“Scared of what?”
We were so engrossed in our conversation that neither of us noticed we weren’t alone and that Leroy and Michael had come in through the back until Leroy spoke.
April quickly turned away to hide her face. We had all grown close over the past few months, normally sharing everything. However, it was clear from April’s body language that she wasn’t ready to share this aspect of her life. Not yet anyway.
I wasn’t a good liar. When I was nervous, I tended to overshare. I racked my brain to think of something that would ring true. “April’s worried about all of the new people and businesses moving to New Bison. She thinks the criminal element is going to move in and cause a massive crime wave and her small team won’t be able to handle things.” All of which was true. She’d talked about it extensively a few nights ago.
Leroy frowned, and I was sure he didn’t believe that was why April was upset now, but he had the common sense to keep his mouth shut.
Michael and I exchanged a glance that told me that he didn’t believe me either. True to his nature, he came to my aid by changing the subject.
“This place looks great. Are they going to be finished by the start of the Spring Festival?” Michael glanced around. “It’s only a few days away, and it looks like there’s a lot of work left.”
“It better be done. I’ve already planned a grand reopening to coincide with the start of the Spring Festival. I’ve been building up a social media frenzy for Leroy’s carrot pecan cookies and Hannah’s sweet potato tarts.” I held up my phone to prove my statement.
Michael held up a hand. “I know. I follow you. #Baby-CakesGrandReopening #CookingClasses #SweetsAndTreats.”
Leroy grinned. “Don’t forget #MastiffApprovedBaked-Goods .”
“All true.” I smiled. “Leroy’s first class is already sold out.”
“Sold out is misleading,” he said. “There are only twelve students.”
“Twelve students who have signed up to learn how to make croissants, but I’ve also sold observation space.”
“What’s observation space?” Michael asked.
I turned my back to the counter and spread my arms wide. “That is observation space. I’m going to put folding chairs here. I have another twelve people who are willing to pay half price to sit and watch. Next time, we should offer two classes. One in the morning and one in the evening.”
Leroy shook his head. “Who knew Ted Turner was running Baby Cakes?”
April pulled herself together. “Maddy’s a genius when it comes to promotion and social media. Who else would have been able to keep Baby Cakes Bakery going by selling baked goods from a detached garage turned roadside food stand at her house for three months while the bakery went through renovations after the fire? Every morning, the line of cars outside the house gets longer and longer. I had to threaten to arrest three people if they didn’t move their cars so I could back out of the driveway.”
An unfamiliar voice said, “Sounds like a good problem to have.”
We turned in surprise, and there stood the man who had caused April so much grief and cost us both a lot of tears just a few moments earlier.
“How’d you get in here?” I asked.
Clayton Davenport flashed a toothy grin and motioned to the back door. “The door was unlocked.”
I glared. “Well, we’re closed. So, you can just turn around and walk out the same way you walked in here.”
Michael stiffened. I could tell he was surprised by my reaction, but he immediately took a step forward, so he became a barrier between me and Davenport. As angry as I was, I could have happily delivered a knee to a sensitive location.
Clayton Davenport wasn’t nearly as tall as Michael, and while he might have considered himself in good shape, he wasn’t as young, muscular, or tough. There was something in the way Michael carried himself that even though he wasn’t wearing a uniform, you knew he was former military. He wouldn’t start a conflict, but once engaged, he wouldn’t quit as long as there was breath left in his body. Proceed at your own risk.
Clayton Davenport may have been a big guy on Wall Street, but in a physical battle in New Bison, my money was on the military. Davenport clenched his jaw. A vein on the side of his head pulsed as though an alien could leap from his skull at any moment. His eyes were cold, but he must have recognized there was no way he could win this. Instead of engaging in a battle that would surely ruin his expensive suit, he made a tactical retreat. He held up his hands in surrender and flashed his toothy grin even wider than before. “I didn’t come here for a fight. I just wanted to talk to my wife and check out the competition.”
“Wife!?” Leroy said, and he stared from Clayton to April.
April’s face turned beet red.
“Competition?” I asked. “What competition?”
Davenport had pulled a surprise attack and caught us unprepared. He grinned. “I’ve seen all of the promotion you’ve been doing on social media and decided to enter the fray. So, I bought the bookstore across the street, and I’m opening a bakery.”
“Across the street? You bought Garrett’s bookstore?” My mind raged. There was only one bookstore in town. It had to be Garrett Kelley’s bookstore. Still, I couldn’t believe this was happening.
He folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little friendly competition.”
My stomach sank to my knees, and it took everything inside me not to wilt like a leaf of lettuce. Instead, I folded my arms across my chest and glared. “We’ll wipe the floor with you. Baby Cakes has a reputation, and local residents believe in supporting local businesses, not some franchise with frozen pastries shipped from Chicago or New York.”
“That’s why I’ve hired a master chocolatier and pâtissier from Belgium. He should be here in a week.” He chuckled. “Your reign in New Bison is over. You might as well throw in the towel and quit now. You can save yourself the humiliation of being beat by a real chef.”
My knees wobbled, and I felt the blood rush from my face. But, in that one moment, I heard my great-aunt Octavia’s voice in my head: Oh no he didn’t. And I remembered who I am. A picture of Admiral Jefferson Augustus Montgomery in full military uniform and spitting commands at the speed of light flashed across my eyes. The Admiral never backed down from a challenge. I hadn’t spent most of my life surrounded by dedicated sailors who didn’t know the meaning of the word failure for nothing. My spine transformed into a steel rod. I stood tall with my head high and shoulders back. Suddenly, all of the clichés I’d heard drilled into soldiers for the past twenty-plus years made sense. “I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity.”
Davenport looked confused. He must not have spent much time with sailors. He tilted his head to the side and frowned. “What?”
“Bring it on!”
“You seem awfully confident for someone who can’t even beat eggs.” He grinned. “Although, you’ve got great taste in clothes. Maybe I should clarify. We’re talking about a baking competition, not a fashion show.”
I didn’t like conflict and avoided it like the plague. However, when there was no other alternative, I was all in. I barely blinked at his jab. He’d done his homework and was obviously following me on social media. I would figure out a way to use that to my advantage. “Mr. Davenport, I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. So, let’s make this brief. I accept your challenge.”
“You talk a good game, but can you back it up?” He paused, and I continued to glare at him. “We both know New Bison isn’t big enough for two bakeries. So, let’s make things easy. Winner takes all. If you win, I close down the bakery and move out of town. And, if I win, you sell out. You close Baby Cakes, and leave.”
I heard April gasp behind me. “No. That’s not fair. Nor is it reasonable. You’re just taking your anger at me out on my friend.”
The blood was rushing in my head. Leave New Bison? I didn’t want to leave. I needed to stop and think, but I was too angry to stop. “Deal.”
Everyone started to object.
“But only on one condition,” I said over the dissent.
He waited.
I walked around Michael and whispered in Davenport’s ear.
If I hadn’t been so close, I wouldn’t have noticed the rage that rose up his neck and caused the tips of his ears to turn red. Eventually, he pulled himself together, turned, and glared. “Deal.”
If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead after the evil look Davenport gave me. But, with Michael standing immediately behind me, I knew he wouldn’t be foolish enough to take his anger out on me physically. Nevertheless, I felt Michael take a step closer. “Now, get out.”
“You’re real brave with your boyfriend behind you,” Davenport sneered.
I smiled. “I don’t need anyone to take care of a weasel like you. I can swing a pretty mean skillet.”
Davenport frowned, unfamiliar with my previous skillet-wielding encounter. For a brief moment, it looked like he wanted to say more, but before he could, Michael intervened.
“You heard her,” Michael said with steel in his voice. “Out.”
Leroy held open the door.
Davenport marched out.
