Kiss My Cupcake(84)

I get misty-eyed at the praise and the acknowledgment that this accomplishment is well and truly mine.

My jaw nearly hits the floor when they all try a cupcake and a cocktail. Even Maddy and Skylar—although they both talk about the two-hour run plus detox they’re going to have to endure because of the single cupcake they consumed.

My dad mingles with everyone, happy to tell them that he’s my father and that I inherited my excellent business sense and my baking skills from him.

By the time we close the doors, the only thing that’s left are a pair of lonely Death by Chocolate cupcakes.

I bring them next door to The Knight Cap, where the band has already started playing. Ronan and I are going to be dead on our feet by the time the bar closes, but we’re taking a day off after all of this is over, so we should be able to catch up on some much-needed sleep and some alone time.

I spot Gramps sitting at the end of the bar, nursing a pint of Guinness. When he sees me, a huge grin lights up his face. I give him a hug from the side and shout over the noise. “Having fun?”

“I sure am. This is the busiest I’ve seen this place in a long time. Dottie would be proud ’a both of you.” He thumbs over to the band. “But I gotta be honest, this just sounds like noise. Gonna finish my pint and head home.”

“Want dessert with that?” I flip open the lid on the box.

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” He winks and takes one.

I leave him to his pint and I sidle up next to Ronan behind the bar. “Gramps is having a great time.”

He glances down at my feet, but doesn’t comment on my lack of proper footwear. “I’m impressed that he’s still here. I would have thought he’d bail so he doesn’t miss the late night rerun of Jeopardy.”

“Thank goodness for DVR, I guess. Did he used to watch it with Dottie?”

“Every night at seven thirty. They’d compete to see who could answer the most questions correctly.”

“Did they keep score?”

“Sure did.”

“He must miss her so much.”

Ronan nods. “He does. We both do. But I think I’d rather have someone to miss than never have the opportunity to witness that kind of devotion. They were each other’s everything.”

“Makes it tough to settle for anything less, I would think.” I tip my chin up, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotion. I don’t really know what it’s like to watch a love like that. My parents are the most unconventional people I know, and the idea of finding a soul mate seemed elusive.

Lars interrupts—his timing sucks—to ask Ronan for some help behind the bar, because they’re swamped and I’m monopolizing him. I change into a pair of boots and mix some drinks.

When the band finishes, the crowd slowly starts to dissipate.

“I can’t believe how well this has gone.” I load barware into the washer and dry off the clean ones before I stack them. “Or that you managed to get Thom Thomas from channel five here, or that you forfeited your spotlight with Tori so we could all be in it.”

Ronan puts the beer steins in the freezer. “To be fair, it was Tori who pulled all the strings since she has all the connections. I just proposed the idea and she ran with it. I’m sorry I left you hanging the last couple of days, but I really wanted to be able to pull this off and give you and Buttercream and Booze the attention you deserved.”

“I feel bad for being annoyed with you.” And for doubting his sincerity and his loyalty. Although I was under a lot of stress, and he did sort of screw right off immediately after winning the Best Bar in Town award, so there was some room for doubt and worry.

He laughs. “Lars said you didn’t look all that impressed the couple of times you stopped in here. I told him I was trying to make some things happen, but I wouldn’t tell him what exactly because I couldn’t be sure he’d keep his mouth shut. And I knew if I saw you I’d want to tell you what I was planning, but on the off chance I failed, I also didn’t want to disappoint you. It was a real conundrum.”

“I’m so sorry I was less than sweet to you the past couple of days.” If I’d known he was planning something then maybe I would’ve calmed my tits and not been so passive-aggressive. It’s a good reminder that I can’t base my opinions or assumptions on past experiences and that Ronan isn’t like Raphael.

“It’s not your sweetness that keeps me coming back, Blaire.” He winks.

I’m about to give him some sass, but Tori appears at the bar. “Do you have a few minutes for an interview? I’d love to get your thoughts on how today has been for you and the rest of the family-owned businesses on the street.”

I make a move to step to the side. “I’ll just give you a few minutes.”

Ronan snags me by the waist before I get too far. “I think Tori actually wants to interview you, Blaire, since you’re the one who orchestrated all of this.”

I glance between him and Tori. “But it’s your spotlight.”

“I’d actually love it if you could do this together. Ronan’s already answered most of these questions for me over the past couple of days while we’ve been getting everything together to make this happen, but I’d love to get them on camera and hear your side of things, too, Blaire. Are you okay if we go live with this? It’s more organic this way, you know? Feels a lot less scripted.”