Page 69 of Forbidden Flame

“First rule of business: you never take no for an answer. You take a new angle, and if that doesn’t work, you figure something else out. All nos can be turned to yeses.”

“I love that.”

“I’m proud of you, Daphne.”

“I’m proud of me too. My dream is finally coming true.” I didn’t want to hunt down every order. I wanted contracts and events that I could sell large quantities of pies to. It would make it easier on my schedule with Izzy.

“You were the one who did this. It was your hard work.”

“It was all those hours in the kitchen perfecting the recipe.” Thinking that I’d never have the opportunity to sell it anywhere. Back then, it felt like an impossible dream.

The motivation was making a pie that was better than anything I’d ever tasted before. Then Izzy liked when I made the minis, and they were quickly becoming my signature pie.

“I want to celebrate with you.”

“I’d like that,” I said softly.

“Are we still on for the playdate this afternoon?” Cole asked.

Cole had arranged for Addy and Ember to play with Izzy at his house. “Absolutely.”

Someone called Cole’s name. “I have to get back to work.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“Congratulations, babe. I knew you could do it.”

He clicked off, but I was still reveling in him calling me babe. Had he realized he’d done that in front of a coworker? From anyone else, I would have thought it was cliché or a substitute for when a guy couldn’t remember my name. But from Cole, it felt more like a term of endearment, like he was claiming me, at least subconsciously.

I liked it too much. My body hummed with excitement. I pulled out my list for the day, grabbed a few more pies, and set out to talk to another restaurant owner. At the first place, the owner wasn’t there, but they said I could leave the pies, and at the second, he was angry that I hadn’t taken no for an answer.

It shook me a little even though I knew I wouldn’t want to work with someone like that. I ducked into an ice cream shop, hoping to pull myself together before heading to the next place.

“Good morning, what can I get you?” the women behind the counter asked.

“Oh, I was just working, and thought I’d take a break. I wasn’t planning on getting ice cream.”

The woman smiled. “Can I interest you in a sweet indulgence?”

There were a few ice cream shops in town because it was a tourist spot, and I hadn’t seen this one before. The entire shop was white trim with pink walls. The stainless steel gleamed.

I walked along the wall of the ice cream counter, looking at the options. When I saw the apple pie option, I couldn’t resist. “Can I try that one?”

“I figured with fall coming, people would want apple pie in their ice cream.” She laughed as she scooped a sample onto a spoon.

I lifted my pie boxes. “I’m trying to get the restaurants to carry my pies, so I hear you on that.”

She braced her hands on the counter. “Oh, you make pies?”

“I don’t own a shop. I’ve been mainly taking orders, but I’d love to get into catering or even into an agreement with a local restaurant.” I knew it would only take one restaurant to take a chance on me. Then everyone else would want to know what they were missing.

“I’m a huge supporter of entrepreneurs. But it’s a tough road.”

“You’re the owner?” I got the impression she wasn’t just an hourly worker.

“I am. I’m Violet Pendleton.”

“Daphne Calloway. It’s nice to meet you.” I finally took a breath to sample the ice cream and was surprised by the flavor. If I was right, they’d used store-bought pies. “Do you make your own ice cream flavors?”

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