Page 73 of Sweet Surprises

“What are you giggling about?” he asked.

“I just never noticed that you were so good at listening,” she told him. “But it’s true.”

He didn’t reply, but his lips quirked up, so she knew he was pleased.

They walked together back down Maple Street and up Bear Avenue to the corner, where the lights of the Moose Bar & Grill glowed beside the big wooden moose statue.

When they reached the big red double doors, Tag opened them up for her and she stepped into the delicious warmth of the pub.

“Hi there,” a hostess said immediately. “Table for two?”

“Yes please,” Tag said, stepping inside and placing his hand lightly against the small of Charlotte’s back. “Something with a view of the park, if you’ve got it.”

Charlotte’s heart warmed at the evidence that he didn’t mind being spotted with her now. Sitting by the window would put them on full display for anyone passing by.

As they were seated, a waiter was already there with a smile and a pair of menus. They each ordered a Coca-Cola, and when the waiter dashed off for their drinks, they were suddenly alone in the dim, romantic light of the restaurant.

She looked across at Tag, wondering how she had ended up here. He was so handsome, gazing at her with his beautiful blue eyes, like he wanted to see what was written on her heart. The tiny lines at the corners of his eyes only made him moreattractive. This was a man who had seen hard times as well as good ones. He was the kind of man who would be able to stay the course through thick and thin.

“What do you want from life?” he asked her suddenly.

“Oh,” she said, leaning back. “Wow.”

“Sorry,” he said, shaking his head like he was frustrated with himself. “I’m rusty when it comes to dating. I guess I should ask how you’re liking the ice cream shop, and whether you had fun with Allie the other night and all.”

“I love the ice cream shop and I had fun with Allie,” she said. “Obviously. But that other question was good. It was just kind of a big one. Let me think about it.”

“The reason I asked,” he said, “is that if scooping ice cream isn’t what you want to do with your life, then Sugarville Grove might not be the place for you after all.”

She stopped mid-thought, letting his words sink in and trying not to get her feelings hurt. Were they somehow back to square one?

But then she thought about what Tag had been through, and what he was risking by opening his heart, and she found that she didn’t mind having the conversation. He probably just didn’t want to feel like he was keeping her from some grand plan.

“That’s a fair point,” she said carefully. “So, first of all, I’m not the kind of person who has a ten-year plan or anything. I love working in the shop, and I could see doing that permanently, yes. I like working with people and there’s definitely an element of creativity in keeping the public engaged.”

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and nodding.

“I might also like to consult with other small businesses,” she realized out loud. “It looks like there are plenty of them comingin who might be able to use a hand setting down roots. Though I don’t know if anyone would hire a consultant without a degree.”

“Allie said you were going to try and finish it online,” Tag said.

“I might,” she allowed, feeling a little embarrassed to talk about money. “I did talk to the school, and they said they would allow it, but of course there are fees and things. It’s basically a whole new semester. Anyway, it’s on the back burner for right now so I can focus on the shop. When we’re really up and running, and I have a little bit in my savings again, I’ll probably start attacking the question of school.”

“But you want to stay?” There was pain in his eyes, but a note of hope in his deep voice as well.

This is what he’s really asking.He doesn’t want to risk his heart or his kids if I’m going to leave.

“I know this is a small town,” she said carefully. “And I know that means certain options won’t be open to me. But the same was true in the city. I couldn’t visit a farm there. I couldn’t leave a key under the mat. I couldn’t go to a holiday festival and hope to know everyone’s name one day.”

He was nodding now, his eyes brightening as he listened to her.

“And besides,” she added. “There aren’t as many things to hit my head on way out here in the boonies.”

Suddenly his blue eyes were crinkling and Tag Lawrence was chuckling, a rare and radiant smile on his handsome face. She smiled back at him, happy to be chuckled at—lifewasfunny, and sharing in that silliness was a blessing she would never take for granted.

“You’re a Christmas miracle, Charlotte Kendrick,” he said, his voice suddenly serious as he covered her hand with his, wrapping his warm fingers around hers like he would never let her go. “Did you know that?”

“Excuse me,” the waiter said. “But the gentleman at the back table sent this over.”

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