Page 14 of Too Delicious

Well, the cat’s out of the bag.

Inside, I’m relieved. If Carter has Brenda’s approval, then that paves the way for Harmony and I. Hopefully. One day.

Harmony’s arms cross in front of her, in her usual stance when I get too close.

And that’s fine.

“But we have something else on our minds. We don’t want you to owe money to anyone,” I say.

Harmony looks up at me, and the ache lessens in my chest, but only a little. “What does that mean?” she asks.

I tell her that Carter and I are funding the entire project, and that’s that.

The sisters say nothing, but Brenda is excited. “Guess you don’t need me to co-sign after all!”

There’s more discussion about the terms, but to my surprise, Harmony agrees first.

But with one condition.

“I’m not dating you,” she says.

What can I say? I can’t argue about it.

“Fair enough.”

Harmony gives me the biggest smile yet.

And I’m falling harder for her. Falling, falling, falling, with no parachute. No guarantees.

Except a thread of hope she leaves me with every furtive glance.

Someday.

chapter

six

Harmony

I have to give Cooper credit. He keeps his distance.

Well, emotionally. Romantically.

But physically? He’s literally everywhere.

And as much as I don’t want a relationship with him—as much as I know I have much more healing to do—I like it.

I admit it. I like having him around.

Cooper and Carter don’t seem to have any real job other than to help us start Little Spoon.

They bring us coffee and donuts from Ruby’s Diner every morning. They go to the town hall with us and provide backup in case there’s any red tape. They attend meetings with us. They ensure we get the location we want—right in the bustling part of Main Street—by having cash on hand when the landlord demands six months’ rent up-front plus a whopping deposit.

They promised they’d only be here to bankroll everything, and not interfere with any creative decisions. And they’ve kept that promise.

Annoyingly so.

It’s annoying because I keep looking for ways that Cooper turns me off. So far, I haven’t found any.

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