Page 26 of New Day at the Beach House

“Yeah. But I kind of do.”

“You’ll find something. Look, with the insurance money coming, we’re no longer in panic mode. The bakery will be up and running soon and all kinds of good things are going to happen for us. You’ll see.”

Kat smiled. “I know. And I’m okay. I was just a little down when I got back. Alex will cheer me up.”

Claire nodded. “Danny does the same thing for me.”

“Hey, you don’t have any treats I could take to the fire station, do you? Those popcorn crispy bars were a huge hit.”

“As a matter of fact, I have some popcorn cookies you can take.”

Kat made a face. “Popcorn cookies? Is that a thing?”

“It is now.” Claire laughed. “Your aunt and your cousin liked them. Take a tin of them and see what the guys at the fire station think. I’ll leave it on the island for you. The other tray on the breakfast bar will be for Cash.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Have fun tonight.”

Kat nodded. “You, too.”

With a smile, Claire went back to the island and redistributed the cookies so that one tin had more. She put the tin with the lesser amount of cookies on the breakfast bar, hoping Cash might find it while she was out.

Then she grabbed her purse, the cookies for Danny, and went down in the elevator to the ground floor. She walked across the small yard to Danny’s house, arriving as he was getting out of his car.

“Perfect timing,” he said.

“Do you need help?” she asked. “I’ve got one free hand.”

“No, thanks, I’ve got it.” He took a brown paper shopping bag from the floor behind his seat, and they walked up the steps together.

As he dug for his keys, she could smell the butter chicken. “I’m hungry and that food is only making me hungrier.”

“Same here. It’s been a long day. I’m glad to be home, glad to be about to eat, and very glad to be with you.” He unlocked the door and pushed it open. “After you.”

She walked in.

“What’s in the container?”

“My new experiment. Which will also be dessert.”

“No way,” he said. “I can’t wait that long. Let me see.”

“You have the patience of a child at Christmas.”

He laughed, setting his shopping bag on the counter. “When it comes to the bakery, that’s true. If I could snap my fingers and have it ready tomorrow, I would. I can’t wait to get it open.”

“Same here, trust me.” She took the lid off the container and showed him what was inside. “Popcorn cookies.”

“Okay, those look very interesting.”

“And those sound like the words of a man who doesn’t think they’re a very good idea.”

He grinned. “I swear I wasn’t thinking that. But I may have some doubts.”

She put the container down in front of him. “Then try one. There’s your basic popcorn sugar cookie, the same cookie with a popcorn-infused glaze, and the same cookie minus the glaze but with toffee bits.”

Hesitantly, he reached in and took one of the basic sugar cookies. He took a bite. He started nodding as he chewed. “This is a lot better than I thought it would be.” He took a second bite. “It’s actually pretty good. Anyone who likes popcorn—and sugar cookies—would probably love this.”

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