One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(29)

With reverent care, he slid the key into the ignition and pressed his feet on the brake and clutch. He closed his eyes and turned the key, grinning as the bass engine roared to life.

“Gorgeous.” He glanced at me sideways. “The car is nice too.”

I shoved his shoulder, but a blush heated my cheeks, anyway. He knew how to disarm me in an instant.

“So where to, Maestro?”

“Lila’s. On Aster.” I wanted him to meet my new friend and hoped he’d like her as much as I did.

He nodded. “The restaurant owner you befriended.”

“Yep. She’s good people. So’s her brother, Willard. I’ve hung out at her restaurant a couple of times, after her lunch rush dies down.”

“What do you talk about?”

“Mostly small-business obstacles and how to overcome them. Sometimes we talk about other shop owners in the vicinity, or whispers of business openings or closings. She loves to gossip.”

He glanced at me, pulling into her small parking lot. “Better watch what you share, then.”

“I already thought about that. Because I’m such a private person, I let her do most of the talking. I’d rather be the observer, anyway.”

Although the drive took only a few minutes, I bounced with excitement. I couldn’t wait to show him what I’d done. Actually, what we’d done, since it was the result of our business-planning sessions, even though he had no knowledge of it.

We wound along the cobblestone path leading from the parking lot. Tulips that had been sprouting along the mulched border almost four weeks ago were now blooming in bold yellows and vivid reds and purples in the dappled shade of a giant walnut tree on the edge of her property.

By the time we reached the front porch, Lila herself greeted us, pushing open the door. “Hannah!” She strode forward and gave me a huge hug.

I almost dropped my coffee from the impact. When she released me, I turned to introduce—

“You must be Cade!” She embraced him too.

His brows rose and his mouthed “what” disappeared into wide smile.

I just laughed.

Lila released him, then waved her hands, gesturing us inside. “Come, come. I bet you’re here to show him our surprise.”

Lila hooked her arm through Cade’s as she led him into her quaint dining room. Half a dozen people sat at tables, most halfway through hearty breakfast plates filled with eggs, bacon, and pancakes. One had a giant waffle on it loaded with whipped cream and strawberries. A gentleman in a business suit sat at a table toward the back, his face hidden behind a Wall Street Journal. His platter was dominated by one of her giant cinnamon rolls smothered in icing and melting butter.

We took a seat at one of the bistro sets by the front window.

She grabbed two laminated menus and put them on our table. “I put on a new pot of coffee. Let me give you fresh cups.” She winked at me, then disappeared.

Cade scanned down the menu. When he reached the bottom, his smile widened. “Well, look at that, Hannah. You’re famous now.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not famous. It’s a menu. But yeah, how cool is it for a restaurant to offer my cupcakes as dessert?”

He looked up at me, holding my gaze. “Beyond cool. It’s amazing.” His eyes drifted back down to the menu. “I like how she put the name of your business on there. Great branding.”

“I know, right? It was in the contract.” I started bouncing again from excitement. “That same afternoon, after I’d gone out with Chloe, I drafted an agreement to use with businesses we supply to. I even created brochures!”

He leaned forward, smiling behind a finger over his lips. “I love your enthusiasm, but you get louder the more excited you get.”

The businessman folded down his Wall Street Journal, staring in our direction. He was much younger than I’d initially pegged him to be. One shouldn’t judge a businessman by his paper.

I pressed my lips together, stifling a grin as I pulled a folded brochure from inside my jacket pocket, then handed it to Cade. “Pricing and quantity packages, delivery days and times, and how each item should be listed on their menus.”

He looked it over. “Hannah, this is really sharp. Mind if I keep this?”

I shook my head. “It’s yours.”

“This will be a great exhibit to include in my thesis.” He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m impressed. Very innovative.”

“Thanks.” I beamed, ridiculously happy about his approval. “Chloe and I canvassed our whole area after that first day. I was nervous about approaching some chain locations, but most were surprisingly open to the idea.”

“And of course, you presented them with free samples as bait.”

“You bet your ass I did. I paid attention during our lessons.” During that specific one, he’d dragged me out to peddle free cupcakes like a drug dealer. But that introductory instruction in the ways of marketing, offering free products to get customers hooked, paid off with grand-opening buzz I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Lila returned with our coffees. “I’m glad you stopped by today. And I got to meet your Cade. My, he’s a handsome devil.” She fanned herself.

I stood and gave her a half hug. “Of course. Thank you for putting Sweet Dreams on the laminated menu. Let me know how it goes.”