an hour or so before they can be eaten.”
“So much for a quick treat,” Tricia groused.
“Let them cool for a minute and eat one anyway. To err is human. To hang around waiting for perfection is just too damn long. You might want to apply that last little piece of advice to your love life, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve been hanging around for nearly eighteen months waiting for Grant Baker to find time for you. It’s time to move on, my girl.”
“And we’ve talked about how slim the pickings are around here.”
“Then broaden your horizons. Why not try a dating service?”
“Have you been talking to Frannie?” Tricia asked suspiciously.
“Only about her own love life—not yours, which is nonexistent. You’re not getting any younger.”
“Neither are you. And if I’m not mistaken, you and Bob have been on the outs for quite some time, too.”
“I’m busy with my careers. For the first time in my life, Ireally haven’t got time for romance, and I must say I don’t miss it all that much. But I’m not swearing off men—just taking a much-needed hiatus. And the next man I commit to had better be monogamous. Or else.”
Angelica poked at the cooling crackers, broke off a piece, and offered it to Tricia. She took a bite and her eyes widened with delight. She chewed and swallowed. “Whoa—who knew such innocent ingredients could taste so decadent.”
Angelica laughed. “I’ll make a cook out of you yet, darling Trish. And I’ve always found that the way to a man’s heart
is
through his stomach. You might want to try that approach yourself.”
Tricia broke off another piece of the candy and ate it. The stuff was seriously addictive, even if it did stick to her molars. Still, she hardly needed Angelica’s advice when it came to men. And she remembered a conversation she’d had earlier that day.
“Were you serious when you said you were going to call your agent tomorrow?”
“Of course. Why?”
“I spoke to Harry this morning. He’s still writing. And he’s looking for a literary agent.”
“He’s not getting mine,” Angelica snapped, and opened the fridge to make room for the baking tray. “Let him get his own agent. And why in the world would you want to help him, anyway, after he left you, his family, his publisher,
and
his agent in the lurch twenty years ago? What’s to say he wouldn’t go and do it again—especially with a murder rap hanging over his head?”
“He hasn’t been charged with anything,” Tricia pointed out.
“Yet,” Angelica countered, and collected her jacket. “Grandma always said, ‘A leopard doesn’t change its spots.’ Besides, you have enough men problems without adding
him
to the mix.”
Tricia hated to admit Angelica was right. She ignored her. Anyway, Artemus owed her a favor, and she could call or e-mail him herself…but she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to do that. Angelica was right about that, too. Had Harry changed, or was he likely to just cut and run again?
Harry Tyler was going to have to prove himself. And how long was that going to take, and how was Tricia to know he was worthy of her friendship, let alone anything deeper?
“Now, about this candy,” Angelica said. “Leave it in the fridge for an hour. After it sets, you can break it up into pieces. It’ll be something fabulous to offer Mr. Everett and your customers tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Tricia said grudgingly.
Angelica pouted. “Trish, forget Harry. Forget Grant Baker. Concentrate on being the best shop owner Stoneham has ever seen.”
“And be lonely for the rest of my life?”
Angelica shook her head. “I’m done talking
at
you, since it’s obvious you have no intention of listening to my golden words of wisdom.” She grabbed her coat and headed for the door to the stairway. “Think about what I’ve said, though. Good advice is seldom taken—and that’s the only kind I have to give.”
Tricia got up to follow her, but
“So much for a quick treat,” Tricia groused.
“Let them cool for a minute and eat one anyway. To err is human. To hang around waiting for perfection is just too damn long. You might want to apply that last little piece of advice to your love life, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve been hanging around for nearly eighteen months waiting for Grant Baker to find time for you. It’s time to move on, my girl.”
“And we’ve talked about how slim the pickings are around here.”
“Then broaden your horizons. Why not try a dating service?”
“Have you been talking to Frannie?” Tricia asked suspiciously.
“Only about her own love life—not yours, which is nonexistent. You’re not getting any younger.”
“Neither are you. And if I’m not mistaken, you and Bob have been on the outs for quite some time, too.”
“I’m busy with my careers. For the first time in my life, Ireally haven’t got time for romance, and I must say I don’t miss it all that much. But I’m not swearing off men—just taking a much-needed hiatus. And the next man I commit to had better be monogamous. Or else.”
Angelica poked at the cooling crackers, broke off a piece, and offered it to Tricia. She took a bite and her eyes widened with delight. She chewed and swallowed. “Whoa—who knew such innocent ingredients could taste so decadent.”
Angelica laughed. “I’ll make a cook out of you yet, darling Trish. And I’ve always found that the way to a man’s heart
is
through his stomach. You might want to try that approach yourself.”
Tricia broke off another piece of the candy and ate it. The stuff was seriously addictive, even if it did stick to her molars. Still, she hardly needed Angelica’s advice when it came to men. And she remembered a conversation she’d had earlier that day.
“Were you serious when you said you were going to call your agent tomorrow?”
“Of course. Why?”
“I spoke to Harry this morning. He’s still writing. And he’s looking for a literary agent.”
“He’s not getting mine,” Angelica snapped, and opened the fridge to make room for the baking tray. “Let him get his own agent. And why in the world would you want to help him, anyway, after he left you, his family, his publisher,
and
his agent in the lurch twenty years ago? What’s to say he wouldn’t go and do it again—especially with a murder rap hanging over his head?”
“He hasn’t been charged with anything,” Tricia pointed out.
“Yet,” Angelica countered, and collected her jacket. “Grandma always said, ‘A leopard doesn’t change its spots.’ Besides, you have enough men problems without adding
him
to the mix.”
Tricia hated to admit Angelica was right. She ignored her. Anyway, Artemus owed her a favor, and she could call or e-mail him herself…but she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to do that. Angelica was right about that, too. Had Harry changed, or was he likely to just cut and run again?
Harry Tyler was going to have to prove himself. And how long was that going to take, and how was Tricia to know he was worthy of her friendship, let alone anything deeper?
“Now, about this candy,” Angelica said. “Leave it in the fridge for an hour. After it sets, you can break it up into pieces. It’ll be something fabulous to offer Mr. Everett and your customers tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Tricia said grudgingly.
Angelica pouted. “Trish, forget Harry. Forget Grant Baker. Concentrate on being the best shop owner Stoneham has ever seen.”
“And be lonely for the rest of my life?”
Angelica shook her head. “I’m done talking
at
you, since it’s obvious you have no intention of listening to my golden words of wisdom.” She grabbed her coat and headed for the door to the stairway. “Think about what I’ve said, though. Good advice is seldom taken—and that’s the only kind I have to give.”
Tricia got up to follow her, but
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