His Pickle Her Jam (Cherry On Top Tales #4)

Chapter Twenty-One-Buck

Day of the Block Party

Excitement buzzed in the air, or maybe that was just the way I felt after last night.

I hadn’t intended to hunt Jan down at her apartment, but I couldn’t leave her alone. Need and desire ran me hard, and I hated to admit I was half-scared she would turn me away.

But she hadn’t.

Still, I didn’t spend the night. I was going to give her at least some space and time. Time to think about what I was truly asking of her. Which was everything.

The word half-assed was not in my vocabulary. Not when it came to Jan.

Nervousness had me gritting my teeth, tightening my jaw, and clenching my fists.

“Dude, relax,” Sonny said as he walked into the store.

“Wow, the place looks great!”

Delani beamed at both sides of the shop, and I smiled and nodded. I had to agree. It did look good.

Jan’s side was more earthy and feminine, but after tasting some of her samples previously, I knew her jams and jellies weren’t just sweet. They were fucking awesome.

She offered something different. Something that appealed to both men and women, anyone with a finer palate.

“Where’s Jan?” I asked, unable to help myself.

“I’m here,” the object of all my affection came running inside the store, a smile on her beautiful face.

“Jan,” I said, rounding the counter to reach her.

I needed my hands on her. It was like I couldn’t tell if she was real unless I was holding her.

“Good morning, David,” she said, rising on tiptoes to kiss me.

“You guys, they’re here!” Delani whisper-screamed excitedly.

But I didn’t care about anything other than the woman in my arms.

“Good morning,” the familiar sound of Mrs. Montgomery’s voice interrupted us, and I frowned as Jan winked at me then turned around.

“Allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jones,” the realtor said, gesturing to the two older people beside her.

“Good morning,” I said, my arm around Jan’s back as she shook hands and introduced herself.

“Well, it looks like the block party has already started,” Mrs. Jones said, smiling kindly.

“That it has. Where would you like to begin?” Mrs. Montgomery asked and glared at us.

“Better get to our corners,” Jan whispered, squeezing my hand before ducking around her counter.

I frowned, but I went, too.

Delani was standing with Jan, and they both talked animatedly to Mr. Jones, who’d decided to try her selections first. Sonny was putting samples of my wares into the tasting cups while I answered Mrs. Jones' questions.

“How long have you been doing this?” she inquired, holding a cup of my classic dills.

“A few years, though it began as a hobby,” I told her, keeping my smile open and friendly, though I kept stealing glances at Jan.

“She is lovely,” the keen-eyed older woman said, looking at Jan, then back at me.

“Um, yeah, she is.”

“You know, you have that same look in your eye as my husband did when I first applied to work in this store forty-seven years ago. I was only seventeen at the time, still in school. But by the time I graduated the next year, he proposed and bought the store from his father who was retiring.”

“Really? I didn’t realize this place had been here that long,” I said, surprised.

“Oh yes, this place has been run by couples working side by side for three generations. Unfortunately, our children were not interested. But I can see you and Miss Morrow have something between you, yes?”

“Yes,” I said, not even trying to play coy.

“You love her, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Does she know?”

“I told her, yeah,” I said, biting my lip.

“So, why are you doing this? Why compete? Why not work together?”

Suddenly, I was struck dumb.

The hair on the back of my neck rose, and tingles danced up my spine. I watched Jan, taking in her smile and charm and natural grace.

Mrs. Jones was right.

I didn’t care anymore about winning this thing.

I just cared about her.

She was also right about working together. Suddenly, I saw it so clearly. A future where Jan and I were together every day.

Where I could stand with her, side by side, and we could work, live, love, and simply be.

It was a future I wanted so badly.

Jan’s face lifted in my direction. Like she could feel me watching her. Amber eyes met mine, and it was like I knew she was having the same exact thought.

Mrs. Jones traded places with her husband, and they continued to chat and eat samples, but my mind was stuck on Jan and that glimpse I had of our future.

I wanted to tell her now, but the block party was well on its way and tons of people were filing in and out of the shop, taking samples and flyers.

It was hours before we would have a break, but when we did, I was going to tell her exactly what I wanted.