A Moment on the Lips (A Whistle Stop Romance, #3) (4 page)

Wanting to have a quick word with the crew foreman, he stepped inside what had once been a clothing store. Yet, the place was deserted. Where in the world were the men? He’d have thought at least some of them would have hung out here to eat their packed lunches.

He strode through the shop, careful to sidestep the sawhorses and various piles of discarded materials. He yanked open the front door and found the workers’ pickups still lining both sides of the sunny street, but no sign of them. They couldn’t have gone far on foot.

Joe strolled up the sidewalk. The most delicious aroma of fresh-baked cookies filled the air. He took another sniff. Chocolate chip? It had to be. His mouth watered.

He couldn’t resist a glance inside the Poppin’ Fresh Bakery. Nothing about the place reminded him of a bakery except the huge display case. It was more like a big garden party with frilly flowers on the yellow walls. And those white, iron tables were far from practical and not the least bit cheap. Now he understood why she’d been delayed in making a bid for what was now his property—the woman had no idea how to handle money.

Someone really should give her some financial advice. But not him. After all, why should he care if she was good or bad with money? She was none of his concern. He should walk away. Quickly.

Except...he did owe her an apology. Their first meeting hadn’t ended well. Thinking back to the way she’d pushed him to sell, he knew the dismal encounter certainly hadn’t been totally his fault. So why should he swallow his pride and apologize?

Because this was a small town. He hadn’t been gone so long that he didn’t recall how small towns worked. All it took was one sensationalized bit of news to start up the gossip mill. One person told another person. Another person mentioned it to a group at the diner. And they all told their families, including their second and third cousins.

He should know. His family had been fodder for the gossip mill often enough when he was a kid. The emerging memories caused a foul taste in the back of his mouth. He swallowed hard while shoving away the painful thoughts.

He stepped up to the big display window of the bakery. The big, burly men who were supposed to be working for him were sitting around those dainty white tables, eating large deli sandwiches. What in the world was going on?

If that wasn’t enough, Piper was serving them coffee. Joe scanned the counter, noticing the flavored coffee syrups. Those hadn’t been there yesterday, had they?

Thoughts of apologizing evaporated. He strode over to the door and yanked it open. The sweet scent of cinnamon and spices rushed up and engulfed him. His empty stomach rumbled, which only succeeded in further souring his already cranky mood.

He glanced up at the price chart. There was no listing for deli sandwiches. What was she up to?

When Piper noticed him, she smiled. Her pink cheeks puffed up. She sashayed up to him. Her rounded hips moved rhythmically, entrancing him and tangling his thoughts. The knowledge that she could get to him so easily only frustrated him all the more.

“What can I get you?” she asked sweetly, before flashing him another of those smiles that made her eyes sparkle.

How could her mother imply Piper was anything but beautiful? She was a knockout. And there was a roomful of eager men who’d back him up. In fact, a few were openly staring at her. Joe’s hands clenched. Hadn’t their mommas taught them better manners?

“Hey, Joe, you should try one of these turkey sandwiches,” called out one of the men.

“The coffee’s great, too,” another worker added. “Have her add some caramel. Gives it a different twist.”

Joe’s gaze settled on the woman who’d won over every man in the room, except him. “Do you normally serve lunch? I don’t see it on your sign.”

“Actually, I don’t. But since I knew the guys would be here, I picked up some cold cuts and spread the word.”

Joe pressed his hands to his waist. “Just trying to help out?”

Her sugary smile dripped with sweetness. “Of course. Being neighborly, is all. The men all seem happy.” The men agreed, and her smile broadened. “Can I get you some coffee? And how about a sandwich?”

Was this her way of pointing out that she could easily sway the whole town into boycotting his coffee shop? A sense of dread came over him. She didn’t strike him as the type to do such a thing, but he obviously wasn’t a good judge of character. His ex, Denise, was proof of that.

He cleared his throat, hoping to sound friendly. “Would you mind if we talked outside?”

Piper glanced around as though she hadn’t realized they were being watched. “Sure. Lead the way.”

Once alone on the sidewalk, he turned to her. “Are you so upset I won’t sell that you’re out to sabotage my business before it even opens?”

“What, by serving sandwiches and coffee?” She let out a hallow laugh. “You’re delusional. I’m only trying to be helpful.”

“Helpful? By winning over all of my workers?”

Her pencil-thin brows drew together. “If I didn’t, they’d have to walk to Benny’s Burgers, and that’s at least a ten-minute walk one way. This way, they are right next door. They won’t be late getting back to work.”

Was she being on the level with him? He eyed up the serious expression on the delicate features of her face. “And why would you care?”

She shrugged. “I know those guys. Most of them were in either my class in school or my brother’s grade.”

Had he totally misjudged her? He wanted to believe her, but after the hell he’d gone through with Denise, he was a lot more reserved and cautious now. “So you did this out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Why do you have such a hard time believing that I’m not out to hurt you?”

Guilt settled on his now drooping shoulders. “I guess I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

“Now you’re starting to make some sense. You know, I sold those sandwiches at cost.”

She’d forgone making a profit? The concept jarred him back to reality. Had he let himself become so jaded by his ex’s antics that he couldn’t recognize genuine generosity when it ran up and smacked him across the face? The thought that he’d let himself become that hardened didn’t sit well, not well at all.

In Albuquerque, he’d been able to talk to people, to laugh with them. Looking back on those memories was like looking at a stranger. But then again, all of that was before he’d walked into his house with flowers to surprise his wife, only to have the surprise be on him. The flowers had ended up in a heap on the floor as he turned away from the shocking sight of his wife in bed with another man.

He realized that something had died in him on that long-ago day. But had it all happened that day? Even before then, he’d closed off a part of himself—

No, he wasn’t going there. Nothing good would come from revisiting the past. Nothing good at all.

Joe struggled to find the right words to undo some of the damage. “I just...I don’t know. We didn’t exactly get off to a good start yesterday. And when I saw the guys over here, I thought...well, I thought wrong.”

Piper crossed her arms and hitched her curvy hip.

He grew uncomfortable beneath her expectant gaze. “What?”

“I’m waiting for an apology.”

“Oh.” His mouth grew dry, and he struggled to swallow. “I’m sorry that I jumped to the wrong conclusions. I appreciate your generosity. I hope we can start over.”

Her brow arched as she seemed to weigh his words. “You know, it seems like you’re not going to be a ray of sunshine in the neighborhood. You’ll be a lot better off around here if you don’t expect the worst from people. I accept your apology, though, and suppose we can give it another go.”

Not going to be a ray of sunshine
was a polite way of calling him a jerk...a clod...an ass. Joe’s shoulders pulled back in a rigid line. He wasn’t that bad, was he?

He thought back over their exchange. He smothered a frustrated groan. What was it about this woman that got under his skin and had him acting without thinking? Okay, maybe she had a point. “There’s just one thing.”

A noticeable pause ensued. “And that would be?”

He started to have second and third thoughts about what he’d been planning to ask her. Maybe it was best left unsaid. Besides, he had no right to ask anything of her. “Uh, never mind.”

“Actually, I do mind. I’d like to clear the air between us. So what’s on your mind?”

He drew in a deep breath and then blew it out. “It’s about the, uh, coffee. Could I persuade you to cut back on selling specialty coffees once I open?”

Surprise flashed in her eyes. “If you want me to quit, you’re going to have to give me something.”

That was a much better reaction than he’d been expecting. “How about a lifetime supply of your favorite coffee drink, like mocha lattes or caramel macchiatos? I’ll even throw in a free mug.”

She shook her head, but it was the twinkle in her eyes that told him she already had something in mind. His gut screamed out that whatever it was he wasn’t going to like it.

He looped his thumbs through his belt loops. “I take it you already have something in mind. Let’s hear it.”

“I want you to sell my baked goods in your coffee shop.” Her lips lifted into a warm smile.

His gaze dipped to her supple lips. No wonder his men were all smiles. Piper was a stunning woman. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn’t help but wonder if her strawberry lips were sweet or tart. If they weren’t standing on the sidewalk in the middle of town, he might have risked it and stolen a kiss.

Her pointed stare reminded him that she was waiting for an answer. He cleared his throat. “Why would I do that? All people have to do is walk next door to fill their sweet tooth.”

“I’ve thought of that, and I could offer some different items for your shop.”

He’d already contracted with another bakery, one that would supply whole grain and organic items, but it wouldn’t hurt to hear Piper out. In fact, at this point, it might be in his best interest. Besides, he was enjoying standing here in the sunshine with the gentle breeze carrying with it the soft floral scent that he guessed was Piper’s perfume.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Such as?”

“The one thing that always goes with a good cup of coffee.”

He should know the answer, but right now he was so distracted by her glossy lips that he’d be lucky to remember his own name.

When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Doughnuts. I can whip up a special line of them that will be sold only at your place. They’ll be fresh each morning. Now that would be a deal worth giving up my coffee sales.”

He’d seen the delectable, tempting treats in her display case. They were the exact things his doctor had warned him against at his last checkup—the one right after his father’s sudden heart attack. It was the reason Joe had started running each morning and why he’d been selective about what bakery he’d contracted to supply Fill-It-Up Joe. He definitely didn’t want to go down the same unhealthy road as his father.

And more than that, Joe didn’t want anyone to have any say in his business. And something told him his beautiful neighbor would want a say in what pastries he sold, how he displayed them, and how much he charged. He’d been down this road before. It started with something small but quickly escalated.

Not again.

No way.

But the anticipation reflected in her eyes stifled his words. She reminded him of a kid eagerly awaiting her first puppy—not a good analogy. His gut knotted up. Women and dogs were two touchy subjects for him. They were both best left alone.

He focused his thoughts on Piper and figuring out how best to let her down as gently as possible. So far, everything that had come out of his mouth had only succeeded in upsetting her. Maybe it was best he didn’t say anything at all. He settled for shaking his head, and then he braced himself for her response.

The excitement on her face slipped. “But why?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already hired a company to supply all of the baked goods I’m going to need.”

“You hired a company from outside the area?” When he nodded, her gaze narrowed. “If you don’t want to be neighborly, all you had to do was say so. You didn’t have to let me go on about how we could work together.”

“That’s not it—”

She held up her palm. “Save it. I have customers to attend to. You stay on your side of the wall, and I’ll stay on mine.”

She stormed off, leaving him alone on the sidewalk. He kicked at a pebble. Why hadn’t he explained about his father’s death and that his own diagnostic tests regarding heart disease had been borderline?

Because it wasn’t her business... Nah, the truth was, he would have explained if she’d have given him a chance. The knowledge didn’t ease him. The fact that he wanted to tell this beautiful stranger intimate details about his life scared the hell out of him.

C
losing time.

And none too soon.

Piper took what comfort she could from her evening routine. Knowing she wouldn’t be able to rest, she’d sent her two employees home early. The way she saw it, the more work she had to do, the less she’d dwell on her plans being dashed by the sexy Mr. Montoya.

The chime of the little brass bell over the front door had Piper calling out, “We’re closed.”

She’d been so distracted that she’d forgotten to flip the lock on the door. She wondered what else she’d forgotten that day. Then again, maybe it was better she didn’t know.

“Piper, where are you?”

She immediately recognized Ana’s voice. “I’m back here in the kitchen.”

She’d been friends with Ana as far back as she could remember. They’d grown up on the same block. Their mothers had been friends. And they’d been in the same grade in school. It was the makings of either a life-long friendship or mortal enemies. Luckily, they’d had enough in common that they quickly became BFFs.

Ana stepped into the kitchen and looked around. “Where is everyone?”

“I sent them home.” Piper really didn’t want to get into details. The pain of her dream going up in smoke was still too raw for well-meaning words of sympathy.

“How come they got to go home early and yet you’re still here working?”