His Royal Ruse
y's
rumbs had always been a refuge, which seemed to be a place of peace. The rich aromas of cinnamon, vanilla, and butter in it made everything seem just a li
my apron tightly and tied the strings behind my back. It was pending scones to be baked, loaded bread from the o
ould slip through my fingers realizing that the beloved haunt was no longer just mine-it had grown into s
l happened so quickly? I hadn't even been given the chance to fight for it. I'd spent years growing Sweet Crumbs fro
gly wiping flour off the counter and gathering ingredients for the next batch of cook
ine, with her bright purple scarf wrapped around her neck like a flag. She always looked like she had
can I get you today?" I ask
favorite, the raspberry tart. As I packed it into a box, she rai
eard the ne
box. I had a sinking feeling I knew
I asked, feign
field. They say he plans to raze the whole bakery to th
ething I'd feared ever since I'd first heard Alexander Westfie
call them? A corporate coffee chain, I think. Probably goin
my chest, and I felt the sharpness of panic coming up in me as if it
le unsteady in voice as I had wanted.
ng to work unless I did
something about it, dear. This town needs Sweet Crumbs. It's
egulars who stopped by each morning for their coffee, families who picked up pies for their Sunday dinners, and tourists who had stumbled
ion was pressed down on my head, making me feel more hopeless than befor
e: wild, absurd, and altogether impulsive, but
r and quickly dialed Emma's number. She was my best fr
ings, Emma pick
but I could tell she was in the middle of
me. Something big," I said with
th on the telephone. "What's go
t a rumor. A big one. Enough to get everyone's attention-from Dal
ilence at the othe
t last, her disbelief
's why he's buying up Sweet Crumbs-to keep it as a romantic gesture for his fiancée." I let out a shaky breath. "I know it's
e spoke again, her voice soaked in doubt. "Are you abs
y. "If I don't do something rig
voice. But finally, she spoke again, but more asser