The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane (Life in Icicle Falls) by Sheila Roberts Page B

pink bra and panty set invaded her mind. She could feel her cheeks warming.
    Todd gave her a scornful look. “Nice? Wow, you two really lit up the town.”
    “I guess if I’d been with you, it would have been a night to remember,” she scoffed.
    “Hey, it would’ve been more than nice.” He moved a step closer. “So, how about hanging out with me next weekend?”
    “I’ll think about it,” she hedged.
    “Don’t spend too much time thinking,” he said and tapped her on the nose.
    Even that small contact was enough to shoot an electric charge to her chest. She watched as he sauntered out of the coffee shop. He looked as good from behind as he did from the front. Of course, she was going to get smart and match herself up with Luke, but what could it hurt to play a little pinball on Friday night?
    * * *
    Bailey had logged in TV time with everyone from Rachael Ray to the Barefoot Contessa. She was watching Guy Fieri and thinking how nice it would be to have a cooking show with someone cute like him when the condo door opened and Cecily walked in.
    Bailey gave a guilty start and killed the TV. Not quickly enough, though. Cecily had seen; Bailey could tell by the worried expression on her sister’s face.
    There was nothing to worry about, really. So what if she was still in her pj’s? And so what if the coffee table was littered with evidence of her eating binge? A big bowl with only a couple of unpopped popcorn kernels sat in silent testimony as to what she’d had for lunch, along with three empty soda bottles. If Cecily went looking for her supply of chocolates, she’d find those missing because Bailey had consumed them, too.
    “I was just...” She stopped. What was she doing? “Taking a break.”
    Cecily nodded. “You’re allowed.”
    But Bailey felt guilty. She hopped off the couch. “Would you like me to make dinner?”
    “Sure. That’d be great. I’ve got—”
    “Hamburger in the fridge,” Bailey finished for her. “I saw it. I’ll make us some Nachos Supreme.”
    Half an hour later they were side by side at the granite-topped eating bar, halfway through a meal of nachos and lemonade, and had exhausted the topic of Cecily’s day. They had avoided the subject of Bailey’s day. It was all too evident how that had gone.
    “So, tomorrow I’m having lunch with Charley, who used to be Charley Albach,” Cecily said casually. “Want to join us?”
    Charley, the successful restaurant owner? That would be fun. Not! “No, I’ve actually got some things planned for tomorrow.” To watch the Food Network.
    Unlike their older sister, Cecily wasn’t one to pry. She simply nodded and said okay.
    The next day, to prove she wasn’t a loser, Bailey showered and got dressed. Then, while Cecily was at lunch, she watched more cooking shows and had a good, long cry.
    Okay, this was really bad. She was in a terrible slump. She went to the kitchen and made chocolate-dipped shortbread. There. Now she’d accomplished something.
    There were even some cookies left by the time Cecily got home. And Bailey fixed dinner again. “How was lunch with Charley?” she asked.
    “Fine,” Cecily said. She took a bite of the stuffed pork chops Bailey had made for dinner, then casually added, “Her sous chef just gave notice.”
    Bailey’s forkful of baked potato stopped halfway to her mouth.
    “She thought you might be interested.”
    Suddenly Bailey’s heart began to beat faster, and she couldn’t quite catch her breath.
    “Bailey?” Cecily asked in concern. “Are you okay?”
    Bailey swallowed hard and set her fork back down on the plate. “I’m fine.” She took a deep breath, then reached for her water glass and gulped half of it. She was fine. She wasn’t going to allow a little thing like a ruined dream to keep her down.
    But what was she going to do? Not work in a restaurant. Ever. Again.
    She felt a gentle hand on her arm. “You can’t let that woman take your dream from you.”
    Too late. “I don’t