Sweeter Than Chocolate by Lizzie Shane

Author:Lizzie Shane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Published: 2022-10-18T10:16:13+00:00

Chapter Twenty Five

“If we had met any other way, I never would have given him a chance.”

“Our first date was an absolute disaster,” Mark confirmed.

The couple sat on the couch in their downtown condo, the lights of the city behind them as they faced the camera. They were both in their late thirties or early forties, but Mark had a genial, round face and a boyishness to his smile, while Pablo was all serious intensity, with silver starting to appear at his temples and lines of concentration around his eyes.

“We had nothing in common,” Pablo continued. “He wasn’t at all what I thought I was looking for.”

Mark rested his hand on his husband’s knee, smiling fondly. “He had an actual physical list of requirements. It was about as romantic as a job interview—for which I was woefully underqualified. No Ivy League education. No big career goals.”

“I didn’t think someone could possibly be perfect for me if they didn’t understand my drive. And how could he understand my ambitions if he didn’t have any of his own? I’d always envisioned myself as one half of a power couple. I thought the only way someone could be understanding about my schedule and the demands of my job would be if they had their own demanding job and a similar lifestyle.”

“He would have been miserable,” Mark said with absolute conviction. “Did you ever see Carrie Fisher’s one woman show? She said she and Paul Simon were two flowers in search of a gardener. I always loved that. Someone has to tend the garden.” He grinned. “And who better than an actual gardener?”

“The neurosurgeon and the gardener.” Pablo shook his head. “He wasn’t at all what I pictured when I imagined my ideal, but now I can’t imagine life without him.”

Dean let the moment hold for a long beat—recording that shared smile between the happy couple—before he prompted them with his next question. “So how did the chocolates play a part?”

“Well, we met at the shop. How Sweet It is,” Mark explained his gaze flicking over to Lucy with a whisper of a smile on his face. “We’d both heard about the magic love chocolates and thought, ‘Why not?’ Pablo made a plan—of course—to pick one up after his shift, but he was barely going to get there before the shop closed. I’d lost track of time, and got stuck in traffic, and I didn’t think I was going to make it, so I was rushing.”

“I bought my chocolate, took a bite, and nothing happened,” Pablo picked up the story. “I thought, ‘Oh, well, it’s a nice idea, but it’s just a silly superstition.’ One of the nurses had goaded me into coming, and I was a little skeptical to begin with. And then I’m turning to go when this guy comes racing through the door and knocks me off my feet.”

“Literally.” Mark laughed. “It was so cliché. I ran right into him, and we both went crashing to the floor. Total romcom scenario.” He grinned.

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