Maple Hills Mystery Box Set 3 Read online

  “I would be happy to,” Hawk answered.

  “Okay, great! Could you stop by the shop after work tonight?” Nikki asked.

  “Absolutely. Do you want me to bring some dinner?”

  “That sounds good. I might be here all night,” Nikki said with a sigh.

  “I’ll stop by the diner first. Will everyone else be there?”

  “I think they will, since this is a last-minute order. I hate to have them stay late, especially if they have plans. I will run it by Seth and Tori, but they already knew this week would be busy.”

  “I’ll bring enough for everyone.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Hawk.”

  “I know, but I want to. Someone has to keep you and your crew fed.”

  “Thank you. I’ll see you later tonight.”

  Nikki hung up and headed to the front of the shop to talk to Seth and Tori. Nikki’s son Seth was home for February break from college, and she was grateful for his help in the shop since he knew many of her recipes by heart. Nikki’s marriage to Seth’s father had ended many years ago, and after her husband left, Nikki brought Seth to Maple Hills for a fresh start. Tori, Nikki’s employee, was the same age as Seth. They had fallen in love over the past couple months and Nikki could not be happier.

  Tori and Seth were just finishing up with some customers. When they were done, Nikki asked them if they would be willing to stay late that night. She told them about Susan’s wedding plans.

  “A chocolate fountain?” Tori asked. “That sounds delicious.”

  “What are we going to serve with it?” asked Seth.

  “Lidia and I thought we could provide marshmallows, rice crispy squares, angel food cake, caramels, and pretzel sticks.”

  “That sounds so good,” Tori said. “You’re making me hungry!”

  “Lidia is already at the grocery store picking up supplies, so we need to finish up the store orders for today and tomorrow so that we can start working on the wedding chocolates as soon as possible.”

  “What are you going to do with the fruit and chocolate?” Tori asked.

  “I think I will dip them in white chocolate and decorate them with a pink swirl,” Nikki decided, thinking back to her conversation with Susan about the wedding colors.

  “That sounds pretty,” Lidia said, coming in with the groceries.

  “Okay, so how many more trays do we need to make tonight to complete the store orders?” Nikki asked Tori. Tori went to the clipboard by the register and totaled up the orders.

  “It looks like we need at least thirty to cover the special orders.”

  “Plus regular customer traffic, plus Valentine’s Day traffic…I think fifty trays should cover it,” Nikki said.

  “I can always make more tomorrow if you need me to,” suggested Seth. Nikki flashed a grateful smile to her son, and then she delegated tasks to everyone. The front doorbell sounded, and Nikki poked her head out of the kitchen to greet a customer who had just walked in from the cold. Tori offered to take care of them while Nikki and the others got to work. Lidia began preparing oranges and grapefruits, some of which would be dried and candied, while Nikki began melting chocolate on the stove in a large copper kettle. The rich smells drifted out from the kitchen, making the shop smell even more amazing than usual.

  Other customers followed soon after that, and Tori cheerfully helped them pick out some Valentine’s Day chocolates, ducking back into the kitchen to help in between customers. Occasionally, Seth would join her at the register if there was a long line. They both worked together well, and all the customers left happy. Nikki knew when the local schools let out because the shop would become crowded with teenagers buying chocolates for their boyfriends and girlfriends. Others would sit together at a corner table and study while sipping hot chocolate. Nikki did not mind. Students were quiet, courteous, and very reliable customers. As the day went on, Tori and Seth were worn out by closing time.

  By the time the shop closed, Nikki was putting the finishing touches on the last of the twenty trays she and Lidia had completed. Just as she placed the last tray of pink chocolate roses on the drying rack, Hawk appeared with the food, and everyone stopped to eat. He had brought burgers and fries from the local diner for everyone. Nikki was famished, and she knew her crew would be too. She gave Hawk a hug and kiss and thanked him for bringing the food. Everyone sat around the table in the break room with their burgers and fries, happy for the food and for the brief rest after such a busy day.

  As Seth and Tori cleared up the dinner, Hawk looked back into the kitchen with interest. “How many trays do you have left?” Hawk asked Nikki.

  “About thirty,” Nikki said with a sigh, wiping her hands on her apron. “We should be able to work faster now that the shop is closed.”

  “And now that you have an extra set of hands,” Hawk offered with a smile.

  “Thank you…but are you sure I’m not taking you away from anything else?” Nikki asked.

  “Of course not,” Hawk replied. “There is nowhere else I would rather be.” He kissed Nikki, and they went to work. Since Lidia and Nikki had prepared trays of bonbons and truffles earlier that afternoon, it was time to make the chocolate-dipped strawberries. Hawk and Seth set up by the sink and prepped the strawberries. Tori prepared the different dipping chocolates and was in charge of dipping them, and then Lidia and Nikki decorated each berry with swirls and stripes of contrasting color. After a few hours, the last tray was finally done.

  “They look amazing,” Tori said, stepping back to admire their work. On the wide work counter sat trays and trays of white, dark, and milk chocolate-dipped strawberries.

  “Let’s get them in the refrigerator and call it a night,” suggested Nikki. While she and Lidia had been finishing the decorating, Tori and Seth had gone up front to take care of the closing tasks while Hawk pitched in to clean the last few pots and utensils. Everyone was tired but satisfied, and they put the chocolates away. Nikki turned off the light and locked the store. Everyone went home to get some rest before they tackled the wedding chocolates the next day. Nikki said goodnight to Hawk, and Seth walked Tori to her car. He lingered at Tori’s car door when Nikki called to him that it was time to go, talking to the young woman through her rolled-down window. After a moment more, he reluctantly turned to join his mother.

  Nikki and Seth rode home, chatting about how satisfied they were with what they had accomplished that day. Nikki asked Seth if he minded working over break.

  “Of course not,” he replied. “I want to help make sure this business is a success.”

  “Is that the only reason?” Nikki teased.

  “Okay,” he grinned, “I would be in the shop anyway, distracting Tori. This way you get an extra set of hands, and I get to spend the day with my girlfriend. This is winning all around.”

  Nikki laughed as she drove them home through the sleepy neighborhoods, happy that her stress was from too much work and not from too little.

  2

  The next morning, Nikki and Seth were up early to drive back to the shop. They met Tori and Lidia in the back parking lot, Tori stifling a yawn as she greeted Seth with a smile. Nikki opened the door to the shop, excited to start the day. As she turned on the lights and started up the hot chocolate machine, she knew her customers would want to come in and get warm on such a cold day. Tori, Seth, and Lidia were busy fetching chocolates out of the refrigerator as they started boxing orders for customers that would be delivered or picked up that day. Nikki set up the display cases, putting out some of the freshly-made pink chocolate roses, and unlocked the front door. It was early, but plenty of people came in for a hot chocolate or a coffee in the morning, and it seemed today would be no exception.

  “Nikki, we’ve got plenty of hands up front to finish these customer orders and manage the shop. Don’t worry about us,” Lidia reassured her, shooing her back towards the kitchen. Nikki shot her trusted assistant a grateful smile and went back to the kitchen to work on the wedding chocolates.<
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  Nikki could hear the bell at the front door ringing almost constantly and was happy that people were already coming in and business was so brisk. She wanted to jump in to help, but she knew that the others could handle the work just fine on their own.

  Nikki consulted her notes from Susan’s order, then looked around the kitchen and laid out her ingredients. Lidia had already prepared one batch of citrus fruits for candying, which meant it was now time to work on the chocolate-dipped citrus. Nikki peeled the oranges and grapefruits and divided them into wedges. She worked carefully to remove the bitter pith from each slice, thinking about Susan’s wedding and how every detail should be perfect. When Nikki was satisfied with the array of fruit slices before her, she melted white chocolate in a small copper saucepan on the stove until it turned into a glossy, tempered dip. She dipped half of the citrus fruit into the fragrant white chocolate, using a set of special dipping tools to cradle the fruit gently as she set them to dry on a sheet of wax paper. Nikki spent all morning working on the white chocolate fruits, and then switched to milk chocolate. Seth and Tori would occasionally pop in and help as they could, but the store had a steady stream of customers. Lidia remained in the back with Nikki once the milk chocolate was tempered and ready for dipping because they had to work quickly. Together they each dipped the fruits into the chocolate, steadily covering the trays, while Tori and Seth took care of the customers out front.

  Around noon, Hawk walked in the front door of the shop and greeted Seth with a big smile. Seth informed him that Nikki was in the back, and Hawk hurried to find her. He saw her dipping a piece of grapefruit in dark chocolate and came up behind her. He put his arms around her and gave her a hug.

  “How is everything coming along?” Hawk asked.

  “It is moving along,” Nikki said while placing the last fruit wedge on the tray. She tested one of the milk chocolate-dipped fruits. “These ones are done drying. Can you help me put them in the refrigerator?” she asked Hawk.

  Hawk agreed and picked up two trays and followed her to the refrigerators. They placed them in the refrigerator that was now dedicated only to the wedding job, and which was starting to look a little full. Hawk asked Nikki if she had time for lunch. Lidia, who was washing up at the sink, overheard and insisted that she go and take a break. “Besides, I have to check on the fruits I prepared yesterday and start the candying process. Plus, we are right on schedule with the preparations.” Nikki hesitated and then shrugged. Perhaps her friend was right.

  “Okay. Those chocolates need to set for a while and harden. I suppose I can start on the cakes and rice crispy squares after lunch.”

  “Good. I was hoping to get some time alone with you,” Hawk said as he held Nikki’s coat open for her. Nikki smiled up at his gentlemanly gesture as she donned her hat, scarf, and gloves. She and Hawk walked out of the shop holding hands.

  There was snow falling gently outside. It made the town sparkle. Having moved from Atlanta, Nikki was still getting used to snow. She thought it was beautiful, though. As she and Hawk strolled down the sidewalk, they looked into the shop windows, which were decorated with hearts and cupids. Nikki admired an antique roll-top desk, and Hawk looked at some antique guns displayed in the window of the town’s most popular antique shop. A glint caught Nikki’s eye, and she bent closer to the window.

  “Did you see something you like?”

  “There’s an old locket.” She looked closer, marveling that it had caught her eye amid the old glasses, antique fountain pens, and knick-knacks displayed on the desk.

  “It’s nice,” Hawk commented, following her gaze.

  “Beautiful.” The locket was pale gold with engraved flowers and a little diamond at the clasp. “It reminds me of a locket that my father gave my mother, a long time ago.”

  They continued down the street. Hawk and Nikki looked through the bookstore window and waved to the owner. Hawk asked Nikki if she wanted to stop inside, but Nikki declined with a smile.

  “I have so much to do today. If I stop in a bookstore I will not come out for two hours at least,” Nikki laughed.

  They finally reached the diner and sat in a small booth by the windows, enjoying the view of the sparkling winter landscape outside. Hawk ordered a burger and fries, and Nikki had a chicken sandwich with onion rings. As they ate their lunch, the owner came over and talked to them for a while. He asked Nikki to hold a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries for him as a surprise for his wife. Nikki agreed.

  “What’s that impish smile all about?” Hawk inquired, seeing her look.

  “What he doesn’t know is that his wife stopped in the other day and got a box for him. They will both be surprised on Valentine’s Day,” Nikki whispered across the table.

  Hawk took a sip of his coffee and shook his head at her. “You’re a regular cupid, Nikki.”

  “That’s one of the best parts of owning a chocolate shop this time of year. I get to know all the secrets people are planning for their sweethearts!”

  Nikki and Hawk sat and ate their lunch. The food was delicious and filled Nikki up. It was not heavy enough to make her tired, and Nikki was grateful for that. If she lost focus now, the chocolates would never get done. When they finished their lunch, Hawk paid the bill despite Nikki’s protests, and then they sat and finished their coffee together. Hawk watched Nikki drink and was content to sit there quietly, enjoying her company and the quiet background noise of the diner’s kitchen at work.

  It was not often Nikki found someone like Hawk. Most people liked to talk all the time, but Hawk was comfortable just sitting in quiet contemplation. Sometimes his quiet contemplation was just what Nikki needed. Nikki could feel her stress melting away while she sat with Hawk. Nikki enjoyed being with Hawk. He was a fun, sweet person. They had grown closer, and she was glad he was in her life. He had helped her out this past year with her shop, and she had even helped him solve some of his cases. This was why they were such an interesting match, she thought to herself.

  Years before, Nikki was supposed to go to the FBI Academy at Quantico but was forced to give up her place because of her ex-husband. Her father had been in the FBI, and she liked to joke that he trained her from the time she could walk. He taught her everything he knew and what she had learned from him had helped her solve crimes with Hawk. She and Hawk had even worked on some cases involving her and Seth, unfortunately. Luckily, everything had turned out fine in the end. She felt lucky to be able to share her life-long love of crime solving with this wonderful, caring man who sat across from her at the diner right now.

  It had been a quiet winter since Christmas, and Nikki was enjoying just running the shop. She and Hawk relaxed for a while longer before they walked back to the chocolate shop, hand in hand. She took comfort from his quiet strength and understanding. The snow was still falling, and some blew in around their shoulders when they opened the door of the shop.

  The shop was busy, but Tori and Seth had it under control. The customers who were waiting looked patient, and Nikki was happy for that. She was turning to say goodbye to Hawk when someone pulled her elbow. Nikki turned and saw the mayor standing in front of her. He wore heavy winter boots over his suit and a heavy coat. He smiled.

  “Nikki, I was looking for you. It is good to see you.”

  “You too, Mr. Mayor,” Nikki replied. “Would you like to sit down with us?” She looked at Hawk, and he rolled his eyes. She knew it would be better if they were together to talk to the mayor. He was a respected man, but he was also an older gentleman who could ramble at times.

  “Yes, that would be fine,” the mayor replied. Nikki, Hawk, and the mayor sat at a table in the corner. Seth had told Lidia that the mayor was there and so she had gotten some hot chocolate for him. The mayor sipped his hot chocolate and asked Nikki what she had planned for her chocolate table. Nikki described the chocolates she was making, and the mayor’s eyes lit up when she mentioned the chocolate fountain.

  “I don’t think I need to remind you how special t
his day is for me and my wife. My baby girl is getting married, and I want everything to be perfect. There will be many important people at the wedding, and they can make or break a person’s business. I hope your chocolates will be perfect,” the mayor said with a knowing look.

  “They will be,” interrupted Hawk. “Don’t forget, Nikki won the chocolate competition in December. Her chocolates are always delicious.”

  “I am sure they will be,” said the mayor. He shook their hands and left the shop. Nikki was pleasantly surprised by his short visit. I suppose he is busy getting things organized too, she thought.

  Nikki thanked Hawk again for the lunch as he left, and then returned to the kitchen. After she washed her hands and tied her apron’s strings just right, Nikki knew she was ready for the angel food cake. She prepared her baking table first, setting out flour, sugar, and salt next to a large mixing bowl and sifter, and then took out a tray of thirty-six eggs and set it down next to her electric mixer. She started sifting the dry ingredients for the angel food cake, humming under her breath as she measured and poured. Then she cracked open eggs, separating the yolks into one bowl and the whites into another, until the egg tray was nothing but shells. While the electric mixer whipped the egg whites, she prepared three Bundt pans. She lined them with parchment paper and then checked that the oven was heating correctly. The egg whites were standing up in stiff, perfect peaks when she checked the mixer, so she carefully folded the egg whites and the dry ingredients together, using two large spatulas. As a final touch, she fetched vanilla and almond extracts from her special shelf of flavorings and added them to the batter until it smelled just right. Carefully, she poured the batter into the prepared pans, and then she shook each Bundt pan a little bit, letting any bubbles rise to the surface and pop. After they were in the oven, Nikki finally gave a sigh of relief.