Page 3 of Small Town Sash

Suddenly, the door to the Coffee Loft swung open, and Mrs. Matilda Shomacker waddled in, disturbing the peaceful ambiance with her overbearing presence. Her sharp eyes darted around the room, landing on Hadley and her mother.

"Ah, the Wilders at their usual spot. Getting ready for another beauty pageant, are we?" she asked with a broad grin, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mrs. Wilder forced a polite smile and nodded while Hadley took another sip of her black coffee and stared out the window.

Ignoring Hadley's disinterest, Mrs. Shomacker continued. "Make sure you don't eat any of these pastries, dear. Wouldn't want to ruin that figure. Or maybe I should say eat up so mygranddaughter has a better chance of winning the crown in a couple of weeks."

A chuckle erupted from Mrs. Shomacker but was met with frosty silence from Hadley's mother.

"Mrs. Shomacker," a gentle voice chided from behind the counter. Michelle emerged with a tray of fresh muffins. "I thought I warned you about harassing my customers."

"Oh, hush," Mrs. Shomacker said dismissively. "We're all friends here." She turned back to the Wilders again and was about to say something else when Mrs. Wilder abruptly stood.

"We best be going," she said curtly, suggesting they had overstayed their welcome in the land of caffeine and carbs. "Come along, Hadley."

Obediently, Hadley rose, clutching her coffee cup like a lifeline. She spun on her heel, only to collide with a solid form.

"Oof," she exclaimed, coffee splashing perilously close to the brink of disaster.

"Sorry, ma'am," a deep voice apologized. Strong hands steadied her, their warmth bleeding through the fabric of her dress.

"Ma'am?" Hadley echoed, regaining her balance and finally looking up.

"Sorry, force of habit," the man said, a sheepish grin spreading across his tan face. He stood at average height, with black hair cropped close to his head and brown eyes that sparkled with good humor. There was something about him—an air of disciplined strength, the kind you couldn't earn in a gym. That's when she noticed his blue uniform, adorned with medals and a name tag that read, "Harding" and a golden retriever by his side.

"Are you...military?" Hadley guessed, noting the crispness of his posture and the faint outline of muscles beneath his jacket.

"Air Force," he confirmed, releasing her. "I'm just staying here temporarily."

"In Hero?" Hadley's brow rose. Suddenly remembering why most military men and police officers were in town, she added, "You must be here for the search and rescue academy."

"That I am, but it seems like a nice enough place," he replied, the corner of his mouth tilting up even more.

"Depends on the day," Hadley retorted, her blue eyes meeting his gaze squarely as she placed her cup on the nearby counter. She found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in days, no pretense needed.

"Nice meeting you..." Hadley trailed off, realizing she didn't even know his full name.

"Staff Sergeant Braden Harding," he supplied, with an easy smile that suggested he wasn't used to being forgotten.

"Braden," she repeated, the name fitting him perfectly. It rolled off her tongue far too comfortably for someone she'd just met.

"See you around..." he waited for her to fill in her name.

"Hadley Wilder," she told him with a warm smile.

"Okay, Hadley. See you around," he said for a second time.

"Maybe," she murmured as she pressed her lips together.

"Goodbye, young man," her mother said curtly, not bothering with pleasantries as she all but dragged Hadley away from him.

"Take care," Braden called after them, his voice fading as the distance between them grew.

"Mom, he was just being polite," Hadley protested weakly once they were outside. Over her shoulder, she glanced through the window at the handsome stranger who had turned his attention to ordering. Something fluttered in her chest—a feeling that had nothing to do with pageants or appearances.

"Politeness doesn't win crowns," her mother retorted, her pace quickening as if she could out walk the conversation.

"Neither does rudeness," Hadley countered, her heart sinking with each step that took her further from Braden and the coffee shop.

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