The Truth in Tiramisu (A Poppy Creek Novel Book 2)

by Rachael Bloome

Penny Heart wanted to like weddings.

  Really, she did.

  Especially when everyone kept saying how magical they were.

  But she simply couldn’t see the appeal.

  She tapped her fingertips against the taupe tablecloth, taking in the way the canopy of twinkle lights glittered across the amber-colored apothecary jars brimming with white roses and eucalyptus. Their sweet fragrance scented the crisp night air, complementing the equally sweet notes of laughter and music.

  Okay… so she could see some of the appeal. But it wasn’t as if the wedding itself deserved any credit for making a marriage last.

  No, that happened far, far away from the revelry. In the hidden corners and crevices of a person’s life, where light and beauty were hard to find. In the places where secrets were exposed and scars were made.

  That’s when marriages either thrived or failed.

  And it was usually the latter.

  Her muscles tense, Penny reached for a glass of water, the ice clinking gently as she brought the rim to her lips. Even the water tasted sweet, infused with fresh strawberries and a hint of lime. She found it hard to swallow.

  Luke and Cassie were different, though. Stronger and smarter than her parents. Than most people, really. They went into marriage knowing it would be hard, choosing to hope and persevere anyway.

  Penny allowed herself a faint smile, watching the newlyweds on the dance floor, isolated in their own bubble of marital bliss. Beside them, Grant and Eliza looked equally lost in the la-la land of love. She had no doubt they would be next to take the plunge. Or perhaps Frank and Beverly, who sashayed across the dance floor like two young lovebirds.

  “Care to dance?”

  Penny jumped, icy water splashing over the rim of the glass, sprinkling the tablecloth. Darting a glance at Colt, she set the glass down and dried her hands on her napkin. “No, thanks.”

  “Are you sure?” Colt tried again, his dimple on full display as he flashed his most irresistible grin.

  Penny had no doubt it worked on countless women. Countless other women. “I’m sure.”

  “Come on, what are you afraid of?”

  “Let’s see. Heights, confined spaces, snakes, the dark…” Holding up her hand, Penny ticked them off one by one. “Oh, and what are those flesh-eating fish called?”

  “Piranhas?”

  “Yes!” Penny snapped her fingers. “Those, too.”

  “What about sharks?” Colt asked, his expression completely deadpan.

  “Nope. Sharks don’t bother me in the slightest.”

  “I see.” He nodded, maintaining his air of seriousness. “That’s quite the list. But I noticed you left off one very important item.”

  “I did?” Penny frowned, certain she’d mentioned everything.

  “You didn’t say anything about tall, blond, ridiculously handsome men.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t know about that.” Penny smirked. “I haven’t come across any of those.”

  Colt clutched his heart, feigning shock. “You cut me to my core.”

  “Somehow, I think you’ll survive,” she teased.

  Really hamming it up, Colt staggered over to where Jack and Reed stood a few feet away, swaying as if he’d been shot. “Help. I’ve been mortally wounded.”

  Penny couldn’t help but laugh at his childish antics.

  Jack slung his arm around Colt’s midsection, propping him up. “Why don’t we take another trip around the dessert bar? We’ll make sure your last meal is a good one.”

  As Jack dragged him away, Colt waved his arms in sweeping, melodramatic gestures. “‘Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.’”

  Penny gaped, sensing her resolve falter. She had to hand it to him for reciting Shakespeare. “Okay, one dance,” she relented, slowly rising to her feet. “But if you step on my toes, the dance is over. And I get to pick the song.”

  Colt bowed at the waist, accepting her conditions. “‘If music be the food of love, play on.’”

  Penny balked. More Shakespeare? She could have sworn he’d slept through every class in high school except the ones he ditched.

  Jack laughed. “Good luck, Romeo.” He slapped Colt on the shoulder before heading to the dessert bar with Reed.

  “Shall we?” Grinning, Colt offered her his open palm.

  Penny hesitated. This was a bad idea. She couldn’t believe she’d caved because of Shakespeare. Staring at Colt’s outstretched hand, she racked her brain for an excuse.

  But as the wistful, dulcet notes of Nat King Cole’s “Smile” swept across the dance floor, Penny found her fingers slipping through Colt’s. She never could resist her favorite song; the hauntingly beautiful melody moved her to tears every time.

  Hiding the emotion sprawled across her face, she leaned into Colt, letting his broad chest provide a shield against his inevitable teasing.

  But much to her surprise, he seemed to be humming under his breath, so soft she could barely make it out.

  “Do you know this song?” Penny pulled back, even more astonished to glimpse a faint flush color his cheeks.

  Colt Davis didn’t get embarrassed—by anything.

  Her gaze lingered on his strong, freshly shaven jaw line, noticing a slight nick. Instinctively, she almost reached up to touch it, blushing profusely as she realized her near blunder. She quickly looked away as Colt cleared his throat.

  “I like everything Nat does. But this is one of my favorites.”

  “Nat?” Penny raised both eyebrows, her lips twitching. “Was he a good friend of yours?”

  Colt chuckled. “I like to think we would have been best friends, should our paths have ever crossed.”

  Penny shook her head, a small, incredulous smile lighting her coppery eyes.

  “What?” Colt asked, catching her smile.

  “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Have so much confidence. Admittedly, sometimes it borders on downright arrogance. But I envy the confidence.”

  “I’m not always confident,” Colt said softly.

  He met her gaze, and Penny’s heartbeat fluttered to a stop at the spark of sincerity.

  “Actually…” Colt’s voice dipped, low and gravelly. He cleared his throat again. “There’s something I want to tell you….”

  Penny held her breath, the bright lights and music blurring around them as though they were on a carousel spinning too fast. Her pulse raced as Colt wet his lips, then parted them slowly.

  Agonizingly slow.

  Penny leaned into him, subconsciously afraid to miss a single word. But why did she care? She couldn’t stand Colt most of the time. In fact, she usually found him loathsome.

  Then he would go and do something completely out of character, leaving her scratching her head, wondering if maybe she’d pegged him all wrong.

  Fixing her gaze on his face, she tried to focus on what he was about to say rather than the slight bump on the bridge of his nose. Or the way his turquoise-blue eyes shimmered with flecks of gold.

  He drew his teeth across his bottom lip, nervous uncertainty etched into his tan forehead.

  She nodded, almost imperceptibly, as a form of encouragement.

  “Pen, I—”

  A sharp yelp from a few feet behind them cut Colt short.

  Penny turned to see Frank slouched over, barely supported by Beverly, her eyes wide in fright.

  Colt raced to Frank’s side, slinging his arm around his waist, setting him back on his feet. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” Frank grunted, though he looked a little peaked. “Just lost my footing for a second is all.”

  “Are you sure?” Colt pressed, unwilling to loosen his grip.

  Frank’s gaze flitted to Luke and Cassie, who floated across the dance floor, oblivious to the world around them. His eyebrows set in a determined scowl despite his pallid features. “I’m sure.” The words escaped in a strangled breath.


  Colt reluctantly lowered his arm, shooting Penny a meaningful glance.

  And based on his expression, he didn’t believe Frank, either.

  You can read the rest of Penny’s story, and find out what happened to Frank, in The Secret in Sandcastles.

  Click here.

  Acknowledgments

  I am overwhelmed with gratitude for each and every person who helped this story come together. Truly, I couldn’t have done it without you.

  First, a special thank you to my patient and loving husband who cooked countless dinners and took the dogs on long walks while I buried myself in my writing. Not to mention the endless moral support and chocolate-caramel squares.

  And for my wonderfully understanding friends and family who often went weeks without seeing my face.

  While we’re on the topic of family… I am blessed beyond words to have the love and support of the most incredible group of women—DaryelLee, Lynn, Cheryl, and Annalisa—you ladies deserve a world of praise. Thank you!

  Without my talented cover designer, editor, proofreader, and critique partners, this story would be nothing more than a Word document on my laptop.

  Never-ending thanks to:

  Ana Grigoriu-Voicu with Books-design for my gorgeous cover. It’s a work of art!

  Beth Attwood for her impeccable editing skills, and Krista Dapkey with KD Proofreading for her incredible eye for story and detail.

  Dave, Gigi, and Daria… you three took time away from your own stories to offer insights on mine. And I can’t thank you enough.

  Lastly, I would like to thank my readers for granting me the opportunity to share this story. Especially those of you who pre-ordered the book and emailed to say how much you were looking forward to it. You gifted me the additional encouragement I needed to keep writing… long after the coffee pot ran dry.

  Thank you!

  About the Author

  Rachael Bloome is a hopeful romantic. She loves every moment leading up to the first kiss, as well as each second after saying, "I do." Torn between her small-town roots and her passion for traveling the world, she weaves both into her stories- and her life!

  Joyfully living in her very own love story, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two rescue dogs, Finley and Monkey. When she's not writing, helping to run the family coffee roasting business, or getting together with friends, she's busy planning their next big adventure!

  Eliza’s Tiramisu Cheesecake

  When setting about creating a unique recipe to share with you, I almost chose a classic tiramisu. With my Italian heritage and love of coffee, it seemed like the perfect choice. In the end, I decided to meld traditional tiramisu with my husband’s favorite dessert. I hope you enjoy the tiramisu cheesecake combination as much as we do.

  Substitutions

  For an alcohol-free version, you can substitute the Kahlúa with strongly brewed Kahlúa-flavored coffee.

  For Graham Cracker Crust:

  Ingredients

  1 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

  1/3 cup granulated sugar

  4 Tbs melted butter

  Instructions

  1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2.Generously grease a 9 inch spring-form pan with butter.

  3.Wrap the outside with aluminum foil, covering the bottom and up the sides (This will prevent any water from seeping inside the pan when immersed in a water bath).

  4.Mix graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter just until crumbs are moistened.

  5.Pat a thin layer of the graham cracker mixture evenly along the bottom.

  4. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

  5. Let cool.

  For Coffee Mixture:

  Ingredients

  2 Tbs Kahlúa or coffee liqueur

  2 Tbs granulated sugar

  3 Tbs espresso (or strongly brewed coffee)

  3 Tbs hot water

  Instructions

  1.Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.

  2.Bring mixture to a boil.

  3.Simmer 3 min, stirring occasionally.

  4.Let mixture cool.

  For Cheesecake:

  Ingredients

  2 Tbs espresso (cooled to room temperature)

  2/3 cup heavy cream

  Lady fingers (roughly 20)

  3 8oz packages of cream cheese (room temperature)

  1 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  1/4 cup cornstarch

  2 eggs

  1 Tbs pure vanilla extract

  Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine espresso with the heavy cream and set aside.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  3. Dip the lady fingers in coffee mixture. Coat completely but do not soak. Layer evenly on top of the cooled graham cracker crust.

  4. In a large bowl or KitchenAid mixer, beat one package of cream cheese, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, and the cornstarch on low-medium speed until smooth. Scrape sides of bowl, if needed.

  5. Blend in the remaining cream cheese, one package at a time.

  6. Add eggs, one at a time.

  7. Add in remaining sugar and vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

  8. Slowly add in coffee and cream mixture just until blended, being careful not to over whip.

  9. Pour cream cheese mixture over the lady fingers and spread evenly.

  10. Place pan in a large shallow dish of hot water until the water reaches about halfway up the sides of the pan.

  11. Bake for 1 hour, or until the edges of the cheesecake are set, but the center is still loose.

  12. Remove from oven and lift the pan from the water. Let cool on a wire wrack for 2 hours, then cover and move to the refrigerator to cool completely. Approximately 4 hours or leave overnight.

  For the Topping:

  Ingredients

  1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (still cold)

  2 Tbs granulated sugar

  1 Tbs pure vanilla extract

  1 8oz carton of mascarpone cheese

  Instructions

  1.Whip the cream until it thickens and soft peaks start to form.

  2.Add the granulated sugar and whip until stiff peaks form, careful not to over-mix.

  3.Lightly beat in vanilla extract.

  4.Gently fold in mascarpone cheese.

  5.Remove chilled cheesecake from the refrigerator and spoon 2/3 of the topping over the top of the cheesecake. (The consistency will be like stiff whipped cream. For a firmer topping, place the cheesecake in the freezer for a few hours before spreading. The cold cheesecake with harden the whipped cream.)

  6.Carefully remove the sides of the spring-form and spread the remaining topping evenly around the sides of the cheesecake.

  For the Coffee Syrup:

  Ingredients

  1 cup granulated sugar

  4 ounces espresso (or strongly brewed coffee)

  2 Tbs Kahlúa

  1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  Instructions

  1.Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan

  2.Bring to a boil.

  3.Boil gently for 3 minutes, stirring continually. Sauce will start to thicken.

  4.Let cool, then refrigerate. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

  To Serve:

  1.Sprinkle cheesecake with cocoa powder and/or chocolate shavings.

  2.Top with fresh raspberry and mint leaves.

  3.Plate and drizzle each slice with a generous amount of coffee sauce.

  Enjoy!

  Book Club Questions

  1.How did you think the title of the novel would tie into the story?

  2.Who did you think was Ben’s father? When did you first suspect it might be Grant?

  3.Why did you initially think Eliza kept the identity of Ben’s father a secret?

  4.When you learned Eliza’s reason for keeping the secret, how did you feel? Were you sympathetic? Upset? Frustrated?


  5.Did you think Grant’s reaction to the truth was realistic? Why or why not?

  6.How did you feel about Grant’s decision to confront his mother with the intent of reconciling? Do you think he should forgive her? Why or why not?

  7.How did you feel about Donna’s return to Poppy Creek? Do you think she’ll make it to her six-month chip? Why or why not?

  8.What do you think happened to Frank?

  9. What do you think is the overall theme of the novel?

  10. Will you continue on to read the next book in the series? Why or why not?

  I would love to hear your answers to the book club questions! You can email your responses (or ask your own questions) at hello@rachaelbloome.com or post them in my private Facebook group, Rachael Bloome’s Secret Garden Club.

  Also by Rachael Bloome

  Book 1

  The Clause in Christmas