Chapter TWO

She had never wanted someone to both leave and stay so much in her entire hospitality career.

Ariel Hawthorne smoothed the creases from the floral-patterned tablecloth in the empty dining room of The Seaside Cafe, her practiced hands stilling for a moment to appreciate the silence that now blanketed Cliffside BB. The last of the guests, a sprightly couple still buoyant with celebratory champagne, were in the restaurant's foyer, wrapping themselves in scarves and laughter—but much too slowly for Ariel's nerves as she ran through amental list of all that she still needed to do.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Hollister," Ariel said, her voice echoing the warmth of the winter sun through the bay windows. "Cliffside was delighted to host you."

"Call me Marilyn, dear," Mrs. Hollister insisted with a wink, her husband nodding in jovial agreement. "And it"s we who should thank you. This place is an absolute gem."

"Safe travels back to Boston," Darcy chimed in, the rocker edge of her General Manager and right-hand man softened by the genuine smile he offered them. He hefted their luggage with ease, a display of the muscles honed from hours of kitchen labor.

The couple were finally eased out the door of The Seaside, calling back merry goodbyes. Once the door closed, sealing off the February chill, Ariel let out a slow breath, her gaze wandering over the emptied parlor where Cliffside's prior guests had held quite the late-night party. She caught sight of a forgotten silk scarf—a splash of turquoise against the antique oak bench.

"Quite the shindig they had," Darcy remarked, returning to her side as he was blown back in with the winter wind. "And you can feel that snow storm coming." Ariel looked pointedly at his bare arms, but he only laughed. He claimed to be immune to the cold, and even now his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, revealing tattoos that spoke of a life rich with stories.

"Indeed," Ariel agreed, plucking the scarf from the wood. Her fingertips traced the embroidery, and she unearthed her phone at a ding—the notification on the weekend booking, final confirmation. No backing out now. The customer had signed in initials—BB.

"Bradford Barlowe," she murmured, almost imperceptibly. The name tugged at a memory, a whisper of guitar strings in a dimly lit college bar, but she shook her head lightly. "Just a coincidence," she decided aloud, the words for Darcy as much as for herself.

"Bradford Barlowe?" Darcy raised an eyebrow, leaning against a nearby table. "As in Bradford Barlowe? The singer?"

"Exactly." A faint tightness gripped Ariel"s chest, but she brushed it aside with a practiced flicker of indifference. "But it"s a common enough name."

"Right," Darcy nodded slowly, though his eyes held a flicker of curiosity. "The indie rock star celebrating getting hitched in your BB? That would"ve been something."

She laughed, more from necessity than amusement. "Imagine that. I, uh, I did know him, though. Back in college."

"You sure this isn't him? Your past meets present," he mused, playfully nudging her arm. "You"d have given him a run for his money with your culinary solos. You make some pretty good symphonies—of flavor."

"Past is past, cheeseball," Ariel said, rolling her eyes and folding the scarf neatly. "And I'm sure it's a coincidence—he would never show his face here. Not after how he broke up with me."

Darcy winced. "Bad breakup? Words were said?"

"More like—what do the kids say now? I got ghosted."

Darcy's wince turned into a grimace.

Ariel laughed. "Let"s focus on prepping for the weekend instead."

Ariel was tired from the party—but if they waited for the morning to complete the prep tasks she had in mind, they would start the morning behind.

"Lead the way, boss," Darcy said, following her into the heart of the BB—its warm, inviting kitchen.

As they moved through the familiar dance of pots and pans, Ariel allowed herself a brief glance out the window, where there was no snow—yet—to interrupt the steady rhythm of Endless Harbor. She cherished the tranquility, yet somewhere deep down, a note of yearning hummed—a desire for the unexpected.

She had been on many an adventure back in college, and so free of responsibility… And she and the real Bradford Barlowe had certainly been in some serious puppy love.

Remember, she told herself silently, you"re exactly where you need to be.

With that, she turned her attention to the fragrant herbs before her, crushing basil gently between her fingers, its scent a reminder of the dreams she had cultivated, right here in Endless Harbor. Bradford Barlowe, wherever he was, could keep the stars in his eyes. She had her own here, and they came out over the cove below Cliffside every night.

Ariel glanced over at Darcy as he precisely diced onions for the evening"s soup special. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to broach the other subject that had been on her mind.

"So...any plans for Valentine"s Day?" she asked lightly, keeping her tone casual as she wiped down the stainless steel counters.

Darcy chuckled, though his expression turned thoughtful. "Jill and I haven"t really talked about it. We"re still figuring things out."

Ariel nodded. She could sense Darcy"s uncertainty about where things stood with Jill. Their relationship was new, still finding its footing. But Ariel was hooked on watching it evolve—her right-hand man and her best friend, in love? Nothing could be better. In her mind, she had planned the menu for their fantasy wedding a dozen times over.

Darcy"s voice broke the silence. "I just don"t know if Jill is ready for something serious yet. She"s been through a lot."

He stopped prepping and leaned against the stainless steel counter, worry creasing his brow. "Her ex really did a number on her. She"s wary now. I mean, we have a lot of fun together, and she never says it outright, but she keeps me at arm"s length."

Ariel paused her work, sensing Darcy needed to unburden himself. It was well-known to Ariel—that her best friend was wary of love because of a bad romantic past—but Ariel felt bad that Dacy was struggling with the fact. It wasn't Darcy's fault. Darcy was a good guy.

"I try not to pressure her to make things official," he continued. "But it"s hard, you know? I really care about her. I just want to prove she can trust me."

He raked a hand through his shaggy hair. "I thought about doing something big for Valentine"s Day, to show her how I feel. But maybe that would be too much too soon?"

Ariel chose her words carefully. They had all experienced the drama of Jill's ex stalking her in the not-so-distant past. "Jill just needs time. Rushing things won"t help if she isn"t ready."

Darcy nodded, his shoulders slumping.

"Keep showing her that patience and understanding," Ariel said gently. "That"s what matters most."

Darcy managed a small smile. "Yeah, you"re right. Thanks, Ariel."

He moved to start his prep work again, the worry in his eyes replaced with a new focus. Ariel watched him, wishing relationships could be as simple to fix as a burnt sauce. A little time and care could work wonders though. She had to believe that was true for both Darcy and herself.

Ariel gave Darcy an encouraging smile, though her own thoughts soon drifted. She couldn"t help but dwell on her own romantic woes with Miles.

"What about you?" Darcy asked. "Any romantic surprises in store from Miles?"

Ariel busied herself organizing spices, taking a moment before responding. "I"m hoping for something special," she admitted. "Maybe a home-cooked meal or a getaway for the evening. Nothing huge, just...meaningful."

She didn"t add how much she wanted Miles to plan something on his own to show he was thinking about her. The little things that said "I love you" without words.

"I"m sure he"s got something up his sleeve," Darcy said kindly, and Ariel managed a smile. She wouldn"t burden Darcy with her deeper concerns, not when he had his own romantic challenges to navigate. She was happy for Darcy, even if things with Jill were still uncertain. A new relationship was always delicate, like a souffle just out of the oven. The slightest jostle could cause it to collapse.

Ariel busied herself preparing the first batch of cinnamon rolls to put back in the freezer just in case the predicted snow was more than just a dusting, and as she rolled out the dough, her thoughts drifted back to Miles. She imagined waking up on Valentine"s Day to find him waiting with breakfast in bed - crepes stuffed with fresh strawberries and cream. Then he"d surprise her with reservations to the new French restaurant in town she"d been dying to try, having managed to get a table despite the holiday. They"d spend the evening reminiscing over a delicious meal, reconnecting after so much distance had crept into their relationship.

"Daydreaming over there?" Darcy asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Ariel smiled sheepishly. "I was just thinking about how nice it would be if Miles had planned something special for Valentine"s Day. I know it"s silly, but..."

"It"s not silly to want a little romance," Darcy said kindly.

Ariel paused, catching herself before going any further. Ariel took a deep breath and steadied herself with a smile. "You know what, never mind me and my dramatic worries. No matter what happens with Jill, you"re an amazing guy, Darcy. Any woman would be so lucky to have you in her life."

Darcy looked touched. "Thanks, Ariel. That really means a lot."

Ariel picked up a pastry cutter that lay nearby. "But Jill is my best friend, so know that if you do hurt her, I"ll cut you up into easily meltable pieces in the blink of an eye."

Darcy threw up his hands and laughed. "Understood. I'd expect no less."

"Now, I should get the prep lists printed for the next few days," Ariel said, eager to change the subject of her thoughts from romance. "And after that, I need to head into town to see if there's anything left at the market with everyone making a mad dash for fancy dinner ingredients."

As she left the kitchen, a swirl of anticipation and unease followed her out. She could only hope this Valentine"s Day kept alive the old magic she and Miles shared.

Ariel headed to her office, lost in thought. Her own romance with Miles had started with such promise, but lately it seemed to be missing some essential ingredient. The spark they"d once had was harder to ignite, their connection not as automatic. Or was it all in her mind? Was she transferring big-party stress to her own life?

With a sigh, Ariel booted up her computer to print the prep lists. She would keep up a brave face and hope for the best on Valentine"s Day. A grand gesture from Miles was probably unrealistic, considering he was juggling a booming business of his own—and demand for his custom racing boats hadn't slowed, even with the cold weather—but even a simple home-cooked meal or sweet card would reassure her that their love still burned, if only steady coals now instead of flames.

Lately, things had felt strained between them. The playful energy that first drew them together had faded into the routine comfort of an old pair of shoes. Reliable, but lacking spark.

She yearned for Miles to surprise her, to show he still thought of her as the captivating woman who'd once made his pulse quicken. She dreamed he"d plan something special for Valentine"s Day, a grand gesture to show that he still felt that flame.

But she knew such fantasies were foolish. Miles had never been one for bold romantic overtures. She"d likely spend the holiday with a simple card and dinner out at their favorite seafood spot sometime after the day-of fervor had died down at Endless Harbor's restaurants.

Ariel sighed, shaking off her disappointment. At least she had someone to spend it with at all. For now, there were three more trays of cinnamon rolls to be made and guests soon to serve. Work awaited.