Love & Chocolate: Valentine's Day (Holidays In Hallbrook Book 4)

by Elsie Davis

  Kevin shook his head and laughed. Maybe it was time to get the twins their own dog, because dating a woman for hers, didn’t seem right. It was time to rein in the girls and their fanciful notions. “A dog is not a reason to date someone and what do you know about hooking up? Never mind, I’m not sure I want to hear the answer. Please tell me we don’t need to have a talk about the birds and the bees yet, you just turned eleven.”

  “Good grief.” Macy rolled her eyes. “Spare us the sex lecture. This isn’t the dark ages and we hear plenty at school and don’t need to hear it from our dad. Yuk.” Macy grimaced.

  Kevin wasn’t sure if they heard about it in class or from friends, but either way he wasn’t happy. It wasn’t a subject he relished addressing with them either, so they agreed on that score. This sounded like a conversation Victoria needed to have with the twins. “Fine. As to a girlfriend, I don’t need one, so you can get the idea right out of your head. I have you two as my sweethearts, and that’s all I need.” He move to hug them, daunted by the idea they were growing up too fast.

  “Yes, but we won’t be living here forever. Lacy and I finally realize you and Mom aren’t getting back together, and we want you to be happy, too.”

  Kevin smiled. He was blessed beyond belief, and it was moments like these, he knew why he’d give up everything to keep the twins happy and give them a stable life. “I am happy. I like things just the way they are. Let’s order pizza, I’m hungry.”

  “What about Amanda?”

  “She may have already made other arrangements to get home.” Amanda’s determination came with a dose of stubborn, and he wouldn’t put it past her to walk home anyway, no matter what deal they made.

  “Just think about what we said.” Macy sounded far older than her eleven years at that moment.

  “Okay.” He stood and left the room, ending the discussion. Maybe he’d think about it in seven years when the girls went off to college. Until then, it would serve no purpose.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Amanda was grateful today was one of the days Diana helped in the bakery. The handful of customers who came this morning loved the free samples of chocolate cake she’d offered. Their reactions were exactly what she needed, giving her the confidence to move forward with the contest.

  “Give me a few minutes, Cupcake, and I’ll be finished. We can go for a walk to the park, I promise.” Amanda pulled up the website, typed in the information they needed and attached a copy of her recipe. In recognition of the girls’ contribution to the success, she’d named the dessert “Twin Delight Chocolate Cake.” Contrary to Kevin’s opinion, she did come up with a great name after she’d had more time to think about it.

  She pressed send and sat back in her chair, letting out a sigh of relief. Now all she could do was wait—and pray. Cupcake nudged her leg with her nose. “Okay, okay. I’m done.”

  It was a beautiful sunny day; the temperatures having risen into the forties. A jacket, mittens, and a knit cap were all she needed with her warm boots. Cupcake pulled her along, eager to get to the park. Halfway there, her phone rang. “Hold up, girl.” Amanda pulled back on the leash, placing it between her knees to free up her hands. She yanked a mitten off and fished the ringing phone from the depths of the quilted pocket.

  The sun glinted off the screen, and she couldn’t see the name or number of the caller. “Hello,” she answered, grabbing the leash once again and setting off toward the park.

  “Hi there. It’s Kevin.” Of course, it was Kevin, she’d know his voice anywhere.

  “What’s up? Are the girls okay?” Staying focused on the twins was the easiest way to keep whatever was happening between them at bay. She enjoyed his kiss far too much, but he hadn’t said another word about it. His apology still rankled.

  “They’re fine. I just thought we should talk. Just the two of us.”

  “What did you have in mind? Do you want to meet me at the bakery tomorrow? Or you could come to my place tonight.” Probably not the best of suggestions, but it would be quiet.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of dinner. Out of town. I don’t want to give the girls any ideas or confuse them. Or give the gossips more than they can handle,” he added. She could picture him grinning on the other end of the phone, his lack of love for the town gossip chain well known.

  The mention of dinner made her heart race, but just as quickly, it came to a screeching halt. Dinner wouldn’t just confuse the girls, it would confuse her, and she was confused enough at this point. The last thing she needed to do was put herself at risk of falling for Kevin harder than she already was. “I don’t know. Like you mentioned, it’s confusing to the girls. Maybe we should leave things the way they are now.”

  “One dinner won’t hurt, and I really need to talk to you. The girls are at a friend’s house working on a project and for a sleepover, so I’m free tonight. Please, say yes.” The sincerity in his voice left her considering her options.

  Amanda wanted to say no, but the word wouldn’t come. Instead, Grandpa’s words flitted through her head, filling her with what would undoubtedly end up in misplaced hope. “If you think it’s a good idea, that’s fine. Just two friends having dinner. Right?”

  “Right. Can I pick you up in thirty minutes?”

  “Make it an hour, and you’ve got yourself a date. I mean, you’ve got yourself a dinner companion.” Idiot. Her mouth seemed to have no filter. But either way, date or dinner companion, she needed the extra time to get ready. She turned Cupcake loose in the park, keeping a close eye on her.

  “An hour it is then. See you soon.”

  “Wait,” Amanda called out, trying to catch him before he hung up. She was curious where they were going considering it greatly affected what she’d choose to wear.

  Silence greeted her on the other end. She’d pick something halfway between comfortable and casual to be on the safe side. Twenty minutes later, Cupcake was worn out and lying on her bed, while Amanda tried to find the perfect outfit for the impromptu evening planned with Kevin. She couldn’t help the excitement filling her as the minutes ticked down, the memory of his kiss responsible for her racing heart.

  After choosing her traditional black slacks, she vetoed the cutesy blue sweater, opting instead for a cream-colored blouse and a black string of pearls. Unfortunately, she’d have to settle for her calf-high, flat heeled, black boots instead of dress heels. Kevin was a lot taller than her, and the heels would’ve evened them out a bit, but comfort and safety were far more important on a winter night.

  Her phone beeped, indicating a message had arrived.

  Kevin: “Made reservations at a place out of town. See you soon.”

  Reservations being the operative phrase. At least she’d chosen a dressy outfit, so it wouldn’t matter where they went.

  Amanda: “Okay.”

  Amanda applied her makeup and then stepped back to observe her reflection in the mirror. Satisfied with her appearance, she headed downstairs, Cupcake close on her heels looking for her dinner now that she’d recovered from the park outing.

  Kevin pulled into the driveway promptly at six-thirty. Amanda headed outside, locking up before she made her way to the car. It wasn’t a date, and she didn’t expect him to come to the front door for her. That would be awkward between friends.

  He stepped out of the car and met her on the sidewalk. “Hi there. You look wonderful. Thanks for agreeing to come out with me.” He leaned forward, his lips grazing the side of her cheek.

  “Thanks for the invite. I’m always game for a free dinner,” she teased. His lips had felt warm and tender against her cheek, reminding her once again of her grandpa’s words. Maybe Kevin was interested in taking their friendship to the next level, and she was getting his message all wrong. Maybe he just wanted to take things slowly and see where the relationship would go before the twins were involved.

  Her breath hitched at the possibilities. The question was, could she handle it? Part of her already knew the answer was yes.
Kevin was different, and no matter how hard she tried to fight what was happening between them, every step of the way just seemed to bring them together and move her heart forward.

  Kevin walked her around the car and opened the door to help her inside, before making his way back around the vehicle and sliding into the driver’s seat. “It looks as if this place we’re going is in Lancaster based on where you’re headed.”

  “Good observation.” He turned to smile at her but didn’t elaborate.

  “So, where are we going?” Amanda was more than curious.

  “You’ll see. It’s a fabulous place I found recently. I’m sure you already know about it having lived here all your life, but I thought it rather quaint. A great place for us to be able to talk privately.”

  “That leaves quite a few possibilities.” There were tons of restaurants in Lancaster, and it would be interesting to see what type of place appealed to Kevin. The conversation drifted to Grandpa, and Amanda filled him in. There was nothing to tell really, just a case of indigestion.

  Kevin talked about the twins and the project they’d been assigned at school. They were acting like a normal couple out to dinner after a day at work, other than the fact his hand remained inches away but never strayed in her direction. Close enough for her to be aware, far enough for her to know he wasn’t ready to make the leap. More reason to keep her mouth shut and not heed grandpa’s advice. Open honesty might have worked for him and grandma, but times had changed. Things were more complicated than they were fifty years ago.

  As they turned through the streets of the city, an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Minutes ticked by, and with each turn, her adrenaline level surged higher. She gripped the handle of the door tightly, memories of another time and place haunting her.

  With all the restaurants to choose from in Lancaster, there was no way he’d manage to pick the one place she didn’t want to go.

  Wrong.

  Kevin backed into one of the parking spots allocated to the Table Divine, an exclusive French restaurant noted for its fine food, excellent service, and quiet privacy.

  Unfortunately, it was the same place her ex-boyfriend promised to take her for Valentine’s Day two years ago. The same place she’d tried to meet up with him to apologize for not putting him first on Valentine’s Day, only to discover he’d already had another date. She’d been a fool to chase after him, hoping to salvage their relationship.

  “Have you ever been here? Is this okay?” Kevin turned to face her.

  She looked away, not wanting him to guess the truth. Because that would require an explanation, something she didn’t want to give. “I’m not sure. I’ve been here once, but never actually eaten here.”

  “You seem tense. Is this a bad choice? We can go somewhere else.” Kevin had zeroed in on her tension and was sweet for offering, his consideration of her feelings making her even more aware of what a great guy he was.

  “No. You picked this out, and it will be fine.” At least, Amanda hoped it would be. For her, it was a chance to lay the past to rest. Maybe this is exactly what she needed to forget Greg and his treachery, to quit letting it control her life. But it could also be a sign that this whole thing with Kevin wasn’t right.

  “If you’re sure,” he said hesitantly. “Sit tight, and I’ll get your door.”

  Kevin came around the front of the car and opened her door. She appreciated the simple gesture of respect. He took her hand as he helped her out, tucking it inside his own as they walked toward the restaurant. Holding the door open, he stepped back to let her pass through first. Kevin approached the maître d’.

  “I have a reservation for two. Name’s Kevin Thompson.”

  “Yes, Mr. Thompson. I’ve got you right here. Follow me, please.”

  Kevin kept his hand against the small of her back as they followed the man through the restaurant. Even through the material of her coat, she enjoyed the possessiveness of the gesture. Amanda was all for independence, but there was nothing wrong with wanting to be cherished.

  The maître d’ handed them their menus and wine list. “Your server will be right with you, and she’ll explain the specials and get your drink order.” The maître d’ held Amanda’s chair out, indicating for her to take a seat.

  Kevin sat on the opposite side of the table facing her. “Thank you.”

  The man walked away, leaving the two of them alone. She glanced around. The place was more intimate than she’d expected. Low lighting, green privacy plants, and soft piano jazz playing in the background. The artwork focused on couples in all parts of the world. She felt the blood drain from her face as her gaze landed on the table where she discovered Greg and his new date.

  “What’s wrong, Amanda? And don’t say nothing, I can see it in your eyes.” Kevin leaned forward and took her hand in his—the warm strength comforting.

  She tried to find the right words. Kevin deserved the truth.

  “Did I do something wrong bringing you here? We can leave.” Kevin was just too nice. Too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere.

  “No, it’s not you.” Nothing could be further from the truth. “It’s just something that happened two years ago.” She looked away, not liking the feeling of being the subject of a microscopic investigation.

  “Tell me what happened?” His voice was sincere and caring and concerned, and it was enough to melt Amanda’s resistance.

  She let out a deep sigh. “I was dating a guy, and I thought we were in love. My mother had just passed away, and things got hectic with the business. I guess I put more focus on the bakery than on him, and he didn’t appreciate it. We had dinner reservations here on Valentine’s Day. When he stopped by the bakery to pick me up, I couldn’t leave. He broke off our date, and he broke off our relationship.”

  Kevin didn’t interrupt. His thumb, however, caressed the back of her hand. The gesture was far more of a distraction than anything he could have said at that moment. Amanda tried to refocus.

  “On Valentine’s Day, this place is a prepaid meal by reservation only. I knew Greg wouldn’t let the meal go to waste, that he’d show up anyway. After he left, I realized I wasn’t being fair, and I closed the bakery as quickly as I could and headed this way to surprise him and see if I could salvage our relationship. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find he’d already replaced me with another woman. It took him less than an hour to move on.”

  Kevin scowled. “Wow. The guy’s clearly a complete jerk. You’re better off without him.”

  “I’m sure his wife would agree. He married the girl.” Looking back, she knew Kevin was right. She was better off without Greg. At the time, however, she hadn’t seen it that way.

  “I’m sorry. Is that why you’re anti-Valentine’s Day?” Kevin’s compassion brought tears to her eyes.

  “Maybe. Probably,” Amanda admitted. “I realized, or rather decided, that love was for fools, and therefore Valentine’s Day is for suckers.”

  Kevin smiled. “Is that where February Fool’s Day originated?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “We can go somewhere else. In fact, I think we should go somewhere else.”

  “Or maybe it’s time for a new memory. Maybe it’s time to put the past in the past and forget about it.” She appreciated his support and understanding, but it was better this way.

  Kevin nodded as the server approached. After placing their orders, Amanda leaned back to relax. It was just her and Kevin, and she wanted to enjoy the evening. It might be the only time it ever happened, and she wanted to make a memory because anything with Kevin in it would be worth remembering.

  “Tell me about yourself. What kinds of things do you enjoy doing on your own?” Amanda was curious about Kevin outside of his parenting role. And it was easier than jumping into whatever he wanted to talk about and the reason for their dinner.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to think about what I want to do. I’m always in work or parent mode. I love spend
ing time with them and taking them to school events or activities, watching them grow, although sometimes it feels as if it’s happening too fast.” Kevin sat back in his seat, his gaze never leaving her.

  He was going to make her dig, but she was up to the challenge. “What did you do for fun before you had children?”

  “Let’s see. Before I met Victoria, I played on the softball team, hiked, went sailing, and hung out with friends. After I met her, everything changed.” The grooves across his brow deepened as if the memories weren’t the best.

  “How so?”

  “She caught my attention. Pretty girls, lots of friends, and all about having fun. At the time, I couldn’t believe she would give me the time of day. I was young and too foolish to see or understand what someone like her needed. Victoria craved the limelight. First, a big wedding. Then the pregnancy. Everything she did was designed to keep her the center of attention.”

  “Not a good reason to get pregnant.” Amanda shook her head, sympathizing with what he must have had to deal with.

  “No, it wasn’t. But we were young and made mistakes.”

  “I will say, I was surprised to find out you had children, even more so to realize they were almost teenagers. Did you have them when you were like twelve or something?” she teased.

  “No. More like nineteen.” Kevin shrugged.

  “You’re thirty. Wow, I never would have guessed.”

  “The kids keep me young. Victoria never enjoyed the responsibility that came with parenting. She doubled the amount of time she went to the gym trying to get back in shape while I worked all day and returned home to be a parent at night. I realized we were never on the same page. When she was home, we fought a lot. Divorce wasn’t something I wanted to go through; it was something I realized I had to do, knowing my relationship with Victoria had deteriorated to the point it was hurting the twins. I’ve been a single parent for way longer than I’ve been divorced. But enough of my sob story.”