All's Fair in Love and Chocolate (Marietta Chocolate Wars #1) - Amy Andrews Page 0,36

her come in or really even register the ding of the bell, engrossed as she was in the conversation with her customer over the merits of the different bath bombs. All she knew was that suddenly the whole shop had gone quiet apart from the two of them and she glanced up to find a woman striding in her direction, like she was on a mission, people parting before her like the Red Sea.

“Hi,” she said with a smile, as she pulled up at the counter, sticking out her hand. “You must be Vivian?”

Viv heard the shudder of a collective indrawn breath and looked around the nervous faces of her customers for a beat before saying, “Viv, yes.” And she shook hands noticing the cute, knitted ear-flap hat with kitten ears. It suited this woman but it wasn’t something Viv could pull off.

“I’m Clementine.”

Ah. Viv blinked. “Oh. Right…hello.” Viv wasn’t sure what else to say. Obviously everybody in the store was prepared for some kind of confrontation. But, Reuben had assured her he and his ex had parted amicably and Clem didn’t appear angry or upset.

Clem eased her hand away then smiled at Roberta. “Hey, Robbie.”

“Hey, Clem.” Robbie returned the smile. “How was your trip?”

“Amazing. I don’t know what took me so long.”

“Yeah. Neil and I went to Paris for our honeymoon. We were home for a day before we started planning our next trip.”

Clem laughed. “I hear ya.”

Viv, along with everyone else in the store, watched the easy exchange between the two women. She wasn’t sure what this was about but it didn’t seem like Clem had come to yell at her so Viv took a moment to check out Reuben’s ex. She was short and cute and…peppy with big amber eyes and chipmunk cheeks. A stray dark curl or two had escaped the knitted confines of her hat and even though she was wearing a puffer coat that made the thinnest of women look like the Michelin Man, it was unzipped to reveal a slender figure, which was more athletic than curvy.

She no doubt wore the hell out of skinny jeans.

The thought that Viv couldn’t was suddenly a little depressing. She and Clem were clearly opposite shapes and if skinny jeans were what Reuben liked then what the hell did he see in her? How could she compete?

Compete? Oh Jesus… Irritated suddenly at the direction of her thoughts, Viv gave herself a mental shake. Clem wasn’t her competition. Firstly, Clem and Reuben were over. Secondly, he was with her. And thirdly, she and Reuben weren’t together like that. They were a casual thing in a temporary situation. They were both free to walk away at any time.

So this twisted morass of feelings churning inside Viv’s gut made zero sense.

“Would you mind terribly if I cut in, Mrs. Lucas?”

Viv brought her thoughts back in line as Clem addressed the bath bomb woman who shook her head and said, “Go ahead.” She was obviously interested in the outcome and was happy to give up her place.

Clem beamed before turning to face Viv again. “I’d like a hot chocolate please, if that’s okay. I’ve heard so much about them. And then I’d like a voting form so I can vote for you in the popular vote.”

Viv blinked. “Oh…sure.”

Viv didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but it hadn’t been that and she was stunned for a beat or two during which Robbie jumped in and said, “I’ll get that for you. Is plain okay or would you like one of the flavored ones? I’d suggest the licorice one if you picked up a taste for ouzo in Greece.”

“Oh yes, that sounds divine, thank you.” Clem smiled at Robbie before returning her attention to Viv. “I’d also like very much to apologize on behalf of all of Marietta for the way you’ve been treated in my absence.”

Reuben has said that his ex was a librarian and Viv could well imagine it now as she raised her voice with no apparent effort but sounded very much like a teacher scolding her class. The chastising was clearly meant for everyone in the shop despite Clementine not addressing anyone directly.

“It’s been appalling.” Clem embellished the word with utter disgust. “I can assure you Marietta is normally a very friendly little town and I can only say sorry again for their misguided sense of outrage that led to such behavior. I wish you and Reuben well for the future and I look forward to becoming a regular