Page 1 of The Sweet Part
1
May
Sometimes you just need a share-size bag of M&M’s all to yourself.
I pop a handful of M&M’s into my mouth and step out of my house into the crisp winter air of Clover Park, Connecticut. Thankfully, my secret chocolate stash on the high shelf of the pantry has yet to be discovered by my five-year-old daughter, Sophie. I left her with my twin sister, Alice, so I can clear my head.
It’s a few days after a stressful Christmas, where Sophie burst into tears because Santa didn’t bring her secret Christmas wish. If only I’d known what she wanted, I could’ve explained that our little family is complete. And she has my parents, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins living nearby. She just won’t let it go.
Maybe a puppy?
I drain the remainder of the M&M bag into my mouth.Am I nuts? A puppy is not the answer.Our house is already chaos with the whirlwind that is Sophie and the renovations to turn my old Victorian home into an inn. Serenity Inn because I long for serenity. One day.
I stroll along Main Street, taking in the white lights twinkling in decorative arches over the street. More white lights wrap along the trees that line both sides of the street. I love Clover Park. I grew up here and moved back because I wanted Sophie to have the same experience I did living here. It’s a quaint small town centered around Main Street with shops and restaurants, a few churches, historic Ludbury House, a library, and Baldwin Park. Farther out from town, you’ll find miles of wooded rolling hills dotted with ponds and streams. Just beautiful, even in winter.
I reach the front door of Happy Endings, our local bar with its cheerful red sign, and stop. A glass of red wine would go nicely with the sugar high from mainlining M&M’s. I step inside, and warmth envelops me instantly like a hug. This place is dear to my heart. My grandparents used to own it, and I spent a lot of time here as a kid. To my right is the restaurant area with a lively crowd. The space is decorated with cheerful balloons and streamers. Must be a party of some kind.
Straight ahead is my destination—a dark cherrywood bar. The new owner added a large room onto the back of the place with a dance floor, vintage jukebox, and pool tables. After a glass of wine, maybe I’ll dance like no one’s watching. Ha! I’ll be lucky to have the energy to sit on a bar stool. It’s tough to be a working single mom.
Not that I’m complaining. I love Sophie more than anyone in the world, including my twin. (Don’t tell Alice I said that.) And the old Victorian I’m renovating as an inn is a gift inherited from my great-grandmother Maggie. With Sophie in school full-time, it seemed like the timing was right to start my own business.
Besides, the house was too big for just the two of us, and Alice and I didn’t want to sell our inheritance. When I came up with the idea for how to keep it in the family, Alice sold her share to me. Well, I’m still paying her back, but we have a payment plan. If the inn is successful, I’ll be able to pay her, clear the renovation debt, and support me and Sophie going forward. No pressure!
I do have my husband’s life insurance payout in a savings account, but I don’t want to dip into it too much. My plan is for the bulk of it to go toward Sophie’s college tuition.
I take a seat at the bar and spot a waiter circulating with champagne. Then I hear someone asking to see the ring. Oops. I think I stumbled into an engagement party. But there was no sign on the door saying closed for a private event.
I take a seat and smile at the bartender, Cooper Campbell. He’s the son of the owner. “I didn’t know I walked into an engagement party.”
“It’s okay, May,” Cooper says. “Still open to the public. What can I get you?”
He knew it was me and not my identical twin. That’s nice. Not many people can tell the difference. It’s easy if you know us. Alice is the stylish, put-together one. I’m the frazzled one.
“Points for the right name,” I say. “A glass of merlot, please.”
He inclines his head and pours the merlot, handing it to me.
“Last one, I promise,” he says to a beautiful brunette woman standing just behind me. I glance at her hand with a shiny diamond engagement ring. Is this Cooper’s engagement party? And he’s working?
A tall dark-haired man leans across the bar next to me to clap Cooper on the shoulder. He’s gorgeous with thick lashes, high cheekbones, and a square jaw. He’s close enough I can see the dark stubble on his jaw. A hot flash fires through my body.I’m not old enough for hot flashes!He looks familiar, but I don’t know why.
“What’re you doing working behind the bar?” the familiar, gorgeous man says to Cooper. “Get out here. I’ll do that.” He goes behind the bar.
Our gazes collide when he faces me, his deep brown eyes meeting mine, and then he gives me a sexy smile that sends a low throb in a place that hasn’t throbbed in quite a long time. For a man, anyway. My vibrator doesn’t count.
Suddenly I know why he looks familiar. It’s Mason Shaw. “I know you! You’re that guy onHot Finds. I love that show.”Hot Findsis this fun show where they restore a classic car and sell it at auction. Mason hosts it. I swear he must have women across the country tuning in just to see him, imagining he’s talking to them in that deep voice. Not me, of course. It’s the easy banter between father and son that got me hooked. His dad explains the technical stuff.
Okay, I’m a total Mason fangirl.
Mason leans an elbow on the bar, getting close enough for his clean scent to wash over me. My pulse spikes. “That’s me. Cool that you watch the show. We have mostly a male demographic.”
“You’re even more good looking in person.” I slap a hand over my mouth, horrified. “I can’t believe I said that out loud.”
“Say whatever you want. I love to hear it. I’m Mason.”
“I know.” I laugh. “I’m May. My grandparents used to own this place. Back then it was called Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill.”
“Is that right? Well, I’m glad you walked in today, May.”
