Page 2 of Sweet Somethings

"Four."

"Oh, my goodness. You might as well stay here all night."

"It might come to that. Every day there are more requests for Wish cookies."

"That's because they're so pretty and so good," Susan said, her gaze sweeping over the shortbread, heart-shaped cookies with the purple icing that were not only in the first display but also on a sample plate on the counter.

"I just don't know if they taste the same as my dad's cookies."

Susan picked up a cookie, bit into it, chewed for a moment, then shook her head. "You're right. They're terrible."

"They are?" she asked in surprise.

"No, they're amazing, but you already know that. Maybe they're not the same as your dad's; perhaps they're better."

"But if they're not the same, I can hardly make a claim that they'll make someone's Valentine's Day wish come true."

Susan rolled her eyes. "The only people who believe in that are twelve-year-old girls, Juliette."

Since she'd been a twelve-year-old girl the last time she'd made a wish on the cookie, Susan was probably right.

"I understand that the wish gimmick sells cookies, but you really shouldn't worry about it so much," Susan continued. "These cookies will sell even if they don't make any wishes come true."

"I'm sure you're right. I'll bake some more this afternoon. I have one more variation on the ingredients that I want to try."

"I know you won't stop until you get it the way you want it," Susan said, with a knowing gleam in her eyes. "You're quite the perfectionist when it comes to baking."

"It's the one thing I'm confident I can get right if I put my mind and my effort into it." She paused. "I'm going to take our delivery over to Donavan's and get an espresso. Shall I bring you back something?"

"No, thanks. I already had two cups at home."

"I'll be back in a bit."

"Take your time."

She grabbed the plastic container of assorted brownies, muffins, cookies, and pastries she'd put together earlier and took them across the street to the coffee shop.

Donavan's wasn't just a place to get your daily dose of caffeine; it was where the townspeople gathered to chat, work on their computers, play chess, and watch the tourists go by. It was also a place where she was starting to sell a lot of baked goods.

As she walked into Donavan's, she saw Donavan, the pretty blonde owner with the big blue eyes behind the counter, whipping up coffees for the early morning crowd of caffeine addicts. Her coworker, Sara, tended the register. Sara had dark hair and dark eyes that were framed by a pair of black glasses.

Donavan and Sara had become two of her closest friends since she'd moved to town and tentatively asked Donavan about selling some of her baked goods at the coffee shop. Donavan had generously said yes, and it had turned out to be a good business arrangement for both of them.

"Good morning," she said to Sara, as she went around the counter to unload her baked goods.

"So, did you bring more Wish cookies?" Sara asked, eagerness in her eyes. "They were gone yesterday before I got one."

"I've got a dozen here."

"Excellent."

"I am ready to find some love."

She laughed. "It's not just about finding love. It's about wishing for something you want—your heart's desire."

"Great, then I'm going to need more than one cookie. Because I have a lot of wishes."

She opened the container and put the plate of cookies on the counter, then loaded a display case with mini banana bread loaves, chocolate muffins, and raspberry tarts. "I can't quite believe people still remember the Wish cookies from when my dad was the baker here in town. It's been fifteen years," she said.

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