How Sweet It Is (16 page)

“Is there only one position open?”

She raised her brow. “There are two. I’ve
already filled the other.”

He leaned forward, his lids drooping. “I’m
looking for a long term situation, and learning more about
chocolate would only help my career.” He thumped his chest. “I
won’t leave you after you’ve trained me, Mademoiselle
D’Arleux.”

Delphine suppressed a smile. She wondered if
he’d seen Minnie leaving the shop. She was nineteen and had helped
in a friend’s candy shop for a year in another city. The girl
seemed shy but very eager for the opportunity. With brown hair and
gray eyes, she had a quiet attractiveness about her.

Delphine sent Stephan a gimlet look and
nibbled on the end of her pen. She’d had very few even
semi-qualified applications. Could this Romeo-wannabe behave?

Stephan grinned, as if guessing her thoughts.
He leaned forward. “You know, with a name like Valentino, I would
lend a certain cachet to your enterprise.”

She refrained from rolling her eyes. He laid
it on thick, but if he had what it took, she could train him to her
level and have a real backup if she was unable to work.

“Mr. Valentino,” she said tartly, “what I
require is someone who will dedicate themselves to the craft and to
this business to make it succeed. If there’s any reason for me to
believe you cannot fulfill your obligations, I will be forced to
look elsewhere.”

Stephan stretched out his hand. “I’m your
man.”

****

Brad sunk down in his seat when he saw a
strange man emerge from Delphine’s shop. He glared as the man
shoved his hands in his pockets and sauntered to a Mo-ped parked
nearby. After the guy maneuvered into traffic and disappeared from
view, Brad clambered from his car, holding the rabbit by the ear,
and marched up to the shop door. He banged on the front door, his
gut churning with jealousy.

Delphine opened the door. Her face lit up
into a smile and she hugged him hard. Brad put his arms around her,
inhaling her fragrance, wondering how he’d survived the past two
days without her.

When he’d absorbed enough of her proximity to
carry him through the next few minutes, he released her. “Who was
that guy who just left?”

Delphine pulled him inside the shop and shut
the door. “My new employee.” She looked up at him, her eyes glowing
like embers. “I’ve missed you,” she said softly.

Brad felt like a supreme idiot for ever
doubting her. He gathered her close and kissed her with all the
untried emotion in his heart, hoping to banish his nebulous worries
for once and for all.

He reluctantly pulled back, drawing a strand
of her hair from her cheek. “How have you been?”

Delphine let out a sigh and
lifted her shoulders. “I miss
Papa
.”

Brad lowered his gaze,
feeling like a jerk for worrying about where he stood with
Delphine, nearly forgetting what she’d gone through in the past
days.
How can I be of any help to her? I’m
too self-centered!
Delphine needs someone
more mature, someone who sees to her needs before his
own.

She touched his face. “Why are you
frowning?”

Brad attempted to smile. It felt more like a
grimace. He remembered the rabbit.

“Um, I brought you something.” He held up
the toy, hoping she’d understand his whim. “I noticed you had it
when you were sleeping in my sister’s room.”

Her cheeks turned scarlet. “I’m sorry, I had
no right to do that—”

“Delphine, stop. I’m giving it to you,
okay?”

Her gaze slid to the rabbit. She nibbled her
lip. “Why? And shouldn’t you ask your sister first?”

“It’s not my sister’s. It’s some antiquey
thing my mom got at an estate sale for decoration or something.
She’d want you to have it, too.” He lowered his voice. “And I
thought maybe it would give you something to hold onto when I’m not
around.”

Delphine took the toy and gazed at it for the
space of several heartbeats, smoothing down the front of its dress.
When she looked back up at him, there were tears in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

He rested his hand on her shoulders, noticing
the gentle blush of her cheek, the trusting light in her eyes as
she gazed up at him.

He swallowed a sigh and took her hand in his.
“How about when you’re finished here, I take you out to
dinner.”

“That sounds nice.”

“My mom wants me to pick up some flowers
next door and bring them home. If it’s all right with you, I know
of a restaurant near my neighborhood we can go to afterwards.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Brad searched his brain for a way to be
helpful. “Um, is there anything I can do for you while you’re
finishing up?”

Delphine shook her head. “I’m done for the
night and was just heading home. Let me get my purse. And you
better hurry. The florist shop will be closing in a few
minutes.”

Brad watched her go to her
office. The pleasure of seeing her was spoiled by the fact that
he’d pulled back from her in her time of need, instead of
supporting her like he should have.
Only a
dunce could’ve messed this up. And one ratty old bunny won’t make
up for that fact
.

When she reappeared, he mustered a returning
smile to answer hers, determined to do better from here on out.

****

Delphine allowed her gaze to drift over
Brad’s features as they sat in a trendy, busy eatery near the beach
after dropping the flowers off at his house. Despite the crowds,
they were situated in a relatively private alcove behind some
potted palms.

She wondered why he acted different today.
His effusive personality seemed subdued, as if he were worried or
upset.

Delphine reached out to touch his hand,
suddenly craving contact with him. When his fingers closed around
hers, a bit of her angst eased.

The initial attraction she had for him had
burgeoned into a love that burned fiercely in her heart,
frightening her in its intensity. He’d made her loss somehow more
bearable. Delphine shuddered to imagine the yawning loneliness
without him.

“How’s your salad?”

Delphine blinked, then flushed. She’d
forgotten about her food. “It’s fine.”

Brad grinned. “You haven’t taken a bite.”

She swallowed, admiring his eyes. They
reminded her of a glimpse of blue sky through gray clouds, a blue
that promised freedom from mundane worries.

He gripped her hand. “What are you thinking
about?”

Delphine didn’t know what to
say.
That I can’t imagine life without
you?
That I still can’t believe this is
happening? She lowered her gaze, afraid he might see her growing
need for him in her eyes.

Brad felt the warmth of Delphine’s hand under
his own. The dark light in her eyes as she regarded him left him
wondering what she really thought of him. Did he see love there
because he wanted to?

Does she doubt whether she can trust me?
What do I really had to offer her? Let’s see. I’m unemployed, live
with my parents, haven’t been as supportive as I should be. Wow,
I’m a real keeper!

A heaviness descended on his chest, making it
difficult to breathe. He’d already let her down in so many ways—how
could he make it up? If only the loan wasn’t an issue. If only it
didn’t matter.

He sat up straighter. Perhaps if he got rid
of the loan anonymously, he could remove the obstacle that seemed
to hold their relationship back—while at the same time proving he
wasn’t just a beach bum boyfriend. He had some prize money tucked
away from his surfing days. Would it be enough? And how to do it in
such a way that she would accept the fact that it was paid off?

First things first. I have
to find out the amount of the loan
.

Brad glanced at Delphine.
Should he ask outright? She looked at him with a gentle
smile.
Nah. Why spoil the moment? I’ll just
have to ask Dad
. With the idea burning in
his brain, he felt a lightening of spirit.

He’d come through for Delphine after all.

****

After dropping Delphine off at her apartment,
Brad headed home, his mind whirling with how he might accomplish
his plan. He fantasized about Delphine’s response to his largess.
Would she throw herself into his arms with joy and gratitude? He
remembered her fit of temper at the chocolate shop.

Hmmm. Probably
not
. In fact, it might make her feel more
beholden to him than ever. Maybe even make her use some choice
French phrases that would singe his ears. Brad frowned at the
frustrating complication, wishing Delphine would quit worrying so
much about money. He felt a disloyal jab at the thought. Never
having to agonize about personal finances had perhaps made him
cavalier.

Well, he was determined to find a way to get
rid of the loan, anonymously if possible, to remove the last
impediment he could see from their relationship. If she didn’t have
to concern herself with the bottom line so much, she could worry
more about giving him hugs and kisses. He grinned, pulling into the
driveway.

In the house, Brad noticed his parents were
absent. His mom had mentioned something about taking their guest
down to the beach after dinner. He let out a sigh, wishing he could
ask his dad about the loan right away.

But would he tell you?

The thought halted Brad on the stairs. He
imagined himself asking his father about the amount—and immediately
realized he’d say it was a private matter. Brad slapped his hand on
the stair banister. He had to find out the amount, even if it meant
enduring his father’s anger when he found out his son had snooped
in personal papers.

Brad thought about Delphine—about the way she
was coming to mean more than anything to him. Without a doubt, he
knew it’d be worth it.

Thirteen

Delphine spent the next several days training
Minnie and Stephan to make chocolate as she’d learned in Belgium.
They faired well, and seemed to enjoy their work. Of course there
could be problems, Delphine mused. Minnie had taken one look at
Stephan and had promptly fallen in love. There was no doubting that
puppy dog mien as her expressive eyes followed every move Stephan
made.

Luckily, Stephan had transferred his
flirtatious tendencies from his boss to Minnie, though Delphine
felt somewhat sorry for the girl. Poor, shy Minnie didn’t stand a
chance against such practiced onslaught. But they worked well
together and perhaps all the positive, amorous energy would
manifest itself in the chocolate products they helped produce.

Delphine felt a pang as she watched their
budding relationship. She desperately missed Brad every moment he
wasn’t with her. He’d been vague and abstracted lately, mentioning
something about having to begin looking for a job.

Delphine especially wanted to take up his
dad’s offer and go to church with them, but she felt shy about
asking. At the back of her feelings for Brad hovered the nagging
worry that somehow she’d cornered him, or was becoming too clingy.
She straightened her shoulders and decided to call him when she got
home after work.

After a quick shower, Delphine picked up the
phone to call. When she got his voice mail, she hesitated, then
left just her name before hanging up. She didn’t like the feeling
Brad’s parents might intercept the message. Despite their welcoming
demeanor, she worried they might think she was chasing him like
some gold-digging female.

Delphine had a quick dinner of leftovers,
then she spent the rest of the evening going over her shop
accounts, hoping Brad might return her call.

****

Brad looked up when his bedroom door opened.
His mom popped her head in and smiled.

“Hi, sweetie.”

Brad covered the papers on his desk with a
section of newspaper and smiled back. His mom opened the door a
little further and came inside. She glanced at the folders and
piles of paperwork and raised her brow.

“What are you working on?”

Brad inwardly panicked. He tapped the
newspaper, mustering a reassuring smile. “Just a little job
hunting, you know. And looking around for my own place. It’s time I
flew the coop for good.”

His mother’s face fell. She toyed with her
necklace. “Oh. No rush, you know.”

“Can I help you with something, Mom?”

She shook her head. “I just wondered if you’d
heard from Delphine lately. It seemed like she disappeared after
the funeral. I really miss her.”

Brad had received her phone message but
hadn’t yet returned her call. Despite her expressions of affection,
he tortured himself with the idea that she felt indebted to him and
his family—that she’d only called out of duty.

“Is…everything okay between you two?”

Brad noticed his mom’s hesitation. Usually
she had no qualms about interfering with his life. He looked at
her, wondering what to say. “She’s been busy training her new
employees. Besides, I’m…giving her a little room.” He shrugged.
“She’s been through so much lately, I guess I didn’t want to be an
extra burden.”

His mom walked over and bussed his cheek. “My
baby a burden? Never.” She ruffled his hair. “Seriously, I think
this would be the precise time Delphine would like having you
around. Imagine how lonely she must be now.”

How could he make his mother understand his
fear? What if Delphine was at this moment breathing a huge sigh of
relief to be free from his presence? What if she’d been acting a
part because she felt pressured by his attentions? Round and round
went his jumbled thoughts until he couldn’t think straight any
more.