The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane

Zelda’s was one of the most popular restaurants in Icicle Falls, specializing in Northwest cuisine. As with all the shops and restaurants in town, it boasted hanging baskets overflowing with petunias and geraniums. The glass door had the restaurant’s name scrawled across it in gold script and featured the image of a flapper.

Inside, the place was packed with people in town for the weekend to celebrate the Maifest festival, as well as locals. At one table she caught sight of Gerhardt Geissel, who owned Gerhardt’s Gasthaus, out with his wife and another couple. The women were dressed in dirndls and the men in lederhosen, an obvious sign that they’d taken part in the late-afternoon performance by their folk-dancing troupe in the town square. Pat Wilder and Ed York occupied another table. It was only a matter of time before those two made their relationship official, and Cecily had a feeling that by Christmas Pat would be sporting a diamond on her left hand. And there, by the window... Her heart rate picked up, and she looked away quickly, trying to pretend she hadn’t seen Luke Goodman with his mother and his daughter.

There was no need to feel self-conscious. She’d made it clear to both Luke and herself that she wanted to be only friends.

Still, whenever she ran into him, at the office or anywhere else, she was aware of something between them. She knew it was attraction on his part. What was it for her? Luke didn’t hit her zing-o-meter the way Todd did. But she still felt a pull, and that was what bothered her because it wasn’t strong enough to encourage him.

It wouldn’t be fair. Not when Todd had the effect on her that he had. What she felt for Luke was like the pull of the tide. What she felt when she was with Todd was more like a tidal wave. And she wanted that. She wanted romance with a capital R. She wanted to be crazy in love with a man who was crazy in love with her.

But she also wanted someone she could trust. Could she trust Todd Black?

The smile he was giving her as they waited for their table certainly looked genuine.

Still, looks could be deceiving. She’d learned that the hard way, and she had two diamond rings to prove it.

Reg, Fiancé Number One, had pursued her with everything from flowers to wine-country jaunts, but six months into their engagement she’d learned that his old girlfriend had come back on the scene. It would have been nice if he’d shared that information with her instead of seeing the other woman on the side. She’d set Reg free to continue stoking the fires with his old flame and dedicated herself to her business.

Then along came Fiancé Number Two, a charming insurance salesman who liked to salsa dance and was an amazingly good listener. This time she was sure she’d made a wise choice. But her insurance salesman, who’d seemed so stable on the outside, turned out to be as stable as a three-legged chair. Marcus had money problems. He was constantly borrowing from Cecily, promising that he’d pay her back and then conveniently forgetting the entire conversation. Marcus finally declared bankruptcy and left for greener pastures, where he found a rich cougar who wanted to buy more than a whole-life policy.

Her matchmaking business hadn’t done much for her faith in men, either. It sure would have been refreshing (no, make that a shock) to meet just one man who didn’t have specific requests regarding his dream woman’s appearance. One man who, instead of asking her to introduce him to a woman with boobs the size of watermelons or a nice, tight ass, had said, “Find me my soul mate.”

No wonder that when she returned to Icicle Falls she’d had it with men, lost her confidence in Cupid. But with her sister Samantha a living testimonial for happily-ever-after and Todd Black chipping away at her defenses, here she was, caving and giving the brat with the bow and arrow one last chance. And hoping her famous matchmaking instincts finally kicked in on her own behalf.

Charlene Masters (Charley to her friends), who owned Zelda’s, was at her regular post at the reservation podium, greeting her customers. She was another ambassador for true love. After divorcing her cheating husband, who’d then returned, just to bring her more misery, she’d met her Mr. Perfect and was now enjoying newlywed bliss. It could be done.

The question for Cecily was who to do it with. If only she could put Todd Black and Luke Goodman in some giant machine and meld them into one. Todd’s sexiness coupled with Luke’s dependability—now that would be her perfect man.

You don’t know that Todd’s undependable, she reminded herself. Heck, he owned a business and a house. That required a certain level of dependability. But there was no getting around those bad-boy vibes he gave off. Todd Black, the pirate. Pirates didn’t settle down and raise families. And she was ready to get married, wanted to start a family. So, what the heck was she doing going out with him?

Charley greeted her with a surprised “Cec?” then recovered enough to greet Todd. “We’ve got a nice corner table for you,” she told him and led the way to the far end of the dining area.

Which meant they had to pass Luke’s table. Cecily was very aware of Todd’s hand on her back as they approached, and of Luke’s assessing and not-so-happy gaze. She felt an uncomfortable warmth creeping over her cheeks and tried to cool it by telling herself she had nothing to feel awkward about. To prove it, she stopped to say a quick hello and introduced her date. The men shook hands, but it was far from a hearty handshake. They reminded her of boxers touching gloves before a match.

“Todd owns The Man Cave,” Cecily said to Luke.

He gave Todd a brief nod. “I’ve seen it.”

With the giant Neanderthal in lederhosen painted on the outside, it was hard to miss. “Luke’s our production manager at Sweet Dreams,” she said to Todd.

“Great place to work,” Todd said, giving Cecily one of his killer smiles.

“Yeah, it is,” Luke agreed. “The Sterling family means a lot to me.” It was said pleasantly enough but, judging by Luke’s stiff posture and narrowed eyes, it was a warning of sorts.

Luke’s family was already on dessert, wild huckleberry pie for him, coffee for his mom and a strawberry sundae for his daughter. “I was really good today, so I got to go out with Daddy and have ice cream,” Serena told Cecily.

“Aren’t you glad you were good?” Cecily asked.

Serena nodded vigorously. “Were you good, too?”

“Something like that,” Cecily said. She could imagine what Todd would do with that remark.

Before he could even try, Cecily said, “Well, enjoy your evening,” and she hurried after Charley.

* * *

Luke wasn’t hungry anymore. He pushed away his plate.

“Daddy, aren’t you going to eat your pie?” Serena asked, obviously shocked by such waste.

“Daddy’s had enough,” he said.

He’d been trying to convince Cecily Sterling to give him a chance ever since she’d returned to Icicle Falls. And she would have by now if it wasn’t for that damn Todd Black. Luke had seen him in Bavarian Brews, putting the moves on her. The guy was slick and good-looking. How did an average man compete with that?

“He who hesitates,” his mother said softly.

He could pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about, but she wouldn’t buy it. “She doesn’t think we’re a match.”

“Well, for heaven’s sake, don’t take her word for it. From what Muriel has let slip over the last couple of years, the girl wouldn’t recognize Prince Charming if he slayed a dragon right in front of her.”

“I know who Prince Charming is,” Serena piped up. “He dances with the princess at the ball.”

Luke had tried that at the Sweet Dreams chocolate ball a couple of years back. He’d probably do better slaying a dragon. “Come on, girls. Let’s go home.” Zelda’s had lost its appeal for him.

* * *

Once Cecily and Todd were seated, Charley wished them bon appétit. The look she gave Cecily added, “I expect to hear all about this later.” Then she left them alone with their menus.

“Just so you know, you don’t have to be good on my account,” Todd teased.

Cecily made a face at him. “I figured you wouldn’t be able to resist saying something. At least you didn’t do it in front of Luke.”

“Is he my competition?”

“I don’t know.” Where had that come from? Of course she knew. She wasn’t interested in Luke that way. “Not really.”

Todd slung an arm over the back of his chair and regarded her. “So, our heroine is conflicted.”

There went her cheeks, warming up again.

“It’s okay,” Todd said. “I’m not afraid of a little competition. I think I can convince you who the better man is.”

And later that night, as they sat in front of her place in his truck, he set about showing her just how superior he was. When she finally got out, her clothes were mussed and her brain was foggy. And she had another date with Todd Black.

* * *

Todd drove home wearing a confident smile. Cecily Sterling had kept him dangling like a string of Christmas lights long enough. Now he was done playing games. She was going to be his. Too bad for the Sweet Dreams dude. But in the battle for the babe, that was how it always went, how it had always gone. One guy got the girl and the other one walked away with a big L for loser on his forehead.

Todd hadn’t become the pro ball player his dad had wanted him to be, but there was one sport he’d excelled at and that was getting girls. (He and his brother both had charm in spades and they’d made good use of it.) And for a teenage boy that kind of success was a lot more gratifying than what his dad had wanted for him.