My heart sank down to the tips of my toes. Holly warned me. I just hadn’t wanted to believe her. “A convection oven and cake pans, you say?”
I got a brisk nod in return. There was no way around it. This was competition, plain and simple. I had no choice. I had to involve Dad. He was the mayor, and he’d decreed long ago that there were enough store ideas, and the town was small enough, that people didn’t have to be in direct competition with each other.
“I don’t know if he’s going to make cakes,” I said, “but I promise you, I’m going to find out.” Ella gave me a dubious look, and that only fanned my internal flames higher. “I am!” I huffed a few breaths, trembling with a surge of adrenaline I could feel rushing through me. “Really, I am. Just as soon as I finish up here, I’m going over.”
Ella nodded. “Okay. Want me to stay and go with you?”
I shook my head, breathing deeply, clutching at the counter with both hands until I felt more in control. This was ridiculous and not happening on my watch. “No, no, it’s okay. I got it covered.”
“If you say so.” My best friend hesitated, jaw tight, before she finally shrugged. “I’m going to head out, then. Don’t stay here too long. And keep me posted.”
“I’m almost done,” I said. “I’ll let you know what happens.”
The minute Ella was gone, I hurried and finished my task, cleaned my area, and locked the bakery behind me. It took everything I had not to rush across the street, but I was able to muster slow and steady strides, just this side of stomping. I was finally going to confront Connor MacDowell and find out just what it was he was up to. Surely Dad had told him I made the cakes for every occasion and holiday in Jingle Junction? Handsome or not, he couldn’t run roughshod over our way oflife here just because he was some fancy-pants famous candy creator.
I’d just have to make him see reason.
Leaning against The Sweet Shoppe’s front window, I raised my hand over my eyes and tried to peer inside. But to my surprise, Connor MacDowell had taped huge sheets of cardboard across the windows, replacing the butcher paper and making it impossible to see inside. Why? Was he afraid the competition would spy on him? I was his only competition, and I wasn’t… scratch that.
I actuallywasspying on him.
And it looked like I was probably his competition, too.
I walked to the front door and yanked on it. Locked. Had Connor already gone home for the day?
Trying to appear as casual as I could to people strolling the sidewalk and shopping, I hurried around the corner to the side alleyway. A huge stack of recyclable cardboard sat next to the dumpster. Biting my lip, I glanced around quickly to make sure no one was watching, then reached up and flipped the lid on the commercial dumpster open. It took a bit of effort to pull the stack of cardboard boxes over to the front of the giant trash bin, but I managed. Determined now, I gingerly stepped up onto the pile and peeked inside the garbage bin.
One of the trash bags hadn’t been tied all the way, and I could make out a parchment paper I used in my own bakery. I needed a better view, which had me leaning forward precariously, balancing myself over the rim of the dumpster. Stretching as far as I could, I was reaching for the paper when I heard a short grunt behind me.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The gruff voice, with its familiar accent, made me yelp in surprise. I was so startled I jumped back off the lip of thedumpster, slipping as I did, and the pile of cardboard gave way under my feet.
I felt myself fall in slow motion, unable to stop my ungainly dismount. With arms and legs flying, I landed on my butt on the cold pavement.
And looked up at the frustrated and angry face of my competition.
10
Totally humiliated, and now with a sore backside, I sprawled on the ground for a stunned moment. My hair had shaken free of the ponytail I usually wore, and was now thankfully covering most of my face. I could feel the hot rush of embarrassment on my cheeks, and I knew they had to be beet red.
Cool. Calm. Deep breath.
When my racing heartbeat was starting to get under control, I looked up again, trying to smile, and then lurched to my feet. With both shaking hands brushing the dirt off my pants, I held my weak and wavering smile in place at the scowling man standing before me. The fact his Scotty dog was once again growling at me was almost enough to have me turn tail and run.
Until I remembered why I was here. Hang on a second. I wasn’t in the wrong. This was only some garbage outside his business, and thus it was fair game. So, I wasn’t going to run off like I was the guilty party. I was going to stand my ground.
Ella’s accusation rang in my head as I stiffened and dropped my smile. It was time for Connor MacDowell and me to have some words, even if I hadn’t wanted to do it after getting bustedfor going through this man’s trash. We needed to get some things straight.
I held out my hand—still covered in bits of dirt and pebbles—to him. When he just arched an eyebrow and looked down at it, I snatched it back.
“We were never properly introduced,” I said. “My name is Ivy Bell.”
He frowned. “Bell? Are you any relation to Luke Bell?”
I cleared my throat and stood a bit taller. “He’s my dad. I’m his oldest daughter.”
One side of Connor’s mouth twisted into a smile. “Does your dad know his oldest daughter likes to break the law?”
