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CHAPTERONE
Daniel couldn’t believewhat he was hearing. The gorgeous stranger he thought was one of his sister-in-law’s friends just said she was the one opening a coffee and tea shop across the street from his coffee and tea shop. She claimed it was a bookstore, but she’d be offering coffee and tea, too. This was a nightmare.
He’d put all he had into building his business. He’d spent his life savings so he could run his own company and not have to depend on anyone else. He’d also chosen to take a different path than the family business. It wasn’t that he didn’t love the ranch—he just didn’t want the ranch to be his career.
Mountaintop Java was supposed to be his ticket to set him up for the future. Suddenly his future was crumbling before his eyes and the destroyer at the helm was a petite blonde with the most piercing and icy blue eyes he’d ever seen.
And she was here at his family’s barbeque.
If it weren’t for her power suit, he could have seen her dressed in armor and chainmail.
And a sword. He couldn’t picture her without that.
His mouth had become dry as if he’d been stuck in the desert for several weeks.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” His voice rasped out, barely audible. His gaze swept through those in attendance to his demise. Bo and Gabby watched with what could only be considered guilt. Everyone but this newcomer was concerned—and they probably should be.
The twiglike warrior’s arms remained crossed across her chest and she lifted her chin. “I said I’m the psychotic business owner who decided to open a bookstore across the street from the competition.” She tilted her head and a slight smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “But I’d prefer if you called me Megan.”
“Megan,” he whispered. “You’re the new bookstore owner. The bookstore owner who’s also opening a café that sells coffee and tea… across the street from my coffee shop.” He swallowed hard. He’d already made a scene. He’d already called her a name to her face.
The back of his neck prickled with embarrassment, and he could already feel the red-hot heat that continued to wind its way into his ears. He should apologize. That’s what would be acceptable. He should tell her he didn’t mean what he’d said and then walk away before he made any other mistakes.
Rocky Ridge was small enough that if Megan wanted to start a smear campaign, she could do so without much trouble. He didn’t know if that was in her character, but he couldn’t risk it.
Once again, he glanced toward each member of his family. Was he becoming lightheaded? Maybe. His pulse roared in his ears and his head pounded with each beat of his heart.
Daniel forced a smile, though if he were honest with himself, it felt more like a grimace—he was showing his cards, his pain over this situation.
Megan had infiltrated his family. While he didn’t know how she knew Gabby, he could tell that was who invited her. Time to change the subject.
The lump in his throat refused to dislodge, so he grabbed a nearby glass of lemonade and took a deep swig of it. “You know what? I think I need to back this up a little. I probably need to… just be somewhere else right now.”
“Daniel,” his mother murmured with exasperation and a hint of concern. “You’re fine. Just grab a plate and—”
He shook his head and released a pent-up breath. “I’m not hungry. I think I just need to take a minute.” His gaze caught on the barn. “I think I’ll just go for a ride if that’s okay.” Daniel took a step toward it, but his escape was thwarted all too soon. His mother grabbed onto his hand and tugged him toward the house.
When they were far enough away, she lowered her voice and put herself between him and the table where his new-found nemesis had taken her seat with his family. He bit down on his cheek hard enough to draw blood. He wouldn’t make a fool of himself. No, he’d already done enough damage.
“Daniel,” his mother’s stern word dragged his focus from his family. “Are you okay?”
He blinked, seeing the concern flood her expression. She’d never seen him react like this before. It made sense that she would be worried. She placed her palm to his cheek, her eyes delving into him, waiting for a response.
Daniel waved her off with a dismissive hand. “Of course I’m okay.”
She gave him a pointed look and at that moment his father arrived to their small intervention. He had his hands in his pockets as if he wasn’t worried, but Daniel could see that same concern in his eyes. Great, now he was becoming the problem child. This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid.
Now that all his brothers were engaged, he was the last man standing quite literally. The chances that they’d just let him get away with his actions were slim to none. He knew his parents. And they tended to put all their energy into the child who needed it most while keeping a watchful eye on the others.
He needed to get them off his back if he wanted to maintain the autonomy he’d created within his family dynamic. Daniel huffed. “I know what you’re thinking. And I’m fine. Just… stay focused on what’s important. Andrew is engaged. You guys have a wedding to plan and this ranch to run. Let me keep working on my coffee shop and everything will work out. That’s what you’ve always taught me, right?”
His parents exchanged those worried looks again.
“I’m going for a ride. I don’t need a pep talk, I just need… to think.” He pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek then brushed past them and hurried toward the barn before anyone else could stop him. He’d take his horse out and think of a game plan to defeat this woman. If she was running a bookstore, then that was what she should focus on. She didn’t need to corner the beverage market too.
Daniel made it to the barn and saddled his horse faster than he had done before. He knew his family was likely talking about him. His parents were probably telling his siblings that they were worried about him, and they wanted his brothers to keep an eye on him. Well, he wished them luck on that. They weren’t going to get anywhere near him.
He pulled the reins of his favorite chocolate-brown mare, leading her from her stall and rubbed her nose. She had a white spot right between the eyes that looked like a diamond which was the reason for the silly name his sister had picked. “Come on, Diamond, we’re going for a ride.”
