Page 17 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Arms crossed, Daisy propped one flip-flopped foot on the edge of Candace’s seat, close to the woman’s thigh.
“Yeah,” she continued. “Then and now, you’re too chicken to say what you want, but too hooked to stay away.”
“You’re right. I was afraid, but I’m not anymore.”
“Uh-huh. I’d congratulate you, but growing a spine at thirty-three is a little pathetic.”
Hurt cracked Candace’s expression, so profound Daisy thought the woman would start weeping again. She did not. Instead, she rose to the challenge in Daisy’s voice—literally. On her feet, which practically brought them crashing into one another, she thrust the binder forward.
“W-what’s this?” Daisy had to try hard to keep the waver from her voice as Candace’s sweet lilac scent, tinged by a hint of heady sweat, washed over her. She took the binder if only to have a barrier between them.
“It’s how we’re going to turn things around at Bagel Bombs!, and beat my uncle.”
“Your uncle? He’s a shit landlord, but I manage fine.”
It was an obvious lie that Candace easily spotted. The woman reached around Daisy to leaf through the near-toppling stack of bills and blank employee pay slips.
“Is that so…?”
“Okay!”
Daisy growled, throwing herself as far away from Candace as she could get. Which was not much, considering there was a window behind her. Her back landed against the dusty glass with a smack. Candace seemed to take the hint and pulled back.
“Fine,” Daisy conceded. “Maybe things have been tough the last few years. Or more. But what makes you think I want your help? Why should I trust you?”
“Because you’re right. I love your bagel bombs. Ever since that first one I had, the peanut butter one you were so nice to give me, I got them every time I could. But I was a coward, and I never told you. I let my fear of my uncle keep me from something I liked… But I’ll be damned if I let him take it from me now.”
Daisy blinked.
“I give up. You’ve lost me, Perry.”
Were they even talking about bagels anymore? Memory of a starlit beach… the cool, smooth sand that spilled over her feet contrasting with the wet, warm tongue exploring her own… Trembling hands that slipped under her tank top to touch—
Daisy swallowed hard. She watched that once-familiar tongue give an anxious swipe across Candace’s lips.
“He’s going to take it.”
Daisy exhaled a shaky breath, saying, “Just get to yourpoint.”
“My uncle is going to use a clause in your lease agreement that gives him the ability to toss you out at the end of the season. If he has his way, Bagel Bombs! will be a fun pier car lot by this time next year.”
Daisy did not respond. Could not, as shocked numbness spread throughout her whole body. At least it doused the discomforting tingle that had flared up alongside memories better left dead and buried. The logical part of her brain, the one that looked at dwindling bank accounts and unpaid invoice piles, had known things were dire. Perry had made vague and not so vague comments that indicated he wanted her gone. But, with her lease locked for the next three years, she thought she had time. If she kept her head down, kept working, she could hold on until… She was not sure what she was even holding out for, but this was not how she expected things to go. In her silence, Candace continued.
“He and his friends think they own this town. Anyone with less money, or who isn’t a part of their little club, is fair game to fuck over. It’s never going to be enough, either. They won't stop until this whole town is ruined. I don’t want that to happen.”
“Oh? Is this how you’re going to save Bagel Bombs!?” Too aggressively, Daisy flipped open the binder. “You think you know a single thing about running a business? I’ve been doing this my whole life, I was born into it. There’s no way you—”
Daisy trailed off. She had not intended on looking. However, she could not help it. There was real, genuine effort put into Candace’s proposal. Cost projections based on comparable businesses, government tax rebates they might apply for, renovation mock-ups, and so much more. There were even cute, breakfast-themed stickers for color-coding. It was, damn herself for even thinking the word, impressive.
How the hell did she put this together so quickly?
As if she knew what Daisy was thinking, Candace explained, “This is my job. Er… was my job. I was technically an accountant, but my role was more specialized. I plan, and I’m damn good at it. At my firm, I learned everything I could about our clients’ businesses so they could stay in business. I saw what made them fail and what made them succeed. If you let me help you, Bagel Bombs! will have a fighting chance. Trust me.”
“Why should I?” The words came out quieter than Daisy meant to say. Weaker and betraying the fear she very much felt. “Last time you promised me something, you ended up leaving me high and dry.”
Literally.
Candace spun on her heel, and Daisy was sure she would run away just like last time. She did not. Instead, she retrieved her phone from her handbag and pulled up her banking app.
