Page 8 of How Sweet It Is

“Yes. Josephine and I are having a wine tasting event tonight at the gallery, and I’d like to serve your pastries.” She digs into her oversized purse and rummages through it.

“Okay.” I grab a box and start filling it, my heart in my throat. Ellie has been supportive of my family ever since my parentsdied. She and Josephine have brought food to us, invited us over, and they even babysat me and my brothers when Tobias needed to go somewhere. She’s like the grandmother I never had.

Amelia comes back into the storefront, and Ellie brightens. “Oh, hello. I don’t think we’ve met.”

Amelia smiles. “I’m new on the island. I’m Amelia.”

“I’m Ellie Marie Brown, but everyone just calls me Ellie.”

“Nice to meet you, Ellie.”

She goes back to walking my display case. “I’m happy to see you’re out of some things,” Ellie says, poking the glass.

“We’ve been very busy,” Amelia says.

“I’m really curious about your Murder in the Frost Degree.” Her eyebrows rise at the name.

“They were very popular today,” I say. “I’ll definitely be making more of them.” Amelia smiles, and I wonder why she’s pleased with that. Maybe she really did eat it and thought it was delicious.

“Wonderful.” Ellie pays for her boxes, and I stack them.

The pile is quite tall, and I pick them up and carry them around the counter. “I’ll take them out to your car for you.”

She pats my arm. “Thank you, Levi.”

We go outside, and the heat of the afternoon hits me. “Be sure to put these in your refrigerator when you get them to the gallery.”

Ellie opens the passenger door and nods. “Of course, dear.”

I set them on the seat, worried about the heat from the August sun in her car. I don’t want my buttercream to melt before she can get the pastries indoors. “Don’t stop anywhere on the way.”

Ellie grins at me. “I won’t, dear.” She grabs the top of the car door and leans against it. “Who are you dating right now, Levi?”

Lisa’s image flashes through my mind, and I shove it away as a stab of pain rips through me. She broke up with me. I’m not dating her anymore. “No one.”

Ellie’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “Really?”

I tug on my shirt collar, trying to tamp down my emotions. I don’t know why I’m still hung up on Lisa. She made it clear when she dumped me that she thought I was a loser and she was moving on with some guy name Rick. “I had a bad breakup this summer. I’m still trying to get past it.”

Ellie frowns. “Oh, dear.”

I can see her wheels turning, and I know how Ellie and Josephine are with playing matchmaker, so I wave my hands about. “But don’t worry. I’ve got things under control.”

A knowing look crosses Ellie’s features as her gaze bounces between me and my bakery behind me. Her grin widens. “Ah. I see.”

I’m confused, but Ellie slams her passenger door and makes her way to the driver’s side of her car. “Have a good afternoon,” she calls as she slides into her seat.

I watch her take off, still confused about why she was smiling in that way, like she knew who I was interested in. I turn around to see Amelia standing behind me.

Oh, great. That’s why. Now Ellie, one of the biggest gossips on Willow Shade Island, thinks I’m going after Miss Spreadsheet.

CHAPTER 5

CLAIRE MATTHEWS — SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

The heat beats down on me as I stare at Pretty Boy, flour still dusting the tips of his wavy hair. He had a bad breakup? And he’s still broken up about it? I had not pegged him for the caring type, but I heard it in his voice. He was hurt by this woman, which makes me feel bad for him.

“What?” Levi says, probably because I’m just standing there staring at him.

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