The Valentine Quest (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 5)

by Melissa McClone

  She’d imagined if the position had been reversed, and she hadn’t wanted to skate. Okay, he’d probably have gone caveman on her, tossed her over his shoulder, and skated across the lake. But she’d felt compelled to make sure he continued in the quest.

  “Turn right on First Street,” Dustin said.

  She did.

  “Now make a left on Front Avenue.”

  The scents of basil and garlic lingered in the air. “Please tell me this next photo has something to do with the pizza parlor.”

  “Sorry, but we’re heading to the shop next door.”

  “What’s next…” She stopped and stared at the sign up ahead. Her heart went splat at her feet. “Married in Marietta.”

  He nodded.

  Great. Weddings ranked right up there with Valentine’s Day on her least favorite list. “They really are pushing the love angle.”

  “The race is called the Valentine Quest.” The humor in his voice was clear.

  She wasn’t amused. “Next year, they should call it the Marietta Quest.”

  “You think?”

  She nodded. “Valentine’s Day is overrated.”

  Dustin shot her an odd look. “That’s what most guys think, but not as many women. In fact, no women.”

  She shrugged. “Now you know one.”

  “I’m amazed.”

  “Stop being such a stereotypical guy who believes women start dreaming about their wedding day when they are three.”

  “I always thought it was seven.”

  That made her laugh.

  White gowns were displayed in each of the front windows. Puffy, sleek, A-line. She didn’t know the names of all the styles. Nor did she want to know.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said.

  “Take a picture out here. It’ll be faster.”

  “Yes, but that’s not the spirit of the scavenger hunt or this quest.”

  “Says the man who didn’t want to do the second task.”

  He held open the door. “Lesson learned thanks to an excellent teacher.”

  Nevada wasn’t going to get out of this so she forced her feet to move. She entered the store.

  The interior was pink and romantic with more gowns than she’d ever thought existed. Seeing all these dresses made her question the common sense of spending so much on a dress a woman would wear once. She shook the thoughts from her head.

  Nevada had given up on getting married herself. Still, she could picture Dakota trying on wedding gowns.

  One, a simple sheath, caught Nevada’s eye. “That dress would look gorgeous on my sister.”

  “Did she and Bryce get engaged?” Dustin asked.

  “No, but my family is waiting for a proposal to happen. We’re taking bets if she gets a ring on Valentine’s Day or not.”

  Dustin moved farther into the store. “How did you bet?”

  “I don’t think it’s going to happen yet.”

  “Too soon?”

  Nevada shrugged. “My parents eloped after dating for two weeks and will celebrate their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary next month, so too soon is a relative term.”

  “Wow.” Dustin stood near the veils. “My parents grew up together and knew each other for years, but it didn’t matter. They still divorced.”

  “Maybe that old couple at Kindred Place is right about what it takes to succeed.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know, nor do I care.”

  “I remember. Confirmed bachelor.”

  He nodded. “I was dating a wonderful woman named Daisy, but last year she decided she wanted the whole package. A solitaire engagement ring, a big wedding day, kids, and a house. She’s engaged to someone else now, and I couldn’t be happier for her.”

  “That’s nice of you.”

  “No reason not to be. I couldn’t give her what she wanted, so she found someone who could.”

  Nevada didn’t hear any regret in Dustin’s voice. “Where do you want the picture taken?”

  “Anywhere.”

  “Welcome to Married in Marietta.” A nicely dressed woman walked toward them. “Are you with the Valentine Quest?”

  Nevada nodded. “Is there a place we’re supposed to take a picture?”

  “Anywhere in the shop.” The woman pointed to a box covered with a heart-shaped flag. “But you need to use at least one of the props in the box.”

  “We didn’t see that.” Dustin made his way over there.

  Nevada followed.

  “Any exes that stick out in your past?” he asked.

  “Not really,” she admitted. “I’ve never been that serious with anyone. My parents never cared about who I dated before, but just last week, my mom wanted to know the name of the last man I’d been with.”

  “Seriously?”

  Nevada nodded. “I told her Gus and that he spoke French to me all night in bed. I didn’t mention I was reading a book by Gustave Flaubert.”

  Dustin burst out laughing. “Has your mom asked about Gus again?”

  “Yes, and I was truthful. I told her we reached the end.”

  “Quick thinking on your part.”

  “I suppose, but I don’t like resorting to these tactics. I just didn’t know what else to say without getting another lecture on how I’ll make time for a relationship if someone is that important to me.”

  He reached into the box, pulled out a white veil, and handed it to her. “Put this on.”

  From dating talk to wedding wear. She shook her head. “Rubbing salt into the wound?”

  “Trying to pick up the pace so we don’t fall behind.”

  Okay, she shouldn’t take things so personally. She stared at the lace attached to a white beaded headband. Not too elaborate, but clearly for a bride. “What are you going to wear?”

  He raised a pink bowtie. “This.”

  Nevada removed her hat and put on the headband. The veil flowed down her back. She glimpsed her reflection in a nearby mirror, and she barely recognized herself. She looked…pretty. And very bride-like.

  A yearning grew inside her.

  For something she’d never have.

  Dustin hummed “Here Comes the Bride.”

  She grimaced. “Very funny.”

  He put on the bowtie. “Ready for the picture?”

  “Sure.” She wanted out of the veil. Best not to get carried away. This was as close to wearing a wedding gown as she would get.

  He held out his camera. “Got it.”

  As Dustin removed his bowtie, she took off the veil.

  “That wasn’t too painful,” he said.

  “No, but I have a feeling I’ll be back here with Dakota in the not-so-distant future. She’ll make a lovely bride.”

  “So would you.”

  Dustin’s words shot straight to her heart. His remarks were nothing more than his being polite, but so what? She wasn’t romantic, but being surrounded by the gorgeous fabrics and gowns made her feel like a fairy princess. A way she hadn’t felt in nearly two decades.

  Gratitude for his words made her wriggle her toes. She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  A beat passed and another. She was perfectly content to stand there staring at him. Until she remembered why they were in a bridal shop.

  The quest. “Where to next?”

  Her words seemed to jolt Dustin, as if he’d been caught in the same trance as her.

  He glanced at his phone. “Bramble Lane.”

  That was the street with the big, old houses on the other side of Main Street from where they were. “Let’s go.”

  She followed him out of the shop and past the pizza parlor. The cold temperature came as a shock after being inside where it was warm.

  “What do we have to do on Bramble Lane?” she asked.

  “Take pictures of all the houses and then pick a favorite.”

  That didn’t sound difficult, but she wished the task called for taking a picture of their current favorite person. That would be easy with him
walking right next to her.

  Chapter Nine

  Nevada walked at a quick pace. She kept glancing at Dustin to see if she needed to slow down, but he was a step ahead of her. He wasn’t limping as badly as before, but he was favoring his left leg as they headed north on Main Street. “Isn’t Bramble Lane to our left?”

  “Yes, but if we start at Bramble House and work our way south, we won’t miss any of the houses.”

  “Good plan.”

  “Common sense,” he said. “I’m not much of a planner.”

  “I am.”

  “I can see that. Me? I’m lucky if I have clean clothes to wear the next day. But if not, you can turn things inside out.”

  Ick. Nevada stopped walking. She’d been as close as she could get to him clothed these past two days, and he didn’t smell dirty. “You’re kidding, right?”

  A mischievous grin spread across his face. “What do you think?”

  Dustin continued walking.

  She, however, remained where she was. He had to be joking. No person who cared about cleanliness or hygiene would do that, would they?

  “Wait up,” she called.

  He didn’t stop or slow down.

  Nevada quickened her pace to catch up with him.

  “You’re not sure whether to believe me or not.” His grin crinkled the corners of his eyes and made her take a second look. “Don’t deny it.”

  “I could go either way, but I hope you’re joking.”

  A beat passed. And another. “I am, but the expression on your face was and still is priceless.”

  “Ha-ha.”

  Laughter lit his eyes. “The fact you had to think about whether I was serious or not is even better. I’m going to have to call you ivory-tower princess. The name fits.”

  “Okay, you got me. I give up.” She raised her hands. “But we are supposed to be an alliance, not acting like middle schoolers.”

  “Some of the best things in my life happened between the ages of twelve and fourteen.”

  “Bet you were one of the popular kids.”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t say popular, but I had a few close friends.”

  “I didn’t,” she said. “I was younger than everyone else due to having a late birthday and skipping a grade. All I wanted was to fit in, but I didn’t. I like to pretend those years disappeared into a black hole to be forgotten forever.”

  “I’m sorry.” He put his arm around her and squeezed. Not quite a one-arm hug, but it felt good. “Just playing around and having a little fun.”

  When he dropped his arm to his side, a chill ran through her. She needed to regroup and get her game face back on.

  “Fun?” she asked. “I thought the Valentine Quest was supposed to be serious business. No distractions.”

  “That’s true, but I’ve still been having fun.” He sounded surprised.

  It was her turn to admit the same thing. “Me, too.”

  They turned left on Court Street. Bramble House was up ahead. The lovely three-story home was now a bed and breakfast. Portia, who worked at the chocolate shop with Dakota, lived in the apartment above the garage.

  When they reached the house, Dustin raised his phone and took a picture. “This is my favorite one.”

  “You already know that?”

  “I take Bar V5 guests on tours of the town all year long. Bramble Lane is one of the most popular sites with visitors.”

  “I’ve walked along this street and admired the homes, but I never chose a favorite.”

  “Today’s the day to pick one.”

  This was the same street that Kindred Place was on. The houses were pretty. A few homes weren’t as large as the others, but each had qualities and architectural details that made them memorable. Still Bramble House appeared to be the belle of the lane.

  The next house made Nevada stop. As she stared at a neglected mansion, her chest tightened. A large pine tree blocked some of the view, but the old tree couldn’t hide the state of disrepair. “Is the place abandoned?”

  “No.” Dustin took a picture. “That’s Judge Allister Kingsley’s house. The kids in town say he’s the meanest man on the street. He has an attack cat.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “I’m serious.” Dustin’s tone suggested he wasn’t joking. “The cat lives under the porch like a troll and attacks if you go to the door.”

  “That poor cat.” Nevada thought about the cats they’d spent time with yesterday at the rescue. “I wonder if Dakota knows about this.”

  “A few people have mentioned the cat to Lori Donovan, the director of Whiskers and Paw Pals. But the cat doesn’t look malnourished or ill and lives on private property, so there’s nothing they can do about it.”

  “It’s still sad.”

  Dustin nodded. “I heard the judge wasn’t always so ornery, that he used to be friendly, but tragedy struck his family, and he never recovered.”

  Her heart softened. Whatever had happened must have been bad to change a man so much that he allowed his home to fall apart. “How horrible.”

  “It is.” Dustin stared at the house with a faraway look in his eyes. “Life can change on a dime and not always for the better.”

  “I wonder if anything can be done.”

  “Many people have reached out over the years to the judge, but he’s not interested.”

  “His heart must not have found peace after whatever happened to his family.”

  “Must not have.” Dustin placed his hand on her shoulder. “Ready to see the others?”

  Nodding, she took one last look at the judge’s house. The place appeared too rundown for even a gothic setting. “Yes.”

  “The next homes aren’t overrun by shrubs and vines.”

  “That’s good.” But she had to force herself not to glance back at the last one.

  A short time later, they had walked Bramble Lane and uploaded the pics to the Valentine Quest page. All they needed to do was type in their favorites before publishing the post.

  “Bramble House.” Dustin typed in his favorite house. “Which is your favorite?”

  “So many pretty houses.” Nevada reviewed them in her mind. Two stuck out to her. The first was the one Dustin picked. She would have to go with that one. “I hate to be a copycat, but the Bramble House is my favorite.”

  “It’s a great house.”

  She nodded. Her second-favorite house most likely wouldn’t be a popular choice. She’d been watching home improvement shows with Dakota, who was remodeling her house, and Nevada could easily imagine what the judge’s house and grounds must have once looked like and could be again with some TLC. She hoped that happened sometime soon. For both the judge and the house’s sakes.

  “We’re finished with that stop,” Dustin said.

  “What’s next?”

  “The park.” He pointed across the street. “We’re only a couple of blocks away. See the twinkling lights up ahead?”

  It was still afternoon, but the sky had gotten darker so the white lights in the trees stood out.

  She shook her head. “This town goes all out for Valentine’s Day.”

  “For every holiday.”

  “That gives me something to look forward to between now and July.”

  “We’re supposed to take a photo at the gazebo. No one is there. This is our chance.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

  Holding hands with Dustin didn’t mean anything. He was only trying to lead her to where they needed to be. But she had to admit, this didn’t feel awkward. Not after everything else they’d done.

  If anything, holding hands felt natural and right.

  That was more than a little weird.

  Dustin climbed the short staircase, but he didn’t let go of her hand. She followed.

  Maybe he was a hand holder. Something he did with city folk who visited the ranch and were under his care.

  The white gazebo was decorated with miniature lights as well as red and pink heart-shaped ones. “This is a cha
rming backdrop. No wonder the sponsors wanted a photo here.”

  “Wait.” He feigned a shocked expression. “Are you getting into the Valentine spirit?”

  He made her sound like the February-fourteenth version of the Grinch. She wasn’t that bad. At least she didn’t think so. “Maybe.”

  “Don’t you mean yes?”

  “Maybe.”

  He laughed. “What do you think? The park looks different without the obstacle course.”

  The gazebo was high enough off the ground to give her a wonderful view. Old-fashioned looking street lamps lit paved paths that had been cleared of snow. The cold temperatures didn’t keep people from being out. Children played, couples walked, and a lone snowman seemed to be waving at her.

  Nevada fought the urge to wave back. She must be more tired than she realized. “Lovely.”

  “In the springtime, the grass is so green.” He hadn’t let go of her hand. “At Easter, there’s a big egg hunt, although sometimes the snow is still around. During the big rodeo weekend in September, they hold a dinner and a pancake feed here under a big tent. And during the Marietta Stroll in December, vendor booths and a petting zoo are set-up.”

  “I went to the stroll two years ago. The gingerbread-house competition and the tree lighting were my favorites.”

  His gaze narrowed. “How many times have you been to Marietta?”

  “Several. My siblings and I spent a couple of weeks here every summer when we were kids. My great aunt and uncle lived in the house Dakota owns now. My sister moved to Marietta after college to live with Aunt Alice.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  Nevada shrugged. “Not everyone knows everything in a small town.”

  “That’s true, though many would say otherwise.”

  Dakota had mentioned how everyone was nosy about their neighbors. And strangers. “Ever since my dad retired, and my parents sailed off to the Caribbean, I’ve been splitting my school vacations between Dakota’s house and York’s place if I’m not off on a research trip.”

  He studied her. “Funny how we’ve never run into each other.”

  “Not really,” she admitted. “I’m a bit of a homebody when I’m here.”

  “Taking books to bed?”

  “Every night. I catch up on my sleep, wear sweats and big T-shirts, leave out my contacts and use glasses instead. I also park myself in front of the television and watch as much as I can since I don’t have a TV set in New York.”