“He’ll survive.” Franny grinned. “Speaking of my grandson, I’ve managed to get you both on the committee for the Valentine’s Day Dance.”
“Um. No, thank you.”A committee? No way on earth. Never. She didn’t like group work. She never had. She had abhorred it since working with Jess Yang in grade two. More than one person could never make a decision. Working one-on-one with customers was fabulous, but committee work was out of the question.
“I think you’ll change your mind when you hear that being on the committee is the only way to get The Coffee Loft hired for the desserts. This could be the big break your little shop needs.” Her gentle tone revealed her genuine desire to help Drinda grow her business.
“It’s getting busier.”
Franny snorted. “Kids will run out of money before long. No sense of budgeting at all. Why else would they be buying those froufrou drinks? Mark my words, you don’t want to miss this opportunity. If you nail this one, you’ll be hired for more. One thing this town loves is a special event.” She nodded like she’d just imparted world-saving wisdom. “The special events cooking staff is great with entrees, but they lack imagination for desserts. A person gets tired of the same old all the time. They needyou to mix it up.”
“Oh, you should do this,” Maxi exclaimed. “What an opportunity.”
Quickly, Drinda made introductions.
“What do you think?” Maxi asked. “I think you should do it. I can help make desserts. My grandma was an amazing baker and we baked together all the time. I have her recipe book too.”
Indecision froze her in place. Baking she could handle. Working on a committee, not so much.
“Don’t let this opportunity pass you by,” Franny advised. “Being around my grandson is just a bonus. Who knows, maybe you two will hit it off, get married, and start popping out babies for me to cuddle.”
“When you put it like that, no thank you!” Drinda proclaimed.
“Fine. Forget my grandson.” Franny sighed. “Do it for your business.”
She mulled the idea around for a minute as she packed up some cake for Franny. Itwasan opportunity too good to pass up, despite her dislike of group work. Maybe it would be different with adults. These people were probably on the committee becausethey wanted to make the event the best it could be. That would help, wouldn’t it?
“Fine. What do I have to do?”
“Well to start, don’t act like you are on your way to your execution.” Franny quipped, making Maxi laugh. “There’s a meeting tomorrow night at the community center. Seven o’clock. Bring cookies.”
Chapter Four
Ford left the firehall and trudged down the block toward the community center, keeping his eye open for icy patches. No sense taking an unneeded tumble. He hunched his shoulders against the brisk winter wind.
He’d successfully managed to resist his mother and grandmother’s pestering to join the Valentine’s Day committee. But when his boss had stepped in and suggested he join, he caved to the pressure. Grown men shouldn’t have to be involved in this stuff. Valentine’s Day was a chick thing. Men just went along to keep women happy. Even his father agreed. He’d only booked a Valentine’s vacation to Europe to get his wife off his back. The hypocrisy annoyed Ford, even though he knew that a real man did things he might not otherwise do to please the woman he loved. Love was give and take.
Ford didn’t have a wife or a girlfriend. Not that he didn’t want them, he did. He wanted both, in the right order of course. Shiftwork kept him busy, and Cherry Lake wasn’t exactly swimming in young single women.
He strode past the tall steepled church that housed The Coffee Loft thankful that he never had to go there again. Except for inspections, and those he could try and foist off on someone else. He shouldn’t be so annoyed, but he was certain she’d dumped that drink on him deliberately. Drinda stirred up more than anger in him. There was an irresistible fascination as well, but she was a career woman, and that took her right off his radar.
Behind him, a bell chimed. He looked over his shoulder. Drinda. She was bundled into a knee-length navy jacket and headed his way. He pretended not to notice her and kept walking.
Her steps were brisk and definitely in his direction. They sped up and she called out, “Hey, Ford. Wait. We might as well walk together.”
Blistered burns!He paused and rolled his eyes. “Evening, Drinda.”
“Ford?” She grasped his arm and looked up at him.
She was shorter than he realized, probably six or seven inches shorter than his six-three. Why hadn’t he noticed that before? Compared to him, she was small and cuddly, and too much temptation.
“I want to apologize again for dumping that drink on you. It wasn’t intentional. Total freak accident.”
“It isn’t a problem. Accidents happen.” The earnest entreaty in her eyes almost convinced him that she was seriously apologetic and not just begging forgiveness so she would receive a passing review. Not that he’d ever mark her harshly because of an accident. He wasn’t that kind of guy.He hadn’t done that, had he?He winced as a whisper of guilt pushed at his guts.
“We might as well walk together.” She dropped her arm and gestured ahead. “We’re going to the same place.” She tightened her red plaid scarf, pulled her pompom-topped red knit cap lower on her head, and grinned.
‘What? Where are you going?”
“To the planning meeting, of course. Your grandmother said you were on the committee. It’s very generousof you to help.”
