of doing to pull off that stare with the beautiful baker. “What, exactly, do you hear?”
“Does it matter? After all, I’m just a cupcake baker.”
That made him pause for a moment, but no, he hadn’t uttered that very thought out loud earlier. His smile broadened. “And yet, a smart cookie.”
She gave him a pitying look.
“Deserved that,” he rejoined, with a quick, humble duck of the chin. His smile deepened when their eyes met again, but rather than be amused at his expense, her gaze remained steady and somewhat impenetrable. He returned the look. “Other than infiltrate the area behind your counter in search of what I was made to understand is the best coffee in Hamilton, have I done something in particular to make you cross?”
“Is it true you’re planning on broadening the scope of industry here in Hamilton? And by broaden, I don’t mean to the next county over. I understand you have aspirations to make us a global commodity of some sort. Is that an accurate assessment of your goals here?”
Ah. So, she wasn’t a naïve optimist after all. He’d generally only heard such comments delivered in that flat, business-savvy tone from the highly placed corporate types he was used to dealing with. He tried to conceal his surprise. “You sound less than enthusiastic about the potential for community growth and strengthened economic stability,” he replied directly, opting to treat her question in the serious manner he would have those of the executives. “Perhaps you should consider that your business in particular would be one almost guaranteed an enormous boost in revenue. And that’s just for this location. There would be quid pro quo opportunities for you abroad, and you are poised to capitalize on a rather attractive niche market that would likely straddle both worlds.”
“I’ll take that as a yes, then?”
So serious for a cupcake baker. “Aye, I believe you could.”
She deftly snagged the cup of coffee right out of his hand, then slipped out of the narrow space between him and the counter. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gallagher. No disrespect to your extended family here in the States, whom I adore, especially your ... cousin? I suppose that’s what Sean would be to you. I hope they will understand, though I don’t much care if you do. You’re not welcome in this establishment. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now.”
If he hadn’t been so bereft at the sudden loss of his much-needed coffee—so close!—he might have been more amused by her combative attitude. He’d won over his share of hardened battle veterans and might have even enjoyed the challenge. At the moment, she was not his utmost concern. Not individually, anyway. He had a whole town of small business owners to win over. Better to absorb the loss of one to spare himself the time he needed to win over the many. “Hardly the spirit of the holiday season,” he said, sending a longing look at the cup in her hand, steam wafting from the hole in the lid.
“Oh, I can be quite spirited, rest assured.”
His gaze skipped right back to hers. Oh, how well he could imagine that. Far too clearly, in fact. And in great detail, if given the time. He held his long wool coat closed in front of him. “Surely you wouldn’t be so heartless as to toss me out into the bitter cold without so much as a sip—”
She rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sake. Here.” She shoved the coffee into his hands. “Stupid accent,” she muttered under her breath.
“I beg your pardon?”
“No, I believe you begged for coffee—which you now have. So, if you would be so kind”—she gestured to the door—“I have cupcakes to remake.”
“You have a weakness for accents, do you?” He grinned, then took a very quick sip when her scowl darkened.
“Mr. Gallagher—”
“Taking my leave, not to worry.” He sketched a short bow, then as the flavor burst on his tongue, he lifted the cup toward her in a gesture of sincere reverence. “The innkeeper was right. Truly, a remarkable blend.”
“Enjoy it,” she said, the unspoken ending making it clear that it would be his only chance to do so.
“I plan to.” He couldn’t have said what made him do it, but rather then take his leave, he remained where he stood a moment longer, and quite deliberately allowed his gaze to roam down her chef ’s-coat-draped body, and back up again. Not that he could tell one whit what she was hiding behind the starched white linen,