Page 110 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

The next morning, Jillian perused her kitchen and smiled. The crew had set the equipment and all systems were go for candy making. The electrician she had hired to ensure the old wiring would stand up to the added load, had hooked up all the stations and rewired the electrical box, bringing everything up to code. She was happy about that. Next week he was coming back to look over the entire building to relieve her anxiety about whether the structure was up to code, as well. Last thing she needed was a power outage, or worse, an electrical fire.

That was the trouble with older buildings. She knew that though, when she brokered the deal on the place with the help of James Martin, the Harbor Falls real estate agent down the street.

She snapped her fingers. Come to think of it, she had some paperwork for James, so she headed over to her office area—a smaller back room off the kitchen area and close to the stairs leading up to her apartment—and fiddled through yesterday’s mail and a few manila folders on her desk.

There. The documentation from her bank in New York.

The old building was for sale, with four individual storefronts available that were suitable for renting out. She had chosen the location for Bittersweets because it was on a North Main Street corner with lovely floor-to-ceiling windows on both street sides. She liked the idea of traffic being able to see into her shop from either direction. She knew she had a business to build and location was always an asset.

She also liked the idea of three additional storefronts she could renovate and rent out for future income. While she was set with Grandma Jean’s inheritance and the business, she knew how the business world worked and wanted this corner of the world—a corner of the world all her own making—to be separate from the parent company. She didn’t want to put all her eggs in one basket. If something happened to the chocolate business—which was unlikely but all the same, she liked to be prepared—she had her Harbor Falls shop and rentals to fall back on. Not to mention she would own her home free and clear, living upstairs over the shops.

She was a planner and felt more comfortable in life when her future was well-planned ahead of her. It was the one thing she had learned from her father, and even from Rand, to some extent. Rand was so near a clone of her father it was scary. They both wanted and needed their life courses charted, although Rand’s attention to future detail had often annoyed her. Build their nest eggs for the next five years, he had said, then marriage. Another two years, they would have a child. By the time the child finished college, they would downsize and buy their retirement home. It went on.

Jillian looked up from the desk and bit her lip. She supposed, in many ways, she was like them both, even if the perpetual planning everything down to the last detail got on her nerves. While she saw the practicality of his plans, she also craved a bit of spontaneity in life and leaving a few things to chance. And while she was open to that in her own life, right now her inner businesswoman screamed of structure, barriers, and order—right down to the nitty gritty detailing.

Sighing, she perused her desk. Her planner lay open with to-do lists and calendar items noted. The folder with her business plan lay open at the side, listing her systematic approach for getting the business up and running. She thumbed through the pages, perusing the business description, her market analysis, sales strategies, financial assets, and her financial projections for the first five years. A quick glance up at her computer monitor showed an excel spreadsheet of her inputs and outputs so far in the short life of her business.

Dammit. Was she turning into her father?

She pulled her gaze away from the desk and stared out the back door and into the alley. No. She wouldn’t let that happen. This was business, right? Being detailed and having concrete plans was okay, right? If she didn’t go overboard.

Right.

Promising herself to do at least one spontaneous thing this week, she turned her attention back to the desk, located the paperwork she wanted, and smiled. It was fine, and she was being ridiculous. No way would she turn into her father. After all, that’s why she made this big move—to make sure that didn’t happen and to live her life her own way.

She glanced at her cell phone for the time. The morning was getting away from her.

“Time to get moving, Jillian. You have a full day ahead of you. Probably best to get down to James’ office before he gets too busy with other clients.”

Soon the building would all be hers, and she liked the notion of that very much. While the sale of the property was still actually going through—it was probably at least forty-five more days until they fully closed—Jillian had leased the Bittersweets property from the owner for three months. She and James felt ninety days gave them plenty of time to pull everything together. But that deal was contingent upon the fact that the owner could not sell the property out from under her until she secured funds, a title search had been conducted, and all the other I’s were dotted and T’s crossed that came with the sale. She was buying out with cash, no mortgage, and had sealed the deal with the sellers. Her cash sale, however, had to be in the bag before she secured her small business loan for all the equipment and renovations that needed to be one. She didn’t have the on-hand cash for all of that.

She gathered the file and paperwork, moved toward the front of the shop, exited and locked the door behind her. She made sure the sign on the door was turned to closed—she hadn’t planned to open for coffee this morning because she knew she’d be busy with getting the kitchen set up—and then stepped back to look at her shop.

Her shop. A giggle bubbled up in her throat.

Turning, she headed west toward Loblolly Street—the one that crossed North Main at her shop—and waited for traffic. Two cars, a boy on a bicycle, and a woman walking about six dogs paraded by. Then, she crossed Loblolly to head toward downtown. James’ office sat three doors down on the left.

The time was barely after eight o’clock in the morning and the local business were beginning to stir. In the city, she had loved this time of day. She had often walked to work when she could, or had a cab let her out a few blocks away. She liked the sense of the day coming alive, with shopkeepers opening their shops and businesses coming awake. It was the same here except on a smaller scale. She smiled. Her heart was happy this morning. Even more so that her foot was throbbing a lot less this morning, even though she was still sporting the boot.

She hobbled across at the light while watching a woman in a red skirt and equally red heels—shoes that Jillian silently coveted from afar—unlock the library door across the street. Another woman called out from a parked car and the red-skirted woman rotated, braced the door open with her hip, and waited. As she turned, Jillian noticed that the woman standing in the library door was clearly pregnant. She smiled and had to give her credit for rocking the red heels and pencil skirt, being as far along as she appeared to be.

The pair entered the library and the heavy wooden door closed behind them. Jillian reminded herself to stop in soon and get a library card. Besides, this woman looked like someone she would like to get to know.

She passed the storefront on the opposite corner from her shop—Rick’s Cafe was scrolled on the window—and peeked inside as she passed. It was still rather dark behind the large panes of glass, and she noticed the times on the door indicated that Rick’s didn’t open until four o’clock in the afternoon and closed at one o’clock in the morning. Odd hours for a cafe, she thought, but then traveled on.

She moved under the awning of the next shop and noticed the benches and potted plants out front, and the pretty displays in the windows. Romantically Yours, the words on the shop window read—Grace Hart, Proprietor. Grace Hart? How many Harts lived in Harbor Falls? Was this another relationship she needed to nurture?

Pausing at the shop, she perused one of the window displays. An antique oak dresser took center-stage and held old-fashioned lacey undergarments peeking out from the drawers. An ivory, satin nightgown draped a wooden straight-back chair at the side. A jewelry box sat open atop the dresser with an array of vintage costume jewelry spilling out. Smiling, Jillian leaned in and tried to peek beyond the display, and then realized she was staring into a woman’s face looking back at her. The woman grinned and waved.

Jillian straightened. Oh dear.

The shop door opened and out she came. “Hello!”

The tall woman moved forward with an outstretched hand. If this was Grace, she was aptly named.

The woman continued.

“I’ve wanted to meet you. You’re Jillian, right? From down the street?”

She cocked her head toward Bittersweets.

“I’m Gracie Hart. This is my shop. Welcome to downtown Harbor Falls. We are so happy to have you here!”

Her words tumbled out of a warm smile and an equally welcoming clasp of Jillian’s hand. Jillian shook her hand and immediately felt the sincere welcome that Gracie Hart offered. She smiled back and nodded.

“Yes. I am Jillian. How did you know?”

Grace patted her hand, and then batted at the air.

“Oh goodness. Everyone knows who you are.”

Jillian felt a brow arch.

“Everyone?”

“Well just about.”

Glancing a few shopfronts down, Jillian said.

“Are you part of the Hart clan from down the street?”

Surely, that is how she knew about her, right? From Suzie and Sydney?

Grace grinned back.

“Of course. I’m Sydney’s sister, Suzie’s cousin. Our mothers are sisters.”

“Ah. I see.”

She watched a couple enter the bakery down the street.

“Those ladies keep busy, don’t they?”

“Oh yes, they do. But that’s how we are. It’s a family gene, I guess. But we all have a bit of entrepreneurial spirit in us.”

“All?”

Gracie crossed her arms and perused the street, looking up and down.

“Somewhat, yes. The Harbor Falls downtown merchants are a different breed. We are working to get organized to keep bringing businesses and shoppers into the town, and some are quite passionate about it.”

She paused for a moment, staring down the street toward the bakery.

“There is Sydney’s bakery, of course, and she and Suzie often do some catering together for events. Lord knows that Suzie has her hands full with the Inn and her cookbooks and the television show. But she is a machine—and always takes time to give back to the community. Shelley, my cousin and Suzie’s sister, help her out quite a bit. She’s bedridden right now, though, with her third little girl. Then there is Shelley’s husband, Matt, who is on the Harbor Falls Police force, but creates beautiful intricate woodcarvings on the side. I have some in the shop. You should come in and see them one day.”

She paused for a moment and Jillian started to say something, but Gracie went on.

“Shelley also works for Brad, Suzie’s husband, out at the Lodge. When she’s not pregnant, that is. This pregnancy has had some complications. You’ve met Brad, right?”

Jillian nodded.

“Oh yes, the other day. And his brother.”

Gracie smiled even more broadly then.

“Ah yes, Scott. Now he is an entirely different breed all to himself, isn’t he?”

She giggled a little, and Jillian thought that a bit odd.

“Handsome piece of man-flesh too,”

she added.

“Perhaps a little mysterious as we don’t know a whole lot about him yet, and all of that gallivanting he does all over Europe.”

Now this tidbit of information piqued Jillian’s interest.

“Gallivanting? Europe? I don’t understand.”

Still grinning, Gracie leaned in, as if someone might be able to overhear her next words. Thing was, there was no one in sight so why she was doing that, Jillian wasn’t certain.

“He’s a bit of a playboy, or so we’ve heard,”

she whispered, then paused before adding.

“at least that’s what we’ve read in the tabloids.”

She pulled back then and batted at the air again.

“But who can believe those things? Suzie says that Brad says that Scott just needs to put roots down somewhere to settle. She also says that Brad says that Scott says he doesn’t need roots. He enjoys the carefree lifestyle and avoids attachments like the plague. I say to each their own.”

Jillian found herself settling on Gracie’s words and staring off down the street toward Bittersweets. Something about what Gracie said about Scott was sitting sideways inside with her, causing a momentary panic. Playboy? No roots? Gallivanting all over Europe?

Avoid attachments like the plague? Not something she wanted to get tangled up in, no matter if he made her tingle a little.

“Of course, that one time when he came to town before this—for the wedding, you know—the women were all just swooning. Those who caught a glimpse of him, that is. He was in and out of town like a hummingbird. But enough of that, let’s get back to the downtown merchants. We have an association….”

The background noise of Gracie’s words droned on.

“In and out like a hummingbird…”

Jillian whispered the words, suddenly hugely distracted. Was Gracie still talking?

“Of course, my husband has the place next door. Rick’s Cafe? He’s taking our daughter to school right now. Then there’s Amie’s Place over on South Main. Best lunch in town, just so you know. She makes a fabulous chicken salad with grapes. The Trading Post is over there too and Harbor Falls Marketplace. The mini-mall is across the street over there.”

She pointed.

“And on the other side of the courthouse there’s the Purple Pelican and Blue Ridge Artisans. If you get a chance, try the breakfast for dinner over a Dee’s Cafe Delight in Old Harbor Falls. So, you see, you’re going to fit right in here with your chocolate shop. Oh dear, I’m rattling on, aren’t I? So sorry.”

Jillian smiled at the suddenly worried look on Gracie’s face. She reached out to touch her arm.

“You’re not rattling at all. I’m loving this information. Thank you.”

But she was not so sure she loved the information about Scott—with whom she had dinner date tonight. The player! Perhaps she should rethink…

With a sigh, Gracie smiled again.

“It’s just nice to see a new face, and of course, a new business coming in on that block where you are located. We are working hard to revitalize the downtown and we need your help!”

Ah. Jillian pulled herself back into the moment.

“It’s in all of our best interest to pull together and draw people in. I do have a marketing plan, but I’d love to hear what the other shop owners are doing.”

Gracie nodded.

“I’ll get you the info for the next Chamber meeting, and oh, you’ll want to get involved with the Marketplace too.”

They both turned then when someone shouted out from their right.

“Hi, Gracie. Oh, hi Jillian!”

James Martin stepped closer. He focused on Jillian.

“You are on my list for today, young lady. Glad to catch you. Coffee?”

James Martin, just who she needed to see.

“Good morning, James.”

Jillian smiled.

“Yes. I was on my way to see you. Coffee would be perfect.”

“Great. I have some news for you.”

Jillian suddenly grew butterflies inside, excited at the prospect of news of the pending sale.

“Oh good! I can’t wait to hear.”

Shifting his gaze over to Gracie, James added.

“Did Jillian tell you she’s buying the old Mercantile building?”

Gracie’s eyes lit up.

“No! I thought you were just leasing. Well, this is exciting.”

Smiling, Jillian leaned in and gave Gracie a hug.

“Yes, it is. I’m thrilled. I’ll stop by your shop later. I can’t wait to peek inside!”

And she meant that, truly, but part of her wondered what other information Gracie Hart might have about Mr. Scott Matthews. After all, a girl had to be cautious, didn’t she? Perhaps she should cancel the date with Scott.

No, not cancel yet, just do a little reconnaissance, perhaps.

“I’ll meet you over at Sugar High, Jillian. Let me grab a couple of things.”

James waved and ducked inside his office.

“Of course.”

With one last smile at Gracie, she headed toward Sydney’s.

****

The power was out at the Lodge due to a thunderstorm in the night and Scott had no food or coffee in his cabin. He would have stopped at the Sweet Hart Inn for some cinnamon brew and a muffin, but he knew from Brad that there were no guests at the inn, and Suzie had an early flight to New York City that morning to meet with her agent about another book deal. She was due to be back in a couple of days but that didn’t solve his immediate coffee need.

So, he borrowed Brad’s Jeep and headed into Harbor Falls in search of coffee.

Stopping at Jillian’s place would have been too obvious so he planned to bypass Bittersweets and head on down to Sugar High instead—even though he would have liked to see her. He was drawn to the petite brunette for some reason and it had nothing to do with whatever he thought was going on with her in the chocolate business.

What did it matter to him, really, that she was passing off Jeaneva Chocolates as her own? That didn’t affect him directly at all, did it? Jeaneva was competition but he didn’t want to see the company exploited, especially after losing their matriarch a few months ago. It wasn’t about the company at all but more about the character of the woman—this Jillian Bass—who was perhaps pawning herself off as something she wasn’t.

But he wasn’t being entirely honest either, was he? He could have come clean immediately about what he knew and why, that he was also in the chocolate business, but he hadn’t. It wasn’t that he was trying to dupe her, it started out because he just needed to not be Scott Matthews, Chocolate Taster, for a couple of weeks. And then it had escalated when he’d taken a bite of that truffle.

But none of that had a thing to do with why he was attracted to Jillian. No doubt she was beautiful, but beyond that, she was soft-spoken and kind—he’d noticed that when she was passing out chocolates the other day to the crowd. She was not intrusive or assertive in her sales tactics and he sensed she knew she didn’t have to be. Chocolate sells itself. She was friendly, inviting, and pleasant.

And when she had taken the tumble and hurt her foot, she didn’t want all of the fuss happening around her, even when Suzie and Sydney had insisted they take care of her needs. She seemed a bit uncomfortable with the attention, which was why he’d started massaging her foot so that perhaps she would focus on that—and him—rather than the busy-ness hovering over them.

Could a woman like that be intentionally trying to dupe the entire town of Harbor Falls into thinking she was something she wasn’t? Hence, his confusion and his wanting to avoid her place this morning. He wanted to think some things through before their date tonight.

“Just find coffee and get back to the cabin,”

he said aloud, as he turned off Lake Road, and onto the road that would eventually lead him to Main Street and Sydney’s place.

He supposed there were other places to buy coffee, but he was going to go with what he knew. Besides, Sydney was family and he didn’t want to offend her by going somewhere else—plus he really did want to get to know everyone in Brad’s new family better.

He slowed the Jeep near Sugar High and soon realized there was absolutely no street parking around the bakery—not a good sign for securing coffee quickly—so he headed further east, crossed over at the light, and realized the first available spot was smack in front of Bittersweets.

No. He intentionally drove on by and parked a couple of storefronts away. The walk would do him good, anyway, he determined, and set off doing just that, heading toward Sydney’s.

He contemplated crossing the street before Jillian’s place but felt that might be even more awkward if she happened to see him, so he moved forward and didn’t glance one way or the other, until he approached Bittersweets and spied the CLOSED sign on the door.

Scott stopped short and stared at the sign, guessing she didn’t open until later. Good. He scurried on by and within a minute or two had entered Sugar High and taken his place in a longer-than-he-had-expected line—right behind a pretty petite woman with long, dark hair.

Shit. Jillian?

****

Sugar High was crowded. Locating a table for two over in the corner, Jillian headed that way and claimed the spot by setting her paperwork and bag on the chair. Then wallet in hand, she headed toward the line of people at the counter. She was more than ready for coffee since she hadn’t made any of her own this morning.

She waited about five minutes before it was her turn to step up to the counter and order. Sydney greeted her.

“Jillian, hello! What a nice surprise. How is the foot?”

She groaned.

“Better but not fully on the mend yet. I still have to wear the boot for a while. You look busy this morning!”

“We are! Thank goodness. What did you do, not open this morning?”

Jillian bit her lip and stared at Sydney. At that moment, she realized what her side coffee business was doing to Sydney’s business, and that was not the way she wanted to play this game, was it? She took a quick glance around the bakery, but already knew what she would see—the place was bustling. At that precise moment, she decided.

“No, I’ve decided to halt that piece of my business and concentrate only on candy from now on.”

Sydney’s eyes went rounder than her extra-large sugar cookies.

“Seriously?”

She nodded.

“Seriously.”

Then reaching out, she grasped Sydney’s hand.

“I don’t want to be in competition with you or anyone else here in Harbor Falls, Sydney. I want to be business colleagues and well, friends. It just doesn’t feel right.”

Sydney’s face froze. Then in the next instant, she rounded the counter, grasped Jillian in a super-tight bear hug, and whispered.

“Thank you, Jillian.”

It was all that needed to be said. Sydney straightened and Jillian smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

And that was that. Sydney moved back behind the counter. “Coffee?”

she said to her.

“Yes. I’ll have two, both black.”

She supposed James could add creamer or sugar to his at the table in a few minutes.

“Got it. And I’m adding a couple of pastries to your order too just because,”

Sydney said, flipping her gaze up with a smile. “On me.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that!”

“I know but I am. Just being neighborly.”

She grinned wider.

“Three dollars for the coffees.”

Jillian handed her a five-dollar bill and Sydney scooted off to get the coffee and pastries.

“That was really nice of you.”

The words came from over her shoulder. She turned and felt her own eyes fly wide and big. “Scott?”

He nodded.

“I was surprised though, to hear you say that.”

“Say what?”

“That you are shutting down your coffee business.”

Her gaze narrowed then. There was something in his tone….

“I have candy to make,”

she replied, still unsure of his intention.

“It was still nice. And surprising.”

Why that was surprising to him, she didn’t know. “Why…”

“Here’s your coffee, Sydney.”

Momentarily distracted, glancing from Scott to Sydney and back again, she finally dragged her gaze away from Scott’s and faced the counter.

“Oh thanks.”

She took the tray with two coffees and the pasties from Sydney and stepped out of line.

“Enjoy!”

“Definitely. Thanks again.”

She briefly glanced at Scott as she left but didn’t say another word to him. How odd that he was surprised. But she didn’t dwell on that for long when she spotted James entering the bakery.

Behind her, she heard Sydney squeal when she noticed Scott.

She motioned toward James.

“Hi! I have a table over here. And coffee for us both.”

Rushing forward, he said.

“Great. Thanks, Jillian.”

He followed her and they settled in at the table. As Jillian set the coffees and pastries off the tray, James sat and opened a file of his own, spreading out a few papers.

“I can’t wait to tell you the news, Jillian.”

“What is it?”

She sat across from him, waiting.

He huffed out a breath, stared at her for a moment, and then began.

“The owners are ready to sell out now and immediately. They have a family issue out in California, and they need the cash. They have reduced the price, so you won’t need that loan you were trying to get for the renovations. The cash offer you made for the building was accepted and we can sign the paperwork later today. The Mercantile building will belong to you free and clear by this evening.”

“Oh, my goodness!”

A rush of excitement erupted through Jillian. So much so that she stood, pulled James to his feet, and then hugged him with all she had while jumping up and down.