Page 54 of Valentine's in Bayberry

“Uh, huh. Well, I was just going to stop by the house, would you like a ride?”

She shook her head. “That’s okay. I don’t want to put you out of your way by having to bring me back.”

“It’s fine. I have to come back anyway. I’m meeting with Mark after lunch.”

She shrugged. “Okay. Let me tell Alice that I’ll be right back.”

A few minutes later, they were on the way home. Carrie wasn’t sure this was a good idea. She felt weird about getting a valentine from another guy in front of Jackson.

In the days of their youth, she’d gotten a few valentines. Back then, she hadn’t felt strange about mentioning them to Jackson, but now something had shifted. She blamed it on the kiss. Try as they might to forget it had happened, it was impossible. She was aware of him in a different way—a romantic way. And there was no way for her to put that genie back in the bottle.

Maybe this was a mistake.

Jackson noticed how quiet Carrie had become on the ride. He’d just wanted to spend some more time with her. Because when she was away, he missed her. It made it worse knowing that soon he’d be leaving for London.

But he didn’t want to dwell on that. Right now, he wanted to focus on this sunny day with the most beautiful woman next to him. He kept glancing in her direction, but she had her head turned toward the side window.

He cleared his throat. “Since the s’mores were such a big hit, maybe we should have a repeat again tonight. After all, it would give me a chance to win back my title.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed she turned her head in his direction. “I don’t think so. I’m not giving up those bragging rights.”

“Does that mean you won’t meet me in the backyard tonight?”

She sighed. “I would love to, but I need to stay at the shop this evening. I’ve been a bit distracted lately, and I need to catch up on my work. The chocolates are flying out the door this week.”

“I understand.” He couldn’t deny that he was disappointed.

“I shouldn’t have left for lunch.”

“But you just had to find out if you got another valentine?”

She nodded. “I keep wondering when the secret valentine is going to tell me their name.”

“Maybe today.” He pulled to a stop in front of her driveway.

She hopped out of the car and rushed around the front of it to reach the mailbox. She yanked it open and pulled out a few pieces of mail. He knew exactly when she’d spotted the valentine because her face totally lit up.

After closing the mailbox, she turned around with a great-big smile on her face that puffed up her cheeks and lit up her eyes. He loved that he’d been able to bring her such happiness.

There was a part of him that longed to tell her he was her secret valentine, but he wasn’t sure she was ready to hear that he loved her. The truth was that he’d probably loved her ever since that kiss back in high school. It was the reason that none of the other relationships he’d been involved in over the years had worked out—they weren’t Carrie.

When she opened the car door, the frigid winter air rushed in. “It’s here.”

He put the car in gear and drove to the next driveaway and then turned in. Once he parked, he turned to her. “Why didn’t you open it?”

She shrugged. “Sometimes the fun is the anticipation.”

“Anticipation of what?”

“What it might say? If there’s another surprise? If he reveals his identity?”

“I see. That’s a lot for one valentine. Well, I have to go grab some papers. I’ll be back.” He left the car running while he entered the house.

Chapter Seventeen

This was crazy.

The valentines wouldn’t keep coming.

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