The Valentine Quest (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 5) Read online

  The Valentine Quest

  A Love at the Chocolate Shop Romance

  Melissa McClone

  The Valentine Quest

  Copyright © 2017 Melissa McClone

  Kindle Edition

  The Tule Publishing Group, LLC

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978-1-945879-66-1

  Cover design by Rhian Awni at www.reanidesigns.etsy.com

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  Dedication

  To Jane Porter and C.J. Carmichael

  for making Love at the Chocolate Shop a reality!

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Love at the Chocolate Shop Series

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Professor Julie Cassiday, Professor Emily Johnson, Julia Riegel, PhD candidate,

  Air Force Colonel Mike Cannon (Ret.) and Mrs. Beth Cannon, Air Force veteran.

  Chapter One

  Cupid had gone on a rampage in Marietta, Montana. The over-the-top, sappy Valentine’s Day decorations covering Main Street store windows and street lamps made Nevada Parker nauseous. If not for skipping lunch, she might be sick to her stomach. February fourteenth was her least favorite holiday.

  Gaze focused forward, she trudged through the white carpet of snow on the pavement with one destination in mind—Copper Mountain Chocolates where her sister, Dakota, worked. Nevada ignored the explosion of red and pink surrounding her.

  The only way to escape the love-inspired decorations was to stay inside Dakota’s house for the next two weeks until Valentine’s Day was over. That would keep Nevada focused on her dissertation—what she should be working on right now—but she’d needed to go out this afternoon.

  The winter storm predicted to bypass the small town, or leave only a dusting of snow, hadn’t listened to the weather forecast. Flurries had turned into inches of accumulation on the ground. The inches would likely become feet. That meant Dakota needed her snow boots so she could walk home after work.

  No problem. Nevada had a plan—as usual.

  She would drop off the boots and hurry back to the house before the snow worsened and one of the crazy cupid-wannabe residents in town handed her a Valentine headband to wear. Someone had already given her a shiny heart sticker, and it was only the first of February. She couldn’t imagine the frenzy as the fourteenth drew closer.

  Why was this town so into Valentine’s Day?

  A castle constructed from gingerbread caught Nevada’s attention. She took a closer look at the bakery’s front window. Hearts and more hearts, including heart-shaped pies and cakes.

  Nevada’s muscles tightened, and she blew out a frustrated breath. The condensation hung on the cold air as if containing an imaginary exclamation point to highlight her current emotional state.

  Keep walking.

  The wind changed direction.

  Snowflakes hit her glasses. She wiped the lens with her gloved finger, but that only distorted her vision more. If only she’d put on her contacts, but she’d been rushing to get to Bozeman, where she taught three mornings a week, and worn her glasses instead.

  Her right foot skidded on the snow.

  Oh, no.

  She raised her arms to balance herself, but her foot slid out in front of her. Gravity took over.

  Thud.

  She landed on her butt.

  Ouch.

  Snow seeped through her pants.

  Brrr. That was cold.

  “Hey, are you okay?” a man asked.

  “Yes.”

  Her glasses were too wet to see clearly, but he seemed to be wearing something on his head.

  “Here.” He reached out to her. “Let me help you up.”

  Nevada placed her palm in his gloved hand—that much she could see if she looked under her lenses. He pulled her upright. He must be strong because he didn’t step back.

  Wrong move because she found herself on her feet but up against his chest.

  Her heart pounded. Or was that his?

  He was taller than her. Six feet, at least.

  Unfamiliar scents surrounded her. Earthy smells. Animals.

  She stiffened, straightened, and then let go of his hand. “Thanks.”

  “Do you want me to call anyone?”

  She brushed the snow from her backside, which was sore. “Thanks, but my ego is bruised more than anything else.”

  That made him laugh. “If you’re sure.”

  “Positive.”

  “Okay, then.” The man reached into his pocket, pulled out something bright, and handed her a red bandanna. “Wipe off your glasses. Wouldn’t want you to fall again.”

  His words prickled. Her wet, blurry glasses had nothing to do with her fall. “I slipped on the snow.”

  “If you say so.”

  She might not be able to see his face, but the teasing note in his voice stung her pride. “I do.”

  “Then good luck with that.” He walked away.

  “Hey,” she called after him. “Don’t you want your bandanna?”

  “Keep it.”

  Nevada wiped her glasses, and then she tucked the bandanna into her jacket pocket. Embarrassed and annoyed from the fall, she plodded across the street.

  Each step hurt. Her bottom was wet from the snow.

  Not many cars were out. People, either.

  Surprising given the time of day, but then again, the snow was falling harder by the minute.

  She stopped in front of Copper Mountain Chocolates. The window was decked out with hearts, cupids with arrows, and Be Mine signs.

  Molded heart-shaped chocolates on sticks, covered with cellophane, and tied with red and pink ribbons were arranged like flowers in a pretty red vase. Fancy heart-shaped boxes and white doilies held pyramids of gourmet chocolates. Shoppers would be enticed—or guilt tripped—into spending a fortune on their valentine.

  No boyfriend would be giving her a card or chocolate or flowers. She hadn’t received anything last year or the year before that or…

  Nevada turned toward the door. Something on the window caught her gaze—a flyer taped to the inside of the glass. She scanned the colorful, heart-decorated page.

  “The Valentine Quest,” she read aloud.

  That sounded like a cutesy activity for couples to do together. Though the flyer said individuals, pairs of friends, or couples were welcome to enter.

  Not her thing, but knowing that didn’t stop her chest from tightening as if a pair of imaginary arms wrapped around her and squeezed. Hard.<
br />
  Nevada tamped down the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy that swelled inside her. She didn’t need that with the pressure of her dissertation and teaching bearing on her shoulders like cement pilings.

  Ignore the red and pink hearts.

  Ignore the gnawing feeling inside.

  Ignore the memory of being rejected because you were too smart. A nerd. A freak.

  She didn’t need to be one half of a couple to define herself. Getting caught up in the sentimentality of a commercial holiday that arose from the feast day of a saint was ridiculous.

  Nevada knew better.

  If anything, her dissertation topic about romantic love as a bourgeois myth was proving itself to be as true in life as in nineteenth-century literature.

  Tucking her emotions safely away, Nevada focused on the flyer. The multi-day event required participants to be smart—she was—willing to volunteer—she could—and to be adventurous—no with a capital N-O.

  Not a trait of hers. Not one she cared to possess, either.

  Reading was as adventurous as she got, and no one would call her spontaneous. She often skipped to the final chapter and read the ending of the story first because she didn’t want to be disappointed after investing her time.

  Uh-oh. Snowflakes were falling faster. Smaller ones than before. She’d better drop off her sister’s boots, so she wouldn’t be walking back to the house in a whiteout.

  Nevada wiped her shoes on the mat outside the chocolate shop, brushed the snow from her shoulders, and then opened the door.

  A bell jingled. The sound reverberated along her spine.

  She wasn’t a fish out of water in this small town but an alien from another universe. That was how she’d always been, even growing up, when they had her skip a grade so she wouldn’t be bored in class. Changing schools every other year or so because of her father’s new army assignments hadn’t helped.

  “Welcome to Copper Mountain Chocolates,” her sister said from behind the counter. Dakota didn’t look up as she used silver tongs to fill a large box with chocolates.

  The delicious smell—a mix of chocolate, vanilla, and other spices—made Nevada forget her troubles. No wonder Dakota enjoyed working here. Pure, sweet goodness defined the aroma.

  Nevada walked to the counter. “I have your boots.”

  “Great.” Dakota’s smile brightened her pretty face. Her light brown hair was in a French braid, and her brown eyes matched the color of milk chocolate. She wore an indigo-blue shirt with long sleeves, dark jeans, and a copper-colored apron. “I should know better than to trust one of Dylan Morgan’s weather forecasts.”

  Nevada unzipped her backpack, removed the plastic bag holding her sister’s boots, and placed it on the floor next to the counter. “Is he the one on the radio? KCMC?”

  “Yes. Copper Mountain Country radio.” Dakota placed two more chocolates in the box and then closed the lid. “He’s a nice guy, but an awful weatherman.”

  “Sounds like the station needs a better meteorologist.”

  “Yes, but in Dylan’s defense, the weather can be unpredictable.”

  Dakota would feel that way. Her sister always saw the good in others. She grabbed a mug from a shelf and used a ladle to fill it with whatever was in the copper pot on the stovetop behind her.

  Nevada pulled off her black gloves. She touched the seat of her jeans—wet. Maybe she’d get into her pajamas when she got home. Why not? She had nowhere else to go today.

  Dakota swirled whipped cream over the contents of the cup, sprinkled chocolate shavings on top, and pushed the drink toward Nevada. “Here’s a hot chocolate for venturing out in the cold for me.”

  Her sister’s sweet gesture didn’t surprise Nevada. Dakota was always helping people and animals. She’d done that when she was a child, too.

  Their mother, however, had pushed Dakota to study and work harder at school. That had only caused frustrations because academics hadn’t come as easily to Dakota due to a learning disability. It hadn’t helped that Nevada and their brother, York, were often in advanced classes. But the kindness Dakota showered on all—human and animal—surpassed any GPA or standardized test scores. Few had the same kind and caring heart she did.

  “Thanks.” Nevada picked up the mug. “This is just what I need to chase away the chill.”

  She took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat. Heavenly. Every kind of chocolate she’d tried at the shop was to die for, but this drink heated her from the inside.

  Perfection.

  “Did class go well?” Dakota asked.

  “Not well, but better than last week. Stepping in for the original instructor is an adjustment for the students and for me.”

  “You’ll do great.” Dakota placed the box of chocolates into a large bag and tied the handles with a copper-colored ribbon. “How’s the dissertation?”

  “It’s coming along.”

  Slowly, painfully so.

  Thank goodness that she’d been required to turn in chapters the past couple of years or she would be flailing.

  Nevada had come to Montana to find peace and quiet, a place where she could work on her dissertation. Dakota’s house had sounded ideal—especially after Nevada had been hired to fill in for a college instructor who needed to take an emergency medical leave—but since arriving a couple of weeks ago, Nevada had found only distractions.

  Three to be exact.

  Dakota’s foster animals wanted Nevada’s constant attention. The two dogs, Chance and Frodo, and one cat, Kimba, were sweet, but the definition of needy unless they were asleep. That meant tiring them out, but Nevada didn’t want to make her sister feel bad. Dakota loved her foster animals and doted on them like they were her kids.

  “The three amigos wanted to play when I got home, so we did,” Nevada added.

  Dakota made a face. “You’re spoiling them.”

  Barks, meows, and being bumped by muzzles and paws weren’t easy to ignore. Playing fetch and holding a laser pointer so the red dot could be chased wasn’t all bad. The three seemed to appreciate Nevada’s efforts. “They miss you when you’re gone.”

  Dakota only worked at the chocolate shop three days a week—Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Nevada was looking forward to Friday. When she returned from teaching, she would close the bedroom door and catch up on her work.

  “Crate the dogs. They’re used to it when I’m gone.”

  “They bark and whimper.”

  “They’ll stop,” Dakota said. “At least Kimba sleeps most of the time.”

  But not always in the most convenient of places.

  When Nevada had opened her laptop earlier, the white cat plopped herself on the keyboard.

  “The three aren’t used to having someone home during the day, so they are taking advantage of you. Don’t let that happen,” Dakota continued. “You’re the one in charge, not them.”

  Nevada nodded, even though she felt more like the animals’ servant.

  Dakota sighed. “All of us miss Bryce and Rascal, so that could have something to do with their behavior, too.”

  Bryce Grayson was Dakota’s boyfriend. He was over on the west side of the state for a design project and had taken his dog with him. Nevada hadn’t known the guy long, but he seemed nice and made her sister happy. Bryce’s dad, Walt, was also a great guy, who treated Dakota like a daughter and welcomed Nevada into the family when she’d arrived in town.

  A marriage proposal seemed to be a given to those who knew the couple, but Dakota wasn’t in any rush for that to happen. She’d said the two needed more time before taking the next step.

  Nevada was relieved to see her sister being smart about this new relationship, but her sister’s feelings for Bryce seemed different—deeper—than with past boyfriends, and he acted like Dakota was the center of his universe.

  “When will he be back?” Nevada asked.

  “This weekend, but only for two days.” Disappointment colored Dakota’s voice.

  “Two
days is better than none.”

  Dakota nodded, but her gaze clouded. “I’m realizing how Mom must have felt whenever Dad went away.”

  Their father, now retired, had been in the army for over thirty years. The family followed him wherever he was stationed, but deployments were another story. He’d left them for what seemed like forever when Nevada was young. Now she realized the separation had been hardest on their mom. Nevada still remembered counting the days until their father returned home by marking them off on a big calendar.

  She sipped the cocoa. She’d never felt that kind of love for someone. Nothing close to it. Only crushes or attraction. Maybe the hint of possibility…

  “Bryce promised he’d be home for Valentine’s Day,” Dakota said.

  Nevada nearly choked on her drink. She coughed and then swallowed.

  Not Dakota, too!

  “You okay?” her sister asked.

  “Fine. It’s just…” Nevada wiped her mouth with her hand. “Everyone around here seems into Valentine’s Day. I’ve never seen so many heart decorations in my life. They should rename the town Cupidville.”

  Dakota’s shoulders dropped. “Please tell me you don’t still hate Valentine’s Day after all this time.”

  Some days it felt like yesterday, not Nevada’s freshman year of college. Yes, she’d put what happened behind her, but she hadn’t forgotten.

  She couldn’t.

  No matter how hard she tried.

  “Hate is a strong adjective, but it’s still my least favorite holiday.”

  And for good reason.

  She’d had a huge crush on a senior in one of her classes. He was gorgeous with an amazing body. If her Mr. Right existed, it was him. When he invited her to an off-campus Valentine’s Day party, she’d thought all her dreams would come true.

  He’d arrived at her dorm wearing a tuxedo and carrying a single red rose. He’d been so attentive and complimentary over dinner. They’d laughed and chatted. When he’d kissed her hand during dessert, violins had played in her head. She’d thought she found true love. She’d put her first name with his last name to see how it sounded.