Salt Water Taffie (Boardwalk Brides Book 1) by Janice Thompson

Author:Janice Thompson [Thompson, Janice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

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With one arm looped through Ryan’s and the other holding the stuffed dog, Taffie walked toward the candy shop. She did everything in her power to still the exaggerated pounding that went on inside her heart. Could Ryan hear it? She sure could. In her ears. Her wrists. Her neck. Everything inside seemed to have sprung to life when he slipped his arm through hers. She tried to balance these feelings against the sadness that had swept over her so suddenly at the mention of the summer drawing to an end. She shouldn’t get this worked up in front of Ryan, not about business problems, anyway.

And yet, as she gazed up into his eyes—eyes filled with loving compassion—she wondered if, perhaps, the Lord had finally sent someone she could confide in. Someone who might just understand. And possibly help.

They reached the bench just as the last of the evening crowd disappeared. With the glow of the lamplight overhead ushering them on, they took their seats. Ryan slipped an arm around her shoulder, and Taffie found herself comfortable with the fact. She held the prized puppy on her lap and gazed out at the water. “I love it out here at night,” she said with a sigh. “I used to sit out here as a kid and close my eyes, just listening to the waves.”

They both sat in silence for a moment, doing just that. Ryan finally broke it with a question. “So, you’ve grown up with the candy shop as part of your daily life?”

“In the summers, yes. It’s so much a part of me. I don’t know how I could be happy anyplace else.”

“And yet. . .” He drew her a bit closer, and she found herself at ease, snuggling up against him. “You’re worried about what’s coming next with the business?”

She fought the temptation to tell him everything at once. “I’m just a little concerned about the off-season. My parents are leaving soon, but they want me to come up with a plan to bring in customers while they’re gone.”

“Right. They mentioned that.”

She sat up straight and looked him in the eye. “They talked to you about this?”

“Only in passing.”

She relaxed a bit. “Well, I’ve stretched my brain about as far as I can stretch it, and just can’t seem to come up with a workable plan. Not a realistic one, anyway. And to be honest, every time I think about it for any length of time, I just start feeling sick inside. I’m so worried I’ll take this business they spent their lives building and run it into the ground.”

“What?” His brow wrinkled. “But I’ve seen you in action. You’re great with the customers and you clearly love the product. What’s the drawback?”

“I’m not business minded and I’m not great with the whole being-in-charge thing.” Taffie groaned. “My sister Candy is better suited for all of that, but she’s busy with flight school out in Arizona. Not that I’m complaining. She was meant to be a pilot. I wouldn’t take that from her for anything.

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