Page 62 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
Even before they opened, well before dawn, a surprising amount of people gathered around the shuttered cafe. More showed up while Daisy, Candace, and Rio did their final prep work. Looking at the online chatter, people were pumped. When it was time, Candace went out with a portable microphone and started the show. Everyone, including Daisy, fell under the Pier Princess’ spell.
It was incredible to watch. Candace had mentioned being forced to participate in beauty pageants when she was younger, so she worked a crowd with ease. Along with her wit and oddball humor, she had no trouble connecting with people. Wonderwooders and shoobies alike chatted about their favorite bagel flavors over steaming hot coffees. Free samples, bagel-themed games, and the pep of a whole cheer squad wrapped into one person made for an electric atmosphere despite the early morning hour. And, as the day went on, the excitement only grew.
Somehow (probably thanks to a friendship with Ted Candothat Daisydefinitelywas not jealous over), Candace had managed to convince the Wonderwood PD to let them put on an eating contest. At noon, five contestants sat at a borrowed fold-out table that supported several heaping plates of plain cream cheese bagel bombs. It took them a whole night just to make the contest bombs, in addition to the figurative million other ones they made in anticipation of extra business and samples. But, as always, Candace got her way, so they went through with it.
Now, holding up her phone to record the spectacle, Daisy had to admit it was worth it. A buzzing crowd was openly placing bets and buying their own special “spectator variety packs” from Rio, who dutifully helmed the till. Demi stopped by after her beach yoga class and never left; she floated around with a coffee pot, topping people off. When Candace handed the microphone to Dotty and took the final contestant seat, everyone went wild.
Daisy mouthed at her,“You’re not?!”
Candace winked in response and sat waiting like the prettiest, most proper girl at a ball. Then, she shattered the illusion.
To put it lightly, the other contestants were in a different weight class from Candace. Yet, when they tapped out, she kept going. One after another, she popped the bombs into her mouth and vanished them into the pit that was her stomach. The only time she paused was to grab a different flavor cream cheese for dipping. Meanwhile, microphone in hand, Dotty reverted to her old days of announcing at the Atco racetrack as she commentated the whole thing.
It was hilarious.
Organic.
The kind of thing that made you feel special for being there. Daisy, though, felt special for a different reason.
Candace was the last left at the table not doubled over, clutching their middle. Candace, who forced herself under the spotlight despite preferring to keep to herself in front of somany people. Candace, whose grin blossomed when she found Daisy through the crowd.
How could Daisy ever hate someone who looked at her like that?
Dotty belted out, “Theeeeeere we go, folks! Coming out from Barbie’s Dream House and every man’s fantasy, Candace Perry wins by a mile! What didja win, I don’t know! But good job, kid!”
As they planned, Daisy passed out gift certificates and mini googly-eyed bagel trophies to the other contestants. Candace pouted when Daisy had nothing to hand her.
“What?” Daisy said, “You should have asked me to make more if you wanted one.”
“I know! But aren’t you proud of me? I feel like I deservesomething.”
From the crowd, someone who sounded suspiciously like Norman’s meddlesome self suggested, “Give ‘er a kiss!”
A chorus of whooping and wolf-whistles egged them on. Were it for any other reason, it would have been funny how fast Candace’s expression dropped. A fierce, impossible-to-miss flush burst over the fair skin exposed by her Bagel Bombs! tank top.
Daisy felt her heart kick up to a sprint. For a split second, they were teenagers back on that beach, their first kiss exposed to the world’s cruel scrutiny.
This was now, though, and they were both in a different place. Candace angled up from her seat, leaned forward, and closed her eyes. Her lips were painted her usual bright pink, so sweet and soft, they looked like sugar taffy; like they would melt into the mouth of anyone they touched.
Daisy arched over Candace. She let the moment breathe, relishing the feel of control. Maybe that was why she was compelled to do what she did next. Feeling in control, feeling so free, brought out Daisy’s flirtatious side. As she brought her mouth right up next to Candace’s, she purred, “How about we save it for the bedroom?”
“Wha–?!”
It was almost too perfect. Candace reeled back, eyes wide and mouth agape in a perfect ring. Quick as lightning, Daisy popped a cinnamon bagel bomb right in. She quipped, “Something sweet to tide you over.”
While the crowd around them hooted and hollered, Daisy held Candace’s gaze. The shock she saw, the embarrassment mixed with begrudging want, made Daisy push further. She licked the cinnamon dust from her fingers as she imagined doing the same thing to the woman before her inmanyother places.
It finally felt like summer to Daisy, and she was determined to heat things up.
From the grand reopening in the middle of the month to its end, the rest of June smashed every expectation Daisy had and more. Even in its heyday, Bagel Bombs! had never seen such booming business. Just like Demi promised, they had lines across the boardwalk daily.
Life was busy managing the cafe and making bombs. However, with Candace taking on her share of the duties, Daisy somehow had more free time than ever. She got even more after they hired a new employee. Tina, one of Demi’s cousins, was a bit of a clutz, but she barely needed training thanks to her time spent working at Zeus' Torch.
One change at a time, the pressure lessened.
Everything was working out like Candace laid out in her cute, color-coded binders. The business was humming along, corrections made and course set. Candace and Daisy were, as itturned out, excellent partners. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for whatever was happening between them as people.
Ever since Daisy’s teasing at the reopening, Candace was jumpier than a rabbit when they came into close proximity. Accidental physical contact made her yip. And, she flushed whenever they made eye contact for more than a single second.
