At the noise, Claire raised her head with a cheerful smile. It faded the moment she saw him. The disappearance was like a punch to the gut.
“I was just closing up.”
The formal words were spoken in the frostiest tone he’d ever heard. She had been so open and friendly with him last night. What had changed?
“I don’t want to keep you from your work, but you hadn’t gotten back to me regarding our joint promotion. I set up a table, and I thought—”
Claire scrubbed at the table, barely giving him a glance. “Oh, sorry. I got to thinking maybe that wasn’t the best idea.”
“Really? Why?” Last night she seemed receptive. What happened to change her mind?
When she turned to face him, her expression was conflicted. Her face was stony, but her eyes flickered with indecision. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then she lifted her chin, defiant. She looked away, focusing on wiping down the already spotless table. “I just feel it might not be in my best interest.”
“I don’t see why not. I mean, our products complement each other’s, and we’re both having a sale—”
She turned from her task, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not interested right now. Maybe next time. But now, I have dozens of cupcakes to frost, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to close up.”
He met her gaze, trying to read the truth in her eyes. This was not the friendly woman he’d had cupcakes with last night. Had he done something to offend her? Or had last night been the aberration, when she was caught off her guard due to her crisis. He sensed there was no more to say. Claire had apparently made up her mind.
“Okay, well, good luck tomorrow, then.” He left, disappointed and more than a little disheartened.
Chapter Twenty-One
“What was that all about?” Hailey stood in the doorway that led to the kitchen, the keys to her grandfather’s car dangling from her hand. She hadn’t been eavesdropping, not exactly. She just hadn’t wanted to interrupt what seemed like a very intense conversation.
Claire glanced out the window, a look of regret passing across her face. “That was the owner of Bradford Breads. He wanted to combine forces for the sale.”
“And you think that’s a bad idea?” Hailey had heard enough to know the man sounded sincere whereas Claire had been standoffish, almost rude. “It sounded like you guys had an arrangement worked out prior.”
Claire sighed and returned to wiping the table quite vigorously. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but he came over last night and fixed the pipe in the bathroom. It sprung a leak.”
Hailey frowned. That didn’t sound like something a competitor would do. “So it turns out he’s a nice guy, then.”
Claire straightened and folded the cloth into a neat square. “Well, he seemed nice last night.”
Hailey felt relieved. If the bread store didn’t want to put them out of business, then that made her job more secure and perhaps opened the opportunity for more responsibility and more pay. “Then maybe working with him would increase business. Why did you say no?”
“I found out that he puts people out of business. I think he was sneaking around, trying to find out things to use against us.” Claire went over to lock the door, pausing to look out across the street.
Hailey wasn’t so sure about the motivation being to get information. What kind of information could he possibly get that would hurt them? From what she’d overheard, the Bradford guy was clearly disappointed they wouldn’t team up, and Hailey sensed something else too. The man was interested in more than just a business relationship. He was interested in Claire. Couldn’t she see that? Or was rejecting his business proposal a way for her to keep anyone from getting around the wall she’d built around her heart after her divorce?
Judging by the regretful look on her face, Claire might feel the same way about him.
“Anyway, it’s not going to happen now. We’ll see what happens in the future.” Claire turned from the door and headed to the kitchen. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking off? Oh, that reminds me. I saw that you were driving some old beater the other night. Is something wrong with your car? If you need money for it, I can give you a loan or maybe a bonus if we make a lot on the cupcake sale.”
Hailey was horrified. Her pride would never let her take a handout, especially not from Claire, who had been so good to her already. “Oh, no! Frank just had to—umm—wait for a part. Mine will be fixed soon. Don’t worry.”
Claire looked at her a bit too long, and Hailey almost confessed, but then Claire nodded. “Okay great.”
Hailey walked with her back to the kitchen. “I put out all the ingredients for you. Have fun tonight. I wish I could help.”
“No worries. We’ll be up past Jennifer’s bedtime, and I have plenty of help with Jane and Maxi. I need you rested for tomorrow. It’s going to be a big day.”
Claire left the side door unlocked. Jane and Maxi would be there any minute, so she took out the big mixing bowls, spatulas, and frosting bags and set them next to the ingredients that Hailey had taken out. The flyers she’d had printed sat in the corner. Claire had already posted some around town, but she’d set a few aside for Jane, as she hadn’t had a chance to get them to her yet.
She’d already put several dozen cupcakes out of their containers to let them get to room temperature, and she lined them up on the table in front of the chairs, then started on the frosting. She made three bowls, a lemon flavor, a vanilla, and a mocha.
“Jane Miller reporting for duty.” Jane peeked her head in the door, holding up a brown bag. “I brought you a sandwich compliments of Brenda.”
