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

  “Are you walking?” Dustin asked from behind her.

  She glanced back. “Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “It’s cold and dark out. I’ll drive you home.”

  His offer surprised her. He was angry over how badly they’d done. He hadn’t said much to her since they’d left Kindred Place.

  Nevada didn’t want to put him out. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded.

  No words and she couldn’t see any emotion on his face. Still, he’d confirmed the offer. She’d be stupid to say no.

  “Thanks.” Not only would she get home faster, but she also wouldn’t feel like a Popsicle when she walked through the door. “I appreciate it.”

  A minute later, she slid into the passenger seat.

  Dustin closed her door.

  This was the third time he’d opened the door for her. She had to give him credit for his manners. Especially when she could tell by the way his lips pressed together in a thin line that he wasn’t happy with how tonight’s task went.

  He climbed behind the steering wheel, closed his door, and fastened his seat belt. He turned the key. The engine roared to life. After it warmed up, it brought welcome heat.

  Her gloved fingers began to thaw. “One day down, six more to go.”

  Everything that had gone wrong at Kindred Place swirled in Dakota’s mind like a whirlpool. If Dustin hadn’t been there, would she have quit? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.

  “I hope tomorrow goes better,” she said.

  Dustin drove down Main Street. “It can’t get any worse.”

  His tone showed his unhappiness with their performance tonight. He blamed her for their troubles.

  “We finished,” she said.

  “Thanks to Adele’s tips.”

  Lights from the dashboard cast shadows that accentuated his high cheekbones. Handsome. No denying that. But his devil-may-care attitude had disappeared when things went wrong. His frustrations and annoyance had grown quickly.

  At her.

  “Yes, but we completed the task and are still in the race.”

  “Barely,” he muttered.

  She had no idea what he’d expected from their alliance, but he’d been disappointed in her abilities tonight.

  Maybe she was the reason they’d had so much trouble. Her brain malfunctioned around Dustin. She never knew what to say or do. That had only happened to her twice before—once when she’d been asked to tutor their high school quarterback, who she’d thought was cute, for the SATs, and again in college with the jerk who’d invited her to the Valentine Ball.

  “We’re not in last place,” she said.

  “Third from bottom.”

  The couple that had required four batches to make their chocolates were after them. A team that hadn’t shown up were in last place.

  “Do you know what happened to the team who wasn’t there?” she asked.

  “No idea. Isaac Litton signed up with his brother, Mark, who has Down syndrome. They’re in the process of moving from Chicago, and I guess they expected to be here this weekend. I’ve only met them once, when they toured the Bar V5 horse barn. Seem like great guys.”

  “I hope nothing is wrong.”

  Dustin glanced her way. “You sound like Dakota again.”

  “Sorry for caring.” Nevada’s harsh tone hurt her ears, but she didn’t want to be compared to her older sister.

  Dustin glanced her way. “I bet Isaac got busy or forgot. Buying a house and moving to a new state is a big adjustment. I’m sure the sponsors will make sure everything’s okay. If not, I’ll see what I can do.”

  That made Nevada feel better. “Thanks. I’d hope someone would check on me if I hadn’t shown up.”

  “Did Dakota know you signed up for the quest?”

  “Yes.”

  “You seem a little touchy when I mention you being like your sister,” Dustin said.

  This wasn’t a topic Nevada wanted to discuss. “It’s nothing.”

  “The way you keep reacting when it happens suggests otherwise.”

  She bit her lip.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  Nevada hesitated. She barely knew the guy.

  “It might help to talk about it.” He reached across the cab and touched her hand. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Their gloves didn’t allow for skin-to-skin contact, but the gesture warmed her insides. She couldn’t remember the last time a man other than York had touched her.

  It felt… good.

  “I’m a good listener,” Dustin said. “A trait developed during long, dusty trail rides with guests in the summertime.”

  She weighed the pros and the cons. Maybe she would feel better if she wasn’t keeping this all inside. “It’s my mom.”

  “Is she in town, too?”

  “No.” Nevada did not need in-person pestering. “She and my dad are sailing around the Caribbean, but she keeps calling me.”

  “About what?”

  “Being more like Dakota.”

  His lips parted and then closed. “Volunteer at Whiskers and Paw Pals or some other place in town.”

  “I wish it were that simple.” Nevada blew out a frustrated breath. “My mom wants me to go out on dates, so I can find a nice man like my sister did and settle down.”

  “Oh.”

  “Oh is right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take my aggravation out on you.” Nevada rubbed her face. “But who would have thought having a boyfriend trumps getting an advanced degree?”

  “Your reactions make sense now, but do you know why your mom is pestering you?”

  “No idea. I’ve tried to think of a reason, but my parents’ home is a sailboat. They’re living their dream. I can’t imagine they’re ready for grandchildren yet. At least, I hope not.”

  “You don’t want a family?”

  Nevada gripped the armrest of the door. Once upon a time, she’d dreamed of having kids, an adoring husband, and a thirty-year mortgage on a house with a white picket fence, a home she would move into and stay. Forever.

  No moving around every couple of years. No having her children attend multiple schools during the same grade. No limiting things they bought so they wouldn’t have to be moved from place to place.

  The dream of owning a house remained, but the dream of having a family had been replaced by getting tenure.

  Not because she still didn’t want a family, but she kept that longing buried deep because the adoring husband part of the dream was proving to be impossible. Men wanted to hang out or hook up with her, but no man was interested in more. She was too nerdish and weird.

  “Not now. I have too much going on with writing my dissertation. Once I finish, I’ll have a job search ahead of me.” She kept her voice unemotional. Easy to do after years of practice. “Staying single makes the most sense.”

  The words came easily now that she’d said them enough.

  Nevada hadn’t given up without first trying. She’d asked a few friends out. No takers. The men she knew treated her with respect, and she appreciated that. None, however, showed any interest in her other than as a colleague, classmate, or friend. She’d finally decided to save herself from rejection and focus on her studies.

  A good decision. One she could live with.

  Neither of her parents ever used to bother Nevada about her social life or lack of one, but Dakota’s relationship with Bryce had changed everything.

  “I think my mom has finally realized how removed she and my dad are from our lives, and this is the result.”

  “I hope that’s it, because casual dating is the only way to go.”

  “No significant other in your life?” Nevada asked.

  “Nope, and I plan to keep it that way.”

  “Confirmed bachelor.”

  His easy grin returned—the first time since she’d spilled the first batch of chocolate. He nodded once. “Playing the field is my favorite pastime.”

  “I’m sure it is
.” An attractive man like Dustin likely had women throwing themselves at him, but that kind of carefree lifestyle wasn’t flawless. “But that might get old someday.”

  “Doubt it.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “My parents divorced when I was a kid. That soured my view on marriage.”

  She felt lucky her parents were still together. Several of her friends couldn’t say the same thing, and some of her dad’s soldiers had come home from a deployment to find their spouses had been unfaithful. Sure, there were exceptions, but the successful, long-term marriages seemed to be anomalies, not the norm.

  She didn’t have much personal experience in relationships, but her limited romantic encounters had left her heartbroken. Her dissertation research only reaffirmed that relationships often ended in sadness rather than happily ever after.

  Art imitating life? Or perhaps art as justification? Either worked for her.

  “Love isn’t all hearts and violins,” she said.

  “Definitely not.” His gaze met hers. “Looks like we share a common view on relationships.”

  That surprised her because they were so different. She stared at the hula girl on the dashboard. “Wish I could get my mom on board, too.”

  “Hey, I have an idea.” His tone sounded more positive. “If your mom brings up finding a guy again, tell her the Valentine Quest demands your full attention and you must keep your distractions to a minimum. That includes dating.”

  Nevada looked at Dustin. “Dating would be a huge distraction.”

  He grinned. “Exactly.”

  “I will tell her that when we talk. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He stopped in front of Dakota’s house. The place was dark except for the porch light. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s home.”

  Dakota must have gone over to Bryce and Walt’s place. Not surprising. She was over there a lot, whether her boyfriend was in town or not. “I have a key. Thanks again for the ride home.”

  “I’ll walk you to the door.” Dustin reached for the key in the ignition.

  She touched his arm. “Keep the engine running.”

  Her gaze met his, and something passed between them. Just a look—one she couldn’t explain—but a rush of heat pooled low in her stomach.

  If they were starring in a chick flick, this would be the perfect moment for one of them to kiss the other.

  Except this wasn’t a movie, and she would never just kiss a man. No matter how good looking he was. That just wasn’t something she would do.

  Even if a part of her wished she could.

  She clasped her hands on her lap. “This isn’t a date. I can walk myself to the door.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “I know. Please.”

  Dustin nodded once. “See you at nine?”

  Nevada wondered what he’d say if she said no, but she wasn’t ready to quit. She wasn’t sure if she had something to prove to him or herself, but she wanted tomorrow to go better. If things didn’t go well again, she had the feeling she would find herself on her own.

  No more alliance. No more partner. No more help.

  The muscles in her neck, shoulders, and back knotted into a macramé of tension.

  For some reason, the thought of competing by herself terrified her more than being blamed for losing.

  She raised her chin. “I’ll be there.”

  Chapter Six

  Saturday morning, Dustin sat inside the chocolate shop. Competitors filled the other tables. Some stood near the display shelves on the far wall. Most of the people he knew, some better than others, but he didn’t feel like chatting.

  Not when his and Nevada’s names were second to last on the leader board. For whatever reason, Isaac and Mark Litton were no longer listed.

  Dustin sipped his hot chocolate, but the thick, rich mixture didn’t taste as sweet as usual.

  If he didn’t move up in the standings, winning the quest wasn’t happening. That meant no trip to Fiji.

  Losing.

  He couldn’t let that happen.

  Taking another sip, he thought about Nevada and where she fit into this. Things had gone bad at Kindred Place last night, but he’d enjoyed talking to her on the drive to her sister’s house.

  Hearing Nevada’s take on relationships had been… interesting. Some women went on the defensive when he talked about not wanting to settle down. Others told him he’d change his mind after he met the right woman or when he got older. As if thirty wasn’t old enough to know what he wanted. Only the women who were looking for the same thing as he was reacted how Nevada had.

  A sign?

  This isn’t a date. I can walk myself to the door.

  Nevada Parker seemed like the kind of woman who would understand hanging out and having fun together. No strings fun.

  Except not now.

  No distractions until he crossed the finish line and won the quest.

  But after that…

  The bell on the door rang.

  Nevada entered. Her red nose and cheeks suggested she’d walked here. Either her sister needed the car or Nevada was made of heartier stock than he thought. The temperature was in the teens with the wind-chill factor, but she was dressed for the cold.

  Her hair was tucked into a green beanie that matched the scarf wrapped around her neck. The combo would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, and it made him smile. Most of the other competitors, including himself, wore something red or pink. His was a red bandanna. Others had hats, scarves, and jackets. Nevada’s glasses were red, so he didn’t think she disliked the color.

  Did that mean she was a nonconformist?

  Or maybe too cool—too city—to dress for the occasion?

  At least she wasn’t wearing all black today. Her jacket and gloves were, but her jeans were blue. The faded denim hugged her hips and thighs like a second skin until the pant legs disappeared into the tops of her black snow boots. She wasn’t skinny, but she looked fit.

  That brought a rush of relief. Maybe today would go better than last night.

  Nevada walked toward his table. She didn’t look tired, but she appeared hesitant.

  He downed his remaining hot chocolate, sat the cup down, and then pulled out the chair next to him. “Good morning.”

  She sat. “Ready for today?”

  Nodding, he motioned to the leader board. “We have some serious catching up to do.”

  Her nose scrunched. “The other team must have dropped out.”

  “Yeah.”

  Portia arrived with a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and several pink envelopes in the other. She placed the drink and one envelope on the table. “This contains your morning task. You can open it now.”

  Picking up the envelope, Dustin wanted to feel a rush of anticipation, not the growing lump of dread in his gut. He looked at Nevada.

  She was drinking her hot cocoa. A bit of whipped cream was on her upper lip like a little mustache.

  Cute.

  He stared at the envelope, but his gaze returned to the dollop of white above her lips.

  Bet that would taste sweet.

  He didn’t mean only the whipped cream.

  Whoa. Stop. No distractions.

  Dustin reached over and wiped the white stuff off with his finger. “That’s better.”

  She ran her tongue over her lips. “I should have used a napkin.”

  Or let him lick it off.

  Wrong answer.

  He forced his attention on the pink envelope. “Want to open it?”

  “Go ahead.” She drank more hot chocolate.

  Dustin pulled out a red piece of paper covered in pink hearts and read aloud.

  “Good morning. Today will be long, so be sure to remain hydrated even though the temperature will be cold. Your first task is a physical one that you must do with another person. If you’re competing solo, you’ll need to find a partner for this task.”

  “We’ve got that covered.” Nevada sounded pleased.

  He was still waiting
for more whipped cream to end up on her face and not in her mouth.

  “What else does it say?” she asked.

  “You will run an obstacle course that’s been set up in the park. To make things more challenging, you must piggyback your partner between obstacles.”

  The corners of Nevada’s lips turned down. “How much do you weigh?”

  He appreciated her wanting to do her share, but that wasn’t going to happen. “Too much for you to carry. I’ve got this.”

  Lines formed around her mouth. Concern clouded her gaze. “Are you sure you can do this?”

  Her doubtful tone annoyed him. He didn’t like anyone questioning him. “Yes.”

  She set her cup on the table. “What about your knee?”

  His muscles tensed, but he kept his expression neutral. He didn’t like others finding out his weakness. “Why are you asking about my knee?”

  “I heard you were injured.”

  Someone must have told her. Dakota? “That was a few years ago. My knee isn’t a problem. I’m wearing a brace, just in case.”

  The tension on Nevada’s face remained. Dustin swore under this breath. He didn’t want her to be nervous or worry about him. That could affect her actions during the task. He didn’t need that.

  He touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry. If my knee can handle the summer season at the Bar V5, it can handle this.”

  She nodded, but she still looked uncertain.

  Words weren’t helping. Dustin would show her that he was fine. “Let’s head over to the starting line.”

  Nevada took another sip of her drink and then stood. “We can see what we’re up against.”

  They walked to the park. An arch made of red and pink balloons marked the starting and finish line. One team was on the course.

  “Did we miss the official start?” Nevada asked.

  “This is a timed event,” he explained. “The order you go doesn’t matter. They record how long it takes to complete the obstacle course and then rank the teams using that.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “It doesn’t look too bad.”

  None of the obstacles seemed dangerous. Not unless someone was allergic to pink and red decorations.

  He leaned close to Nevada’s ear. Her hair smelled like vanilla—one of his favorite scents.