Chapter 2
“What are you doing?” Emma asked her overbearing best friend. Sure, Daisy Porter was as sweet as they come, but no one dared get in her way when she was determined to do something, especially now that she was pregnant. It was a gamble which Daisy would show up on any given day. Maybe hell on wheels, maybe a sentimental squish. Apparently, she’d settled on full-throttle that morning.
“Something you should have done months ago when this article was written. You need to display this. Be proud of how far you’ve come.”
“Daisy, it’s a small fluff piece in a town paper that only five people read. No one is going to care that my business was featured in it.”
“Not no one. I care. And as your best friend, my word is law when it comes to things like this. Besides, don’t you want your niece or nephew to grow up knowing they can accomplish anything, just like their kick ass Aunt Emma?”
“That’s a real low blow using that precious bun in your oven to get me to agree to this.”
“Did it work?”
“Of course it did. Display away, oh best friend of mine. Then get your butt in a booth so I can feed you some pie, which I know is the real reason you are here, don’t try to fool me.”
Emma sighed, laughing as Daisy struggled to get the picture to hang even on the wall above the cash register.
The bell chimed over the door and Emma silently groaned. She watched as Alan Freemont walked towards the counter, and braced herself for his flirting. It’s not that Alan wasn’t a good looking guy, he just wasn’t Emma’s type. And he also proved, time after time, to not be the type who takes the word no seriously.
“Well hey there, sexy. You got any of them home made blueberry muffins this morning?”
“Alan, what have I told you about calling me that?”
“I know you like our little flirtatious battles, Em. It’s certainly my favorite part of the day.”
No. No, she did not like their interactions and actually dreaded the five minutes he spent in her shop between ordering and heading to work at the local hardware store.
“While I’m happy to get you that blueberry muffin, I’m sorry to say that my interest in you ends there.”
“I like a challenge, baby. Surely you know that by now.” He reached across the counter and ran his finger down her arm. She jolted back and walked to the far end of the display case, where the blueberry muffins were. Grabbing the one closest to her, she placed it in a to-go box and walked back to the counter.
“And I like men who understand the meaning of the word no, Alan.” He laughed, and the sound made Emma’s skin crawl. “One of these days, Em, you’ll cave. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I won’t, I promise you. Here’s your change. Goodbye, Alan.” She forcefully shoved the cash across the counter and he smiled as he put the money in his pocket. “Oh, and Alan, if you don’t stop, I’ll ban you from being served here and have Hank come drop by.”
His free hand flew up towards his face. “Yeah, Em, sure. I’ll cool it, okay?”
Emma didn’t respond. They’d been over this a million times before, and he didn’t stop. She wasn’t someone who wanted to refuse service to anyone, but he was starting to make her feel uncomfortable, and she’d hate for him to do that to anyone else in her bakery.
“What a creep.” Daisy walked over to the register. “You okay?”
“Yeah, he just refuses to accept that I’m not interested in him. Ever since it got out that Steve and I broke up, it’s like relentless with him.”
“You want me to talk to Hank? I’m sure he’d be happy to set him straight.”
Daisy’s husband, Hank Porter, was the Clarence County Sheriff. He was fiercely protective of his community, and even more protective of his wife. Emma loved to tease Daisy about it.
“Oh, I know he would. But something in my gut is screaming to just deal with the five or ten minutes a day he’s in here and then let it go.”
“Okay,” Daisy reached across and grabbed Emma’s hand. “But you know Hank will always step in if you aren’t feeling safe. You don’t have to handle it on your own.”
“And let your man’s hero complex get even bigger? That’s a big ask, Daisy.” They both laughed. As much as Emma loved to tease Hank about his protectiveness as sheriff, she was grateful that she could count on him.
“So, speaking of Steve, did I tell you I ran into him the other day?”
“No! How’s he been? I haven’t seen him in months.”
“He seems okay. I met his new girlfriend.”
Emma busied her hands getting two slices of pie ready. “Oh really? I didn’t know he was seeing anyone.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Of course I am! Steve was a great boyfriend, but he wasn’t the one, you know? There was a sense of comfort between us, but not the sparks. Not the butterflies. I’m happy he’s found someone and I hope she gives him all those feelings.” Emma walked from behind the counter, plates in hand, and set them down at an empty booth. “Now, come get this pie.”
“I’m coming!” Daisy walked slowly from the counter. “It’s getting harder as this belly gets bigger.”
Emma laughed. “I think that belly’s got a ways to go, Daisy.”
“I know, I’m really in for it. Why was I thinking the baby would be itty-bitty when I married a man who towers over me?”
“Love makes us think all kinds of crazy things,” Emma shrugged. “So, where were you that you ran into Steve? He’s not back in Bell Ridge, is he?”
“No. Hank and I took a ride over to Lark Lake the other day. He was in the general store when we stopped for a snack.”
“I haven’t been over there in ages.” Emma thought of the town that sat to the west of Bell Ridge.
“Another woman went missing from there. Did you hear about it?” Daisy asked her as she took a bite of her pie. “Hank is seriously worried that there might be some sort of serial kidnapping situation going on.”
“Rogersville, maybe. But Lark Lake? That town is sleepier than Bell Ridge. Seriously, what’s going on over there other than that new bed-and-breakfast being built? I can’t believe that town even has enough of a population for someone to go missing from it.”
“Em. Lark Lake might be sleepy, but it’s also so charming. You know, Hank and I have reservations at that B and B for our babymoon? We’re just hoping they finish up in time. But I can’t wait.”
“That definitely seems like something Hank would love.” Emma rolled her eyes and got a laugh from Daisy. “Is he on high alert with you now because of the missing women?”
“He’s worried. Told me this morning not to leave here before he comes to get me. Three women have gone missing in the last month. One from Rogersville, one from Silver Springs, and now one from Lark Lake. It’s scary.”
“But nobody has discovered any bodies. And all the women who have gone missing have been troubled, at least according to the news. What if they’re just leaving on their own? What’s making him think it’s something serious?”
“Em, really? You know one of the easiest groups to target would be ‘women in trouble’. Who knows if there is something going on with human trafficking or if a murderer is on the loose?” Her best friend set her fork down, pushing the half eaten pie away from herself.
“Probably need to stop watching those true crime shows after dinner, Daisy. And you need to finish that,” she pointed to the slice of pie. “My beautiful niece needs all the sugary goodness she can get. I want her to have rolls upon rolls when she makes her appearance.”
“She’s not the only one who is going to have rolls upon rolls if you keep sliding those slices of pie in front of me.” Daisy laughed as she sat back, rubbing her hand on her cute little baby bump. “And besides, we don’t know it’s a girl.”
“I’d be just as thrilled with a nephew, but you’ll see when you have her. She’s all girl. I know it in my heart.”
“Mmm, you and Hank are both so sure. But I don’t know.” Tears welled in her eyes as she bit her bottom lip.
“Oh shit. What’s wrong?” Emma set her own fork down, reaching across the table to hold her best friend’s hand.
“Shouldn’t I be the one who knows? The baby is growing inside of me and I have no clue. One day I think it’s a girl, the next a boy. I should know. I’m their mom.”
“Daisy, it’s totally fine to not have a feeling about what the baby might be. The most important thing is that you love your baby, no matter what. And you do. I see it every time you smile and pat your belly. I see it every time you roll your eyes at Hank’s over-protectiveness, yet never argue with the boundaries he holds for you. You are the best mom already, and that baby, no matter if it is a girl, or a boy, is so lucky to have you as their mom.” Emma stood and slid in beside Daisy, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Now, stop being silly and plump that baby up.” Both women laughed as Emma pushed the plate back towards Daisy.
“Fine, but when Hank has to roll me to the truck when I’m in labor because he can no longer carry me, I’m blaming you!”
* * *
It was the busy after school rush, but Emma didn’t fail to notice when a precious mom and daughter duo she hadn’t seen before walked into the bakery. She felt the all too familiar pull in her heart. Her mom would have been so proud of everything she’d accomplished, and she couldn’t stop herself from wondering how things would have played out if she’d been alive to stop the events that unfolded after her death.
Shaking the sadness from her mind, Emma plastered on a bright smile.
“Hi there! Welcome to Emma’s. What can I get for you guys today?”
“I want a hot chocolate and a chocolate cookie,” the precocious little girl said. She flashed a dazzling smile, complete with two missing front teeth that had Emma giggling.
“Adeline Sears, what do you also need to say?”
“Oh, right mama. Please?” Her over-sized hazel eyes pierced through Emma’s soul.
“Good job,” the woman praised.
“A hot chocolate and a chocolate cookie. We can absolutely do that, sweetheart. Anything for you?” Emma asked the woman, who looked to be in her early thirties. She was well put together, dressed in a business suit, with her hair pulled back into a slick bun.
“I’d love a flat white. Oh, and what the heck, a chocolate cookie for me too, please. We are celebrating after all, aren’t we, Addie?”
“Yes!”
“Feel free to sit anywhere, and I’ll get your order right out to you.”
Hands full of drinks and cookies, Emma made her way towards the table where the mother-daughter duo sat.
“So, are y’all new to town? Or just visiting?” she asked as she placed their order on the table.
“We just moved here, actually. I was lucky enough to land the new receptionist’s job at Montgomery Equities. It’s just a huge blessing.”
“I imagine you must have quite the impressive corporate background for someone like Sebastian Montgomery to hire you.”
“Well, his background check sure was thorough!” the woman laughed. “He even asked me about the time I shoplifted when I was thirteen. I’m not proud of it, but I spilled the beans right then and there about the dangers of peer pressure. I think he appreciated my honesty.”
“So, it’s just the two of you here?”
“Most of the time. My husband is a doctor. He wanted us to be in Rogersville, closer to the bigger airports, you know? But I didn’t want to live there. I love how quiet and quaint Bell Ridge is. So, we settled here.”
“I miss daddy a lot because he travels for work,” the little girl added. “But mom said I can take dance classes here like I did before we had to move.”
“Wow, that does sound so exciting. What kind of dance classes are you hoping to do?” Emma asked.
“I did tap and contemporary back home, but I really want to be a ballerina when I grow up. I’m going to be seven soon and I need to start taking my dancing seriously.”
The woman laughed. “As you can see, Addie is a very serious and determined kiddo. If you know of any local ballet teachers, I’m in desperate need of recommendations.”
“Is Addie your first?”
“The first and only, why?”
“Oh, my mom used to say the same thing about me when I was around her age. Just so funny how attributes can be assigned to your birth order.”
“That’s probably so true. I’m the baby of my family and definitely more whimsical than I think Addie will turn out to be.”
“Nothing wrong with a little whimsy. And, actually, you are in luck! One of my regulars is a dance teacher. She’s really amazing. Let me get you her number and I’ll tell her to expect a call from you when she stops in later today.”
“Oh, that would be amazing. Thank you!”
“I’m Emma, by the way.”
“Oh, gosh, please forgive me. I’m Natalie. My brain is frazzled after the move and with the excitement of heading back to work. I’ve been out of the workforce since she was born, and it just feels overwhelming to be going back.”
“Well, it’s really nice to meet you, Natalie. If you ever need anything, feel free to just pop in here whenever.”
“Thanks, Emma. I will.”
The bell over the door chimed and Emma watched as Sebastian strolled in. His navy blue suit was tailored to perfection and she couldn’t help but stare at the way his chest and thighs pulled at the material as he moved.
“Hey there, Sprinkles. How about making me one of those delicious cortados?”
God, why did that nickname bother her so much? Maybe it wasn’t the nickname that was infuriating. Maybe it was the fact that every time the damn guy said it, she felt butterflies in her stomach. No, she wasn’t that type of woman. She wasn’t going to swoon over his big muscles, and his tight, tailored suits that hugged every inch of his body. Nope. Those gray eyes could look deep into her soul and she would remain strong.
His business tactics proved what type of man he was, and it was a type that she wasn’t interested in.
“You do know I have a real name, don’t you? I mean, I figure for someone who runs such successful businesses, you’d be able to read a sign.” She pointed to the large sign above the register, that clearly spelled out her name, and the name of the bakery.
Sebastian laughed. “I don’t know. You seem more like a Sprinkles to me than an Emma.”
“Mmm, right. Well, if you’re sticking with a nickname, I guess I’ll just have to come up with an equally obvious and obnoxious nickname for you. Moneybags? Mr. Millionaire? No, too on the money.” He laughed, and she continued on. “Ahhh…how did I not think of it before,” she looked him up and down. “Suits.”
Sebastian nodded. “Hmm, fitting. I do like a nice suit.”
“Yeah, that’s a little obvious when you live in a town of a couple hundred people in the middle of farms and cattle ranches, and still decide to dress in thousand dollar suits during the warmest spring on record.”
“Maybe I’m dressing to impress someone.”
“Oh, you’ve got your eye on someone here in town. Do tell! You know, I’ve got an in with Ms. Silviette. Now, I know she’s an eighty year old widow, but every morning after you leave, I have to listen to her talk about how delightful your ass is. So, I mean, she’s clearly interested.”
“I think I’m more interested in someone my own age.”
“Ahh, so fifty-ish?”
“Sprinkles, you wound me.”
“Fine. So? Spill the beans. Who is the lucky lady?”
He leaned in and swept his finger across her cheek. The touch made her knees weak, and she tried to hide the fact that she was holding on to the counter for dear life.
“You had an eyelash there. Care to make a wish?” He held his finger up in front of her mouth and before she could stop herself, she was blowing her breath across his skin. “Want to tell me what you wished for?”
“It’s bad luck to do that,” she said with a slight smile. “But, if you must know, it had to do with a certain new member of our community no longer making obnoxious coffee orders first thing in the morning.”
“Well, good thing for me that it’s the afternoon.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “So, just the cortado then?”
“Yep. You know, I did actually come in here for something other than coffee and a fun flirt.”
“Oh my god, Suits. We. Were. Not. Flirting.”
“Sure, Sprinkles, whatever you say.” He winked at her and she hated how the corner of her mouth refused to do anything other than turn upwards in a smile. She immediately faked a cough so she could hide it. “Do you need something to drink?”
His fake concern was mildly amusing. “No, I’m fine. Get on with whatever you need to say.”
“I was thinking about this building. I’ve been doing a lot of investing around Clarence County and I thought about adding it to my portfolio. I can’t seem to find any information about who holds the mortgage, though.”
And just like that, she was snapped back to reality. Running her hands down her apron, she forced herself to walk to the coffee machine and start his order.
“That’s because there isn’t one, and the building is not for sale,” she snapped.
“Oh? Well, who do you pay rent to? Maybe I can see if they are interested in selling.”
“No.”
“No…what? You don’t know who you pay rent to?”
“I don’t pay rent. The building and everything inside it is mine. And I’m not interested in selling it.”
“Wow, Sprinkles, that’s really impressive. How’d you end up owning this place?”
“Not that it’s really any of your business, but I guess everyone in Bell Ridge already knows. I was working here as a waitress and the former owner decided it was time to retire. Mr. Sampson owned this space flat out, no bank, no lender, nothing. And he saw how badly I wanted a business of my own. That man let me work for him for a year, and then, one day, he had the paperwork drawn up, brought it to me, had me pay him a single dollar, and it was mine. I have no desire to sell it right now. And nothing you could say would make me want to.” She placed his coffee order in a to-go cup and slid it in front of him. “Now, please, take your fancy suits, your cortado to go, and scamper on back to your office.”
“That is quite a story.” Sebastian took a long sip off his cortado and smiled. “Delicious, as always. Well, if you ever change your mind, you obviously know where to find me. But here’s my info just in case.” He slid a business card across the counter. “Call any time. And I do mean any time, Sprinkles,” he winked at her and she cursed how her thighs tightened. “Thanks for the coffee and the flirting.”
“I wasn’t flirting!” she yelled back, her cheeks heating as several people turned to see what she was shouting about as Sebastian left.