‘Well then, cheers.’ Holly raised her hot chocolate mug and they clinked cups together.

‘Cheers, Holly – to the Cosy Chocolate Shop Café.’

23

Emma’s mind was spinning in bed that night, but for a change, not about men or money. If she really was going to make the shop into a café as well, how long might it take to add a little seating area, get it furnished, and source the extra kitchen equipment and crockery she might need? Furniture-wise, all she needed to buy (or even better, with finances tight, rummage the odd house clearance or auction room) were two tables, and perhaps six chairs. She could use the two stools from the kitchen to make a counter bar, but she’d need to find a carpenter or builder to make the window seats – hopefully, at a really good rate.

One very lovely builder came to mind, but it was way too early to ask for help like that. And she still needed that particular builder to call her! The thought made her stomach go squishy. It was still only two days since their ‘date’, and despite her concerns she realised how very much she wanted to hear from him.

Surely, if he liked her, he’d have phoned by now, or even sent a brief text. Was he doing his disappearing act all over again? She felt like a teenager, all angsty. Damn, she wasn’t cut out for all this emotional stuff. She’d been off the dating scene for far too long. Were you still meant to wait for the guy to call you? Did you go ahead and call him? She had his number, after all. Did you send a text? If so, how to phrase it? She didn’t want to look desperate or needy, but she didn’t want him to disappear into thin air again either.

The next morning, she’d had several tourists in buying fudge and truffles to take home to loved ones, and someone else wanting a gift for the pet sitter. Emma did a ‘Thank you’ bar in both milk and dark chocolate with white squirly chocolate writing. They were very popular. At different times of year she’d write festive messages on them, and there was a ‘Happy Birthday’ version too. It’d soon be time to start making some of the ‘Merry Christmas’ ones, she mused. Then her mind wandered to a ‘Text me!’ message. Hah – she could send Max a chocolate message, lol – that was if she had known his address.