time on the dash. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have called you at work.”

“I can go outside. Hold on a sec.”

When the noise dissipated, he said, “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I had to share this with someone.” I could barely contain my excitement. When was the last time I had this kind of news to share?

“Did one of the restaurants take your pies?” Cole asked.

“The first one I went to. Max’s Bar and Grill.”

“That’s amazing. I told you if they ate them, they wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“It’s not a done deal yet. He wants to offer them tomorrow. If I sell out, he’ll look at my contract for the fall.”

“It’s as good as done.”

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. “How can you say that?”

“No one can resist your pies.”

“The bartender and, I believe, it was Max’s wife both loved the pies. Zoe mentioned something about the servers tasting them first, then singing their praises.”

“I told you it would work.”

“I can’t thank you enough. I felt so stuck and defeated.”

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