Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,26

white t-shirt and black shorts. His tanned skin crinkled as he smiled at her, and his blue eyes lit up. Meredith’s heart thudded quickly. Maybe he wasn’t upset at her for this morning. Maybe they could have a chance, if only he was interested in settling down and staying in their little valley. His smile grew, and she knew it didn’t really matter if they had no chance. She’d already given her heart to him.

“Hey!” A little voice piped up from behind the glass. “You’re dumping my ice cream on the floor.”

“What?” Meredith blinked and looked down. She was still holding the cup with the cookie in it, but the two scoops of cookies and cream ice cream had indeed been plopped right onto the floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Ignoring the mess and the snickers in the shop, she put two more scoops of ice cream in the right place, covered it with hot fudge and whipped cream, no nuts or cherry for this little guy, and handed it over.

She cleaned up the mess and then helped two more customers, studiously avoiding looking at Cruz and risking more ice cream on the floor. When it was Cruz and Cat’s turn, she smiled to greet them.

“Hey!” Cat greeted her warmly. “Can you take a break and go to lunch with us?”

Meredith met Cruz’s warm blue gaze, and she suddenly wanted nothing more than lunch with the two of them. She gestured behind them at the line and then tilted her head to Danielle. “It’s only the two of us until five. I’m going to have to make due with a cheese stick when the shop slows down for a minute.”

Cat’s lips thinned. She wasn’t one to back down. “Okay. We’re going to lunch. We’ll bring you something back.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Meredith protested.

“We want to,” Cruz said. “What would you like from Chips and Whips?”

“The chicken tacos or a chicken salad,” she said as people in line behind them were starting to shift impatiently.

“You got it.” Cruz gave her an irresistible smile and a wink as he walked to the door with Cat.

Meredith let out a deep exhale as the door closed behind them. She turned to the next person in line, but Danielle eased in close as she scooped rocky road and murmured, “Cruz Chadwick? Whew. He’s such a hottie. Does he like you?”

Meredith shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “We’ve been friends a long time.”

“If I were you, I’d make it my mission to be more than friends.”

Danielle walked away to ring up her customer, but Meredith stewed on her words as she helped customers and waited impatiently for Cruz and Cat to return.

When they walked through the door, her heart was racing with anticipation, and Cruz’s wide grin didn’t disappoint. He held a takeout container in one hand and silverware, napkin, and a drink in the other. The smell of chicken tacos made her realize how hungry she was. She loved the sweet scents in her shop, but real food sounded great about now. Time spent with Cruz and Cat sounded even better.

She helped two more people, and Cruz and Cat were next in line.

“What can I get you?” she asked.

“You can take a break and eat some lunch,” Cruz said, all stern-sounding but he was still smiling.

“Yes, take her for a break,” Danielle inserted. “Cat can help me.”

“I would love to.”

Cat came behind the counter, washed up, and donned an apron and gloves.

“Thank you so much,” Meredith said, giving her friend a quick squeeze. Cat ran a huge luxury resort, she was not some teenager who worked for minimum wage, and she was willing to help Meredith out to give her a break. She was a great friend and one of the main reasons Meredith hadn’t dissolved into a puddle of tears after the abduction and never risen again.

“Any time.” Cat winked.

Cruz gestured toward the door. “Would you like to sit outside and eat?”

“Sure.” She’d love some fresh air and sunshine, but more importantly, time with Cruz.

She heard Danielle and Cat whispering together as she pulled off her gloves and apron and headed to Cruz’s side. He held the door for her, and they walked out into the bright sun. They were both quiet as they walked to the town park at the end of Main Street next to the lake. There was a picnic table in the shade that was empty, so they sat, and Cruz set the takeout container, silverware, and drink in