Chapter One
Darcy Sweet folded another piece of tape against the back of the big red heart she had cut out of construction paper and decorated with scrapbooking lace. She positioned it just right on the end of one of the metal bookracks in her store, the Sweet Read Bookstore. It was the final touch among all the other Valentine’s Day hearts, cupids and roses. When it was in place she stood back to admire her work.
“I think it needs more streamers,” Sue teased her. Sue Fisher, Darcy’s young and enthusiastic assistant, tapped a finger against her lips. “Yes. And maybe some more roses. There has to be some left in Misty Hollow somewhere.”
“Very funny,” Darcy told her, sticking her tongue out. She did a slow circle in the middle of the store, checking out the decorations that hung from the ceiling or were propped up on the tables in the reading corner or just stuck on the walls and windows. “I think it looks good. Have you ever seen a better looking Valentine’s Day display?”
Sue raised her dark blonde eyebrows. “Nope. It’s the best I’ve ever seen,” she said, her tone flat.
Darcy wondered what was eating at Sue. Come to think of it the girl had been a bit distracted all morning. “Um, Sue? What’s up?”
At first she thought Sue wasn’t going to answer her. She kept her head down over the magazine she’d been leafing through half-heartedly all morning. Darcy was just about to let it go when Sue suddenly dropped her hands to her lap and smiled in a sheepish kind of way.
“I’ve met someone new,” she said.
“Well, that’s good isn’t it?” Darcy asked. Sue had finally broken up with her on again, off again boyfriend Randy just before Christmas. Darcy had never really cared for the guy anyway. Sue had never seemed happy with him. Now with a new guy, and at Valentine’s Day no less, maybe Sue could be happy again.
Sue’s smile got bigger. “Oh yes Darcy, he’s the most wonderful guy. It’s only been a few weeks and already I just can’t stop thinking about him. He could be, you know, the one,” she said, her fingers making air quotes to show how serious she was. “His name is Zachary Kendell. I met him at college. Same courses. Same taste in music. He even likes mustard on his hamburgers. Can you believe it?”
Darcy couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Yes. I can believe it. It’s the season of love after all.”
“Oh, well, now, I wouldn’t use the big L word just yet,” Sue said, but even as the words were coming out her cheeks were coloring red. “Anyway, with winter break and all, he promised to come visit me here. Maybe you’ll get a chance to meet him.”
Darcy could see Sue really had strong feelings for this Zach. Not that it surprised her. Darcy had fallen for her boyfriend, Jon Tinker, within days of meeting him. They’d taken the big step now of moving in together. She’d never been happier than she was waking up next to him each and every morning.
“So, yeah,” Sue continued. “Things are going really well with us. I’m just kind of worried, you know?”
“Worried? About what?”
Sue grimaced and then sighed. “I’m worried about Valentine’s Day.” As Darcy scrunched her face up in confusion, Sue quickly explained, “I’m worried that it’s going to put too much pressure on him. You know how guys are. I don’t want Zach trying to go over the top or stressing that I won’t be happy with whatever he does. I don’t want him to think I expect some big gesture.”
Darcy thought about it. “Can I give you some advice?”
Sue practically beamed at her. “Oh Darcy, I’ve been waiting all morning to ask you! You’re the perfect person to give me advice. You and Jon are like the most loving couple I know. Tell me. What are the two of you doing for Valentine’s Day?”
Darcy bit her lip and kind of rolled her eyes as she
Darcy Sweet folded another piece of tape against the back of the big red heart she had cut out of construction paper and decorated with scrapbooking lace. She positioned it just right on the end of one of the metal bookracks in her store, the Sweet Read Bookstore. It was the final touch among all the other Valentine’s Day hearts, cupids and roses. When it was in place she stood back to admire her work.
“I think it needs more streamers,” Sue teased her. Sue Fisher, Darcy’s young and enthusiastic assistant, tapped a finger against her lips. “Yes. And maybe some more roses. There has to be some left in Misty Hollow somewhere.”
“Very funny,” Darcy told her, sticking her tongue out. She did a slow circle in the middle of the store, checking out the decorations that hung from the ceiling or were propped up on the tables in the reading corner or just stuck on the walls and windows. “I think it looks good. Have you ever seen a better looking Valentine’s Day display?”
Sue raised her dark blonde eyebrows. “Nope. It’s the best I’ve ever seen,” she said, her tone flat.
Darcy wondered what was eating at Sue. Come to think of it the girl had been a bit distracted all morning. “Um, Sue? What’s up?”
At first she thought Sue wasn’t going to answer her. She kept her head down over the magazine she’d been leafing through half-heartedly all morning. Darcy was just about to let it go when Sue suddenly dropped her hands to her lap and smiled in a sheepish kind of way.
“I’ve met someone new,” she said.
“Well, that’s good isn’t it?” Darcy asked. Sue had finally broken up with her on again, off again boyfriend Randy just before Christmas. Darcy had never really cared for the guy anyway. Sue had never seemed happy with him. Now with a new guy, and at Valentine’s Day no less, maybe Sue could be happy again.
Sue’s smile got bigger. “Oh yes Darcy, he’s the most wonderful guy. It’s only been a few weeks and already I just can’t stop thinking about him. He could be, you know, the one,” she said, her fingers making air quotes to show how serious she was. “His name is Zachary Kendell. I met him at college. Same courses. Same taste in music. He even likes mustard on his hamburgers. Can you believe it?”
Darcy couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Yes. I can believe it. It’s the season of love after all.”
“Oh, well, now, I wouldn’t use the big L word just yet,” Sue said, but even as the words were coming out her cheeks were coloring red. “Anyway, with winter break and all, he promised to come visit me here. Maybe you’ll get a chance to meet him.”
Darcy could see Sue really had strong feelings for this Zach. Not that it surprised her. Darcy had fallen for her boyfriend, Jon Tinker, within days of meeting him. They’d taken the big step now of moving in together. She’d never been happier than she was waking up next to him each and every morning.
“So, yeah,” Sue continued. “Things are going really well with us. I’m just kind of worried, you know?”
“Worried? About what?”
Sue grimaced and then sighed. “I’m worried about Valentine’s Day.” As Darcy scrunched her face up in confusion, Sue quickly explained, “I’m worried that it’s going to put too much pressure on him. You know how guys are. I don’t want Zach trying to go over the top or stressing that I won’t be happy with whatever he does. I don’t want him to think I expect some big gesture.”
Darcy thought about it. “Can I give you some advice?”
Sue practically beamed at her. “Oh Darcy, I’ve been waiting all morning to ask you! You’re the perfect person to give me advice. You and Jon are like the most loving couple I know. Tell me. What are the two of you doing for Valentine’s Day?”
Darcy bit her lip and kind of rolled her eyes as she
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