“I’m getting married and moving out of our apartment as soon as I get back from my honeymoon with Greg,” Celeste went on with her sisterly lecture. “You’re going to be all alone for the first time ever, and you don’t even have a boyfriend to keep you company. Heck, for that matter, you’ve barely dated in the past few years.”

“I haven’t found anyone worth dating,” she said with a nonchalant shrug. “There is a guy in the accounting department at the hospital who’s asked me out a couple of times. Maybe after this weekend I’ll go to dinner with him and see how it goes from there.”

“Ooooh, that sounds so exciting and adventurous,” her sister said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “The two of you can discuss hospital billing codes while eating your meal.”

“Stuart is a nice guy,” Rebecca said in automatic defense.

They came to a stop at a set of double doors and Celeste retrieved a plastic key card from her purse. “I’m sure he’s very nice, but if he’s a pencil pusher, my guess is that he’s boooorrrring-just like every other guy you’ve dated,” she added beneath her breath.

Stuart was stable, responsible and dependable. Not that she expected her sister to understand Rebecca’s need to find a man with the kind of qualities and traits their own father had lacked. Rebecca had done her best to protect Celeste from the harsh realities of their lives after their mother’s death so she’d never been truly aware of their father’s erratic spending sprees, which had eventually put their house into foreclosure and had forced him to file for bankruptcy.

Celeste had lived a carefree life, never needing to worry about money as a child because Rebecca made sure her sister always had whatever she needed. But for Rebecca, the loss of the only home she’d ever known had been absolutely devastating. Even though her father had died of a heart attack over ten years ago, that event in her life had cemented a deep determination to make sure she never found herself in that kind of dire financial situation again. And that meant finding a man who knew how to manage money much better than her own father had.

Celeste opened the door to her room, and Rebecca followed her inside, once again stunned by what awaited them. She stared in silent wonder at the extravagance of the suite-from the elegant furniture, to the richly textured draperies, to the opulent-looking decor. Everywhere there were fresh flowers arranged in expensive crystal vases, their intoxicating scent filling the air around her.

“Wow,” Rebecca breathed, admiring the elaborate crown molding framing the ceiling of the living room, which gave way to cream-and-gold patterned wallpaper. “Greg’s family certainly didn’t spare any expense on the bridal suite, did they?”

“Will you stop already?” Celeste said in exasperation as she set her designer straw handbag on a glass-topped table.

Rebecca grinned. “Hey, you’ve had three years to get used to living this kind of life. I’m just getting my first glimpse of ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.’”

Winking at her sister, Rebecca looped her arm through Celeste’s and guided them toward the open French doors that led to a terrace. Once they reached the wrought-iron railing, they had a perfect view of the landscaped courtyard below, as well as the rolling fairways of the resort’s golf course. Beyond that they could see the faint outline of the shops and boutiques that lined one of the main streets in town.

“So, what’s on your agenda for the afternoon?” Rebecca asked, hoping that they’d have some alone time to spend together before everything turned crazy for the wedding.

“I’m meeting with Greg’s mom to go over some of the last-minute wedding and reception details with the planner,” Celeste said, her expression apologetic. “I have no idea how long everything is going to take.”

Rebecca experienced a familiar stab of regret, along with a small pang of jealousy she valiantly tried to shake off. The past few months had been difficult for her, especially having to watch her sister bond with Greg’s mother, Carole, over the wedding preparations, when Rebecca wished it were her instead.

When Celeste had first announced her engagement, Rebecca had wanted to be a part of the planning, but with her work schedule and the Markhams footing the bill, it had been easier for Carole to accompany Celeste during those outings. Not that Carole ever made Rebecca feel unwelcome when she had gotten the chance to join them, but it was always a painful reminder that she was losing her sister to another family, and soon Celeste would no longer be a part of Rebecca’s life on a daily basis.

“That’s fine,” Rebecca said, and swallowed the tight knot of emotion gathering in her throat. “I understand.”

“Thank you.” Celeste appeared relieved. “While I’m gone, I need you to do me a favor, if you can.”

Rebecca squeezed her sister’s hand. “Anything, you know that.” And she meant every word. There wasn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for her sister.

“There’s a brand new candy shop a few blocks from here on Larchmont Street that makes the most incredible chocolates and confections,” Celeste said, her expression turning to one of heavenly bliss, since chocolate was one of her greatest weaknesses. “When I was here last week I placed a special order for some petits fours for tonight’s cocktail get-together with the bridal party and family. I was hoping you could pick them up for me so that would be one less thing I have to worry about today.”

Rebecca figured running the errand for her sister was better than sitting alone in her hotel room for the next few hours thumbing through a magazine. “Consider it done.”

“You’re the best!” Celeste wrapped her arms around Rebecca in a warm, exuberant hug. “The shop is right down the street and close enough to walk to, or you can take a cab instead, if you like.”

“I think I’ll walk.” Rebecca wasn’t about to miss the chance to enjoy such a gorgeous, sunny day by taking a cab ride. “What’s the place called?”

“Sinfully Sweet. And I can personally guarantee that the shop lives up to its name.”

Rebecca was definitely intrigued by her sister’s comment. While chocolate wasn’t one of her basic food groups as it was for Celeste, she did enjoy the occasional sweet treat.

Together, they took the elevator back down to the lobby, then Rebecca waved good-bye to her sister, heading out of the hotel and down the resort’s entry road that led to the main streets. In no particular hurry to reach the candy shop, she strolled along casually, taking in the sights while enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin and the slight breeze tousling her hair.

When she reached Larchmont Street she made a right as her sister had instructed, and sauntered past specialty boutiques, a quaint outdoor café, and other unique stores. She window shopped along the way, admiring clothes and jewelry and other one-of-a-kind novelties and antiques until a designer handbag boutique gave way to an adjoining shop displaying in their window the most delectable-looking candies and chocolates. The glossy black and gilt name on the window, Sinfully Sweet, confirmed that she’d reached her destination.

She entered the store and was instantly enveloped by the rich, sweet scent of expensive chocolate. All around her she was surrounded by an array of tempting, tantalizing candies, including different-sized heart-shaped boxes for Valentine’s Day and dozens of colorful foil-wrapped chocolates displayed on a table in the center of the shop.

Everything in the place definitely looked sinfully sweet and smelled just as wickedly delicious.

Other than a quick “I’ll be right there” from the back room, Rebecca was completely alone, and she took advantage of that fact. Closing her eyes, she breathed in slow and deep, inhaling the drugging scent of the chocolate. The fragrance alone was like an aphrodisiac to every one of her senses.

Amazing.

She inhaled again, mainly because she just couldn’t help it. There was something about this place that made her feel sensually charged, and she found herself wondering if it was possible for a woman to have an orgasm just from the rich, decadent smell of chocolate.

If so, she was a prime candidate.

“Welcome to Sinfully Sweet.”

A woman’s voice from behind Rebecca snapped her back to the present. She opened her eyes and turned around, her composure back in place-on the outside, at least. Inside, however, she was still feeling a little bit unbalanced by her reaction to all the chocolate around her.

“Thank you.” Smiling, Rebecca stepped up to the counter and peered into the glass case displaying more chocolate treats, from caramel squares, to macaroons, to almond clusters. “Your shop is lovely, and it smells absolutely wonderful in here.”

The pretty older woman beamed as she smoothed a hand down the white apron she was wearing. “Well, I can personally guarantee that the candies taste even more fabulous than they smell. We use the finest ingredients available, and it’s taken us years to perfect each type of candy that we offer.”

And there were dozens to choose from, Rebecca noted. “So, are these candies made from secret recipes?” she asked curiously.

“Well…”

“Yes, they are,” an older man replied before the woman could finish her sentence. He appeared from a door leading to the back room, carrying a tray of freshly dipped, chocolate-covered strawberries, which he placed on the counter in front of Rebecca. “All our recipes are top secret. Classified and for our eyes only. Isn’t that right, Ellie?”

The woman named Ellie smiled at the other man. “That’s right, Marcus.”

Marcus kissed her affectionately on the cheek, then glanced at Rebecca. “My wife loves to brag about our exclusive chocolates, but once you try them I’m sure you’ll agree that they are the best you’ve ever tasted. The hard part is deciding which ones to try.”