Page 3 of Rival Hearts

“Hang on, I’ll walk you out.” Suitor’s Crossing is a safe town, but you can never be too careful. After securing the back door, we silently tread down the short hallway to the building exit, fatigue finally winning out over the adrenaline of earlier.

Sierra slips into her Nissan with a mumbled good-bye before reversing then slowly driving down the dark alley leading to the street. Sighing, I scrub a hand over my tired eyes then retrace my steps to get to my car in front of Brewed. It’s a haphazard parking job considering I rushed over here once my phone alerted me to a break-in. Normally, I would’ve waited for a call from the cops rather than risking my life by confronting a thief or vandal, but the security camera trained on the back door showed an easily recognizable Sierra and Shannon.

And that was all I needed to jump out of bed and hightail it down to Main Street.

Wouldn’t Sierra laugh if she knew how tightly she has me on a string…

CHAPTER THREE

SIERRA

“Ready, sweetcakes? Doors open in ten minutes for the first round of the contest, and it looks like we’ve already got lines forming. Spreading the word on the Suitor’s Crossing social pages was a stroke of genius.”

“Don’t sound so surprised.” It’s 7 A.M. on a Monday, and I’ve never had a line of customers waiting for me to open. Suitor’s Crossing is a small town and staunch supporters of local businesses, but we’re not exactly a hub for corporate suits in need of a caffeine hit before heading to the boardroom.

My busiest hours are actually after the morning school drop-off and right before the businesses around me open up at 9 A.M.

“The Cafe Clash. First round: Dough & Joe Duel,” Caleb says, referencing the names we came up with for our contest and rounds. I figured we needed something catchy to make this thing feel like a real event for the town rather than a weird string of challenges between me and Caleb. Because this is for more than settling a personal score. It's about promoting our businesses so a big corporation doesn't win.

“Remember the rules? Whoever attracts the most customers during today’s morning rush wins this round.” This is the most equitable challenge as the other two skew towards either baking or brewing specifically.

It took us a day to sort out the details of the contest then another two weeks to hype it up around town. All of our friends shared it with their customers—like the engaged women who see Shannon for their wedding dresses at Blushing Brides Boutique or the groups of people who frequent Austin’s bar The Ole Aces. Word spread quickly about The Cafe Clash, so I’m hopeful this brief truce Caleb and I have will prove fruitful.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah… Don’t cite the deep magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written.” His voice lowers to quote Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia, prompting me to playfully smack his shoulder.

“You’re such a child.” An arrogant grin showcases his deep dimples, and I studiously ignore the little flutter they set off in my belly. So my archnemesis is funny and attractive.

Like Paul Rudd mixed with Henry Cavill hot.

So what?

Just because I’m woman enough to objectively recognize his handsomeness doesn’t mean anything. It’s a natural response to a good looking man. Like if I saw a pair of bear cubs playing in the forests that surround Suitor’s Crossing and felt the urge to touch all that cuteness. Doesn’t mean I’d act on the impulse. I’m not stupid. I’d just admire from afar, knowing that getting any closer poses a clear danger.

Or in Caleb’s case, a clear conflict of interest.

Because he’s the man determined to steal my customers and run me out of business with the combination of his specialty coffee and inferior pastries.

At least, that’s the story I’ve told myself ever since he first opened Brewed.

“Smack talk already? Isn’t it a little early even for you guys?” My employee and second-in-command at Buttercream Dreams bumps the swinging door between the kitchen and front counter open with her hip. Balancing a tray of glazed donuts, Mandy shoots the stink eye toward Caleb before lowering the load beside the glass case where we display our baked goods. She’s worked for me since she was sixteen, part-time during the school year then full-time after she graduated and decided to forgo college in favor of becoming an apprentice to me.

“It’s never too early for some good old-fashioned banter.” Caleb winks before tapping the counter with his knuckle and exiting, weaving through the line outside to get back to Brewed.

And, no, I definitely did not stare at his jean-clad butt before it disappeared in the crowd.

Nope.

No way.

“You’ve got this, boss. Don’t let him intimidate you.” Mandy pats my back on her return trip to the kitchen to collect more donuts, and all unwanted thoughts about Caleb evaporate in the wake of more pressing matters. I’ve got a competition to win. I don’t have time to check out the challenger’s firm assets when people are waiting for me to satisfy their breakfast cravings.

We’re offering a special in honor of the contest—free coffee with every pastry purchase along with triple points for customer loyalty cards. I’m hoping the lure of free coffee will convince enough people to skip Brewed and head straight to Buttercream Dreams for their caffeine and sugar fix. But it’s hard to tell how successful the promotion will be when the lines outside seem merged together—rather than one enormous queue snaking from my door and around the block, away from Brewed.

“Don’t worry. Caleb doesn’t scare me. He’s just the man I’m going to crush into sad coffee grounds by the end of the day.”

Mandy giggles and does a fist pump. “That’s the spirit. We’ve got this in the bag!”

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