Page 19 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“I don’t think that, I know it. And I want everyone else to know it, too. I won’t let my uncle run you out of business without a fight.”
Candace departed for real, then, leaving Daisy stupefied. She should not, and did not want to care. A gnawing, distrustful voice inside told her not to believe a word Candace said. And yet, she did. Far more than she was capable of admitting. The woman’s compliments burned in her ears. It was not until Rio poked their head into the room minutes later that Daisy snapped out of her thoughts.
“So? What was that about? Is Princess Peach my new mom?”
Daisy opened her mouth to make a witty retort. She knew, though, that if she seemed defensive, it would only add fuel to their insufferable fire. And, if they ever suspected that Daisy had a past with Candace…
Shaking her head, Daisy gave Rio a noncommittal grunt. She offered the binder, warning, “She’s trouble.”
“Hm,” they mused, flipping through Candace’s proposal with an expression that showed escalating interest. “There’s bad trouble and good trouble. Both can be fun, and, girl, youneedfun.”
Daisy wanted to argue, but again, she closed her trap.
“Yeah,” she answered after a beat. “We’ll see.”
The tide brought Candace Perry back into Daisy’s life. Now,it was her choice whether or not to toss the woman back in. Regardless of what she did with Candace, Daisy needed to read through her lease with Peter Perry, like,yesterday.
It was barely the beginning of the summer season, and it was already shaping up to be a blast. Daisy just needed to figure out which kind it would be.
Chapter 5
Candace
The steady, whirring hum from the Comfort Clam’s decades-old air conditioner unit droned on through the night. It might have kept Candace up if she were not already wide awake, staring at the popcorn ceiling. After the humiliating meeting with her uncle and his cronies, Candace spent all the rest of that day and night working on her proposal to save Bagel Bombs!.
It was not just to spite her uncle. The more she researched and found online about enthusiasm for the Wonderwood institution, the more she truly believed in Bagel Bombs!’s marketability. Franchising, food trucks, frozen supermarket meals… if they played their cards right, the potential was limitless.
That is, Candace knew, if Bagel Bombs’! owner wanted them tobe a ‘they.’
Daisy DeMarco did not trust Candace. She had every reason not to. If she took Candace’s proposal and used it herself, she’d be justified. Even so, Candace wanted to help. Needed to, really, but that was aside from the point. Whether or not Daisy trusted Candace, she hoped the woman could see that she was willing to give it her all.
This time, she would not run away.
For a while, Candace texted back and forth with Demi. Even before yoga teaching came into her best friend’s life, she had always been a calm, exceptionally kind person. Demi was balanced, which often led to her giving great advice. Candace explained her plan, much to the woman’s surprise.
Demi: WOW
Bagel Bombs??
Like, Daisy DeMarco-you’ve-had-a-massive-crush-on her-forever-BB???
Candace: I do NOT. We hooked up once and never talked again.
Anyway, I don’t think she remembers that part
Demi: Yeah.
Sure she doesn’t lol
Did YOU forget?
Anyway, what about your uncle?
I thought you were getting ready to sell your soul to him
Candace: It turns out I don’t have one <3
New plan!
