“What?” Ella exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock. “He didn’t!”
I set the pastry aside and grabbed another. “When I talked to Dad about it, he told me there wasn’t much he could do about the coffee, because we’re not an official coffeeshop. He did say he’d talk to Connor about the details of his contract and get him to back off selling cakes.” I turned and smiled at Ella. “I think that’s a pretty good compromise. I’m happy with that.”
Ella snorted. “Huh. Really? I can’t wait to see how Mr. Competition reacts to your dad’s suggestion. He doesn’t seem like the sort to give up that easily.”
My stomach did a small flip, and I covered my belly with my hand before going back to icing Danishes. “You think he’s going to be mad?”
That was all I needed. I already felt like he didn’t like me. Having someone hate me over something having to do with business and money and competition was horrible.
The piping bag full of icing suddenly burst in my hand as I squeezed too hard.
Ella didn’t comment, though she did roll her eyes while I let out a little exhale and started scooping icing into a new bag. She filled her own, piping red frosting onto a chocolate-cherry cupcake. “Oh, yeah, Ivy, I think he’s going to be mad. I’d bet my boots on it.”
I tried not to think about the knots in my stomach as the morning rolled on and the customers came and went. Every now and then, I’d glance out the window to see if I could catch a glimpse of Connor MacDowell. At noon, I had Ella run down the street to pick us up sandwiches from Holiday Hoagies, though I wondered if I’d be able to eat a bite. After the early morning talk with Ella, my appetite was basically non-existent.
I’d just handed a customer a raspberry scone when the jingle of the bell caught my attention. I looked up from behind the display case, a smile of greeting on my lips for my next customer.
And froze when I saw Connor MacDowell in the doorway, a thunderous look on his face.
“We need to talk,” he growled.
My gaze landed on Betty Dorion, town gossip, sitting at a table by the window. You better believe she was glued to the exchange, her natural sense of being a blabbermouth likely honed in on the instant tension Connor’s attitude created. I knew by the time Connor MacDowell left, the entire town would have the nitty-gritty details of our conversation to chew over at length.
Well, like it or not, he was the one causing trouble. I would just do my best to stay calm and hope he did the same.
“Maybe we can go in the back and talk?” I offered. That would at least get us out of the sight and ears of the very nosy Betty.
Why, oh why, had I told Ella to run down the street and get us a sandwich? If she were here, she’d tell Connor a thing or two, but I was the only one in the bakery. Well, me and a roomful of openly curious customers.
“Unlike you, Ms. Bell,” Connor said, “I have no problem saying what I need to say right here, between the two of us.”
Connor strode toward the counter, and I could feel myself shaking, partially from nerves but mostly from the waves of anger that shocked me so much I froze in place and trembled. I didnotwant Betty Dorion to witness this. Heck, I didn’t want anyone to witness this exchange, but especially not Betty. When I took a step backward, hitting the counter where the espresso machine sat, Connor locked eyes with me.
Typically, I saw a hint of amusement lurking in his eyes whenever we had an exchange. This time, I didn’t see any humor.
“Candy is my business. Has been for over a decade.” He strolled behind the counter, and I felt like I was being pulled into him. “That’s a sweet. So, yes, I considerallsweets my domain.” He stopped in front of me, arms crossed. The fact he thought he had the right to just step behind my counter and speak to me that way in my bakery? He was lucky my body seemed to be locked on the spot. “It’smybusiness, Ivy Bell, and I’ll run it the way I see fit. And I’ll kindly ask you to stayoutof my business.” This time when he leaned in, it was for my ears only. “I’m not your daddy, lass. Your family doesn’t have any special power over me. Next time, I won’t be so kind.”
I could feel my pulse quicken as I glared at him. “I think you’ve said enough, Mr. MacDowell!” No way was I attracted to the odious, overbearing man! That attraction could take a hike, along with the arrogant Scotsman and his little dog, too. “You need to leave. Or I’ll call the police and have you removed.”
He straightened and laughed. “Are you using my own words against me?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and mimicked his pose, on fire inside and perfectly fine with that. “Maybe. Get out, before I have you removed.”
He arched a brow. “Nowthe little cat decides she has claws?” He stepped back from me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Heed my warning, Ivy Bell. It’s the last one I’ll give. Then, the gloves come off…” He gave me a wink. “And we’ll see what it’s like to really play dirty.”
“Fine!” I yelled at his back as he strode to the front door. “And stop winking at me!”
His deep chuckle was his only response.
But I got the feeling he’d just declared war.
13
“Oh no hedidn’t!” Ella blew up when I finally had the ability to tell her what had happened while she was away. “But you told him to take a hike, right?” She suddenly beamed at me. “Good for you, Ivy. I’m so proud of you. Wish I’d been here to see it.”
I wish she had been in the bakery, too, to be honest. By the time she’d returned with our sandwiches, most of the customers had fled. Even Betty the Gossip Queen was gone, but I’d bet good money she was already on the phone with her other gossip-hungry friends, chatting about what had happened. When Ella had walked in carrying the bag of sandwiches, I’d thanked her and asked her to staff the counter while I went to the back for a break. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold my emotions together enough to tell her what had happened, and I needed to vent a bit.
I’d vented those feelings, all right. I’d hidden in my walk-in cooler and cried for a good fifteen minutes, getting the adrenaline out of my system. Ella must have realized I was upset because she left me alone to work on the last of the sugar flowers for the Blair-Fitzpatrick wedding while she closed down the bakery and cleaned up the front room. After she’d broughtthe last dishes back to the kitchen, I told her everything that had happened.
