“Youhavebeen avoiding me,” she said, grateful for the honesty.
“Not you, actually. I didn’t want to avoid you.” He huffed out a breath, sounding almost as nervous as she was. “Because getting to know you is inevitable.”
She studied him for a moment, not following.
“For one thing,” he said, “Olivia and Benny will be in the same school come January. She’s starting at Alpine Elementary in his grade for the next semester.”
“Oh, okay. It’s a great school, but…” She felt a frown pull, not sure why that would stop them from having coffee.
“For another, you mentioned the construction across the street from Sugarfall,” he said. “The renovation of what used to be a bookstore.”
She paused, trying to imagine where he was going. “Are you…the contractor?”
“Owner of the new business.”
“Oh? That’s awesome. What is it going to be?”
He didn’t answer right away, but looked…apologetic? Why? “A shop for…treats and snacks and desserts.”
“Like…a bakery?” Seriously? Across the street from Sugarfall?
“More like the anti-bakery. It’s called Craving Clean. I’m specializing in whole and healthy desserts and treats, all pure, no seed oils, high protein, super clean. It’s my hobby and I’m turning it into a business.”
She hadn’t heard too much after “anti-bakery.” “So you weren’t kidding when you called my cream puffs deadly.”
He laughed, but she could tell the conversation made him uncomfortable. “Look, Gracie, I don’t want to put you out of business or take one cream puff off the market,” he assured her. “Sugarfall is awesome and packed for a reason. But I just want to offer health-conscious people an alternative. I got the space for a great price and couldn’t resist. I knew the fact that it was across the street from a bakery was just…ironic.”
Not what she’d call it.
“Believe me, I know how hard it’s going to be to launch a business,” he said quickly. “I have mad respect for you, for your shop, and for the fact that you made a landmark destination in a town like Park City. I just want to do the same thing, only pull the thousands of tourists and locals who are looking for something delicious that meets…other criteria. You know, the health nuts.”
And in a ski and outdoor sports town? They were everywhere.
“Well, that’s…yeah. Good luck and welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Thanks,” he said. “But you understand why I think it’s best if we’re just friends. Because like our kids, we will compete and I’d like to do that with as much class as they’ve shown.”
She certainly couldn’t argue that. “When do you open?”
“Construction through spring and a soft opening this summer, officially doing business in the fall. By this time nextyear, I hope to be reaching every person in Park City looking for a sweet, but healthy, treat.”
“Well, that’s?—”
“Don’t say awesome, because we are definitely in direct competition. Friendly, but direct. So…”
“So no coffee,” she said softly.
“I just wanted to be clear and honest and explain that under any other circumstances, it would have been dinner and hours of conversation.”
She felt the old blush rise, and cursed it as always. “I understand.” She glanced over at her family and caught Nicole’s hopeful eye. “I’m sure I’ll see you in town. And at school.”
Oh, boy. She’d never escape this guy.
“I look forward to it,” he said.
With the sweetest smile she could muster, she walked over to her mom, aunt, and cousin, who were just finishing up pictures with Benny.
“I’m ready to roll,” she said after she posed with Benny and the dog in front of the “Moms ‘n’ Mutts’ display.
