Page 12 of Sweet Summertide (Christmas Cove #4)

Theodor was unable to recall a time during his life when he’d felt so bewildered.

Blake Holly Hollis had not been kidding when she warned him about going up against her.

What he thought was a friendly competition seemed like much more to her.

What he couldn’t wrap his head around was why a rich girl like her needed the extra money in the first place.

Perhaps her reasons weren’t unlike his own.

At some point, a person must make their own way in life.

He was determined to learn the truth of her motivations, one way or another. For now, he would let her have her fun at his expense. The competition would end eventually, and he hoped no matter what the outcome would be that he would land in place beside her, not against her.

Theodor thought about her blonde hair as she had fled from her criminal activity last night, her long curls and romantic ribbon swinging in the breeze created by her impressive speed.

Instead of using his fingers to comb through her glossy locks, he was scraping and scrubbing chalk graffiti from his front window.

He had to give it to her, her little stunt had brought his shop a lot of attention and many onlookers.

He smiled down at a small child who was licking a hard candy lollypop. “You like sweets?”

The little boy with a round face nodded and grinned behind his confection.

Theodor leaned down while holding the top handle of his step ladder. “Do you like chocolate?” His question elicited an even wider grin from the child and an enthusiastic up and down head nod. “Come back and see me when my store opens, ok?”

The boy’s mother took his little sticky hand, and they walked away.

Back to work, Theodor took care in removing the gold script lettering Holly had sprayed atop his original window art, trying to salvage what he could.

Most of the chalk paint had come clean with soap and water.

He used a small flat edge razor blade and flaked off what remained of the tiny spray particles, careful to avoid the real lettering underneath.

He was just glad she hadn’t used real paint, though it covered his Coming Soon sign all the same.

“ Buongiorno , bro,” Alfonso said as he approached from down the sidewalk.

Theodor stepped down to the ground. “I wish it was a good morning.” He pointed with his thumb at the remnants of the golden graffiti. “This was Holly and your friend Millie.”

“No! Millie is not bad woman,” Alfonso said and waved both hands in disbelief.

“Maybe not, but she was here last night, all the same.” Theodor took advantage of having stepped away from the window to see what else he had to do to finish the removal.

The glittery gold paint that remained caught the morning light and shone against the luscious wood interior.

“I’ll need to thank Holly for this idea.

I’m about to order my permanent decals and now I know what color and font to go with,” he said only partly joking. “The gold actually looks great.”

“ Si .” Alfonso grabbed onto Theodor’s shoulders and jiggled him. “Give Alfonso job, yes?”

Theodor looked across the street at Holly’s quiet job-site and wondered what mischief she was out planning at that moment.

Though he hoped at some point they could put this little rivalry away, the reality was beginning to crystallize: Blake Holly Hollis was trouble, and she had ensnared his imagination.

She was equal parts a woman needing to be loved and one who needed to be put in her place.

Theodor had little time to outdo her one-sided game and turned his attention back to Alfonso. “What’s going on with you and Millie, anyway? I saw the way you were looking at her the other night after the chocolate festival.” Theodore asked and gathered his ladder.

Alfonso grabbed the bucket and tools and held the door open. “V ite .”

“Vite? Grapevine?” Theodor let the question linger as he placed the ladder just inside the door.

“Millie … how you say?” Alfonso used his pointer finger and gestured a curling motion. “Wrapped around Alfonso’s heart.”

Theodor understood. “She’s like the tendril on the vine. Alfonso, you’re such a romantic. I like her, I do, I just hope she can keep Holly from doing something stupid again.”

Alfonso smiled with his hands on his hips. “We work?”

Theodor clapped his hands together. “Today’s goal is to get the kitchen set up. All my beans are coming in two days’ time, and I have to get roasting or I won’t have any chocolate to sell on opening day.”

Theodor explained where the display cases would be positioned.

He planned on having three distinct counters where he could feature differing themes.

At the front, he planned for a small bistro-style eating area where guests could enjoy their selections, and if his liquor license came through in time, he would pair a variety of wines with his chocolate flavors.

Alfonso nodded his approval along with several grunts and they walked into the back space.

Theodor motioned around the space, prepared to explain the work that still needed to be completed, but there was nothing to explain because there was nothing in there at all.

“Where’s all my equipment?” His hands covered the sides of his head, and he wanted to rip out his hair.

All he could think was there had been far more shenanigans last night than some shoddy graffiti on the front window.

“Did you lose or … move it?” Alfonso said and opened the rear door to the back patio.

“I think I’d remember moving it,” he said, and wondered, for a split second, if Blake Holly Hollis had anything to do with his missing kitchen.

“Look here.”

Theodor made his way out back. A shade structure stood over a section of patio with all of his equipment lined up and organized.

Doubtful that Holly had cleaned out the space and arranged the heavy items, he walked back into the front of the shop and saw a note written on the whiteboard.

His construction manager had left the note explaining where everything was and that the floors were still wet last night.

The entire reason he had been out last evening was because the old wood floors were being cleaned and resealed. In his annoyance, he had forgotten all about the work being done. And now, he felt guilty at having mentally accused Holly of being so wily.

Theodor took the hand-truck and made for the patio. Now that his kitchen was ready to be outfitted, he wasted no time at getting things going. Once the earthy scent of roasting beans was permeating the air down Main Street, he would feel like he was on the fast track to opening day.

He and Alfonso made quick work of moving the roasters, counters, sink station, and drying racks inside.

There was one wall where the roasters had to go, the electrician had supplied the correct power, and a system was put in place to vent outside.

The remaining modular items could be configured to suit his needs, but right now, he needed maximum roasting and drying space.

Using the hand truck, and brute strength, they positioned the counters in an ‘L’ shape to make the roasting process faster. Later, Theodor would need to focus on stocking his confections. Like always, he had a plan and would stick to it.

He stood back at the entrance of the shiny kitchen. Excitement coursed through his veins. “I think this might actually work, Alfonso.” The space was organized and had a good flow from one workstation to the next. Other than needing a good wipe-down, he could see his dream coming together.

Alfonso threw an arm over Theodor’s shoulder and looked on with him.

“I appreciate your help today.”

“No problem, bro.”

The front doorbell jingled and caused their work to stop. “It’s probably one of the laborers.”

“Hello in there.” The feminine voice was not one of Theodor’s workers. “Alfonso? Are you here?”

The grin on Alfonso’s face stretched wide and returned to neutral just as fast as it had appeared. “Millie,” he said with a blush evident on his cheeks. His grin returned and Alfonso slapped Theodor on his back as he made for the front.

Curiosity caused Theodor’s feet to follow his giddy friend. “You like her a lot!” he whispered from behind, and Alfonso replied with a sharp shush.

Spotting her target, Millie embraced Alfonso with a smile plastered across her face. As happy as she seemed to see the chef, her light demeanor dissolved when her gaze met Theodor’s. “I’m so sorry?—”

“Save it. I know what you did,” Theodor said, interrupting. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here today.”

“Despite what you might think, I can’t actually control her, you know. Plus, it was only chalk,” Millie said, “I didn’t come here to fight. I actually came for him.”

“You can let Holly know that her plan backfired,” Theodor said and crossed his arms for effect. “I’ve had more interest today than ever.”

“I guess, you’re welcome,” Millie said with a cock of her head.

Theodor stayed quiet, not wanting her to know how Holly had burrowed under his skin. He would deal with Holly when the time was right. Alfonso could deal with Millie, though by the looks of his friend’s goo-goo eyes, Alfonso was a lost cause.

Alfonso put his hands out like he was asking permission to take Millie out. “Time to go.”

Irritation tensed in Theodor’s neck. “Millie, before you go, can you tell me why she’s fighting dirty to get the grant money?”

Millie shrugged. “Holly’s a winner. If she sets her mind to something, she’ll stop at nothing to get it.” She stepped just outside the front door and paused to add, “If you can’t beat her, join her. Although my advice is to stay out of her way.”

“Do me a favor, Millie. Tell your accomplice that I need to speak with her.”

“We’re getting drinks later. I’ll tell her.”

Alfonso shrugged on his way out.

“Traitor,” Theodor shouted only half kidding.

Across the street, he saw a striking blonde skip into the creamery as though she had not a care in the world.

Theodor had never known a person without any cares.

In his experience, the people with the most to lose often pretended to care the least. Sure, he could go to war against her and retaliate tenfold, but his gut told him that there was more to her story to learn.