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She snapped her eyes back to him. “What?”
He lifted the mug. It had painted fingerprints to look like ladybugs and caterpillars—something she would imagine a kid might make. “Would you like some coffee. I’ve got just enough for another cup over by the stove.”
Sure enough, next to the stove was a pot she’d overlooked.
Daniel chuckled and got to his feet. “You’re welcome to have it. I’d rather it not go to waste.”
Something told her he was going to add to his statement, and she wasn’t disappointed.
“Besides, you’re gonna need it.” He placed his mug in the sink then grabbed his black hat and shoved it on his head.
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
He flashed her a smile, the sort of smile he’d given her on Saturday—the very one that could turn her insides into butter. “Because it doesn’t matter what you did at that little event you threw last weekend. Today is Monday. It’s the first day of the week. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s that people are creatures of habit. You’re not going to get the welcome you think you will. Folks will show up at my place just because they want what they’ve always had.”
Her jaw tightened. He was wrong and she’d prove it to him. It might not happen overnight, but she’d show him that her little shop could be just as good as his. “You’re forgetting something,” she bit out. “My little bookstore is the perfect place to catch up on the news, to read something before heading into work,andget your morning coffee all at once. People like the peacefulness of a place like that. Your coffee shop doesn’t offer that sort of ambiance. I would bet you anything that you’ll be the one surprised today.”
Daniel moved closer to her. His eyes swept over her body from head to toe and she refused to step back in order to put some much-needed distance between them. She straightened her back, rolled her shoulders and set him with her hardest stare.
For a second, she thought he’d say something else to try to make her feel less confident.
But he didn’t.
He simply shook his head and laughed quietly as he strode toward the door. “My shop has been open for the past hour and a half and I’m sure it’s been just as busy as it usually is. When do you open? Eight? You’re going to miss the crowd who have to be at work by nine. Some of these folks travel to the office.”
“Actually, I open at seven,” she called after him even though he was likely already to the front door. He did have a point. Part of her business was books, but the café part was for all hours of the day. She might want to consider opening a little earlier than she’d planned.
* * *
Megan pulledup to the bookstore and the only thing she could feel was utter elation. There were customers lining up at her door. There were so many, they filled the sidewalk to the edge of the street.
When she climbed out of the car there were a few who cheered. It was like she’d become a celebrity. Megan grinned like a child on Christmas as she hurried to unlock the front door. The first person in line looked very familiar, though Megan couldn’t place his name. She’d met so many people on Saturday it was hard to put names to faces.
She unlatched the door and glanced at him. “It’s gonna be about ten minutes then I can open up.”
“I’m just here to get one of those cheese Danishes you had out last weekend. Then I have to head back to work.”
Megan gave him an incredulous look. “You left work?”
He shrugged and leaned forward conspiratorially. “Don’t tell Paige or her sisters. If they knew I skipped breakfast so I could come out this way, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.”
Realization washed over her. “You’re Paige’s husband, Jake.”
He nodded. “My sisters-in-law love what you’re doing with your bookstore. Kelsey is all over it. I’m not sure if you’ve seen the social media posts. She’s raving all about it.”
Warmth flooded her face. That was one of the sweetest things that could have happened. Kelsey wasn’t contracted to do anything else. She’d done her part for the party last weekend. “You guys really like to help out the newcomers here, don’t you?” The words slipped out then she covered her mouth in embarrassment. “I didn’t mean how that sounded.”
He grinned. “How did it sound? You’re right. We like to help whenever there’s a newcomer. The folks around here have a tendency to be stuck in their ways unless they are given a little shove.” He made a face. “Myself included.”
She didn’t know why, but she laughed. “Well, I appreciate any help I can get. The competition out here is fierce.” Megan glanced over toward the coffee shop across the street and the motion didn’t go unnoticed.
Jake motioned toward her shop. “Just get in there and do what you came here to do. It’ll get easier—especially with support like this.” He thumbed over his shoulder at the growing line. “Better hustle. They’re not going to be patient for long.”
Megan nodded, ducking into the building and rushing as she flipped on lights and started up machines. She’d hired one person to help in the bookstore side of things until she could get a couple more people and they were due to arrive any moment. It didn’t matter how much she’d prepared for opening day the night before, she was a ball of nerves and by the time she pushed open the door to let everyone in, her legs and hands shook from the nervous energy. Her nerves only continued until the first sale.
After that, her confidence kicked in and she was ready for whatever life was going to throw at her.
Only once did she have a chance to glance through the glass windows toward Daniel’s coffee shop. When she did, she found that his place didn’t seem quite busy enough.
