sugar & shelves.

Chapter 3: Coffee and Cupcakes

The bell above the door jingled again, pulling Sophie's attention away from the freshly iced cupcakes. She glanced up to see Ethan standing in the doorway, holding the cupcake tray in one hand and his coffee cup in the other. His hair was messier than usual, wind-tousled from the short walk over, and his jacket was slightly unbuttoned, giving him the kind of casual charm that made Sophie feel a little bit flustered every time he appeared.

"Back for more?" Sophie teased, setting the frosting knife down and wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes flickered over him quickly—his jeans, the way his jacket sleeves were rolled up just so—trying not to notice how he made even the simplest of outfits look effortless.

Ethan's lips curled up at the corners as he stepped inside, a lightheartedness in his step that made him seem like he'd never been anywhere else but here. "I couldn't leave without finishing my review," he said with a grin. "You really think I'd be the kind of person who takes a bite of something this good and then just walks away?"

Sophie laughed, the sound of it bubbling up freely, and she felt the space between them shrink just a little bit more. "I was honestly starting to think you might be one of those people."

"Well, you can stop worrying now," Ethan said with a wink, setting the tray down on the counter. "The cupcakes survived the walk over, so you can rest easy."

Sophie smiled, already feeling herself relax under the warmth of his presence. "I'm glad to hear that. No one wants to be responsible for a ruined batch of cupcakes," she replied, sliding the tray to the side. "So, what's the verdict?"

Ethan picked up a cupcake, twisting it in his fingers as if it were a rare treasure. He studied it for a moment, then glanced up at her, his expression dramatically serious. "The frosting—"

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "The frosting?"

"Perfect." Ethan grinned and took a playful bite, chewing thoughtfully for a second. He raised his gaze to meet hers, his eyes glinting with amusement. "But the cake," he continued, his tone dropping into mock solemnity, "could use a little more... joy."

Sophie blinked, fighting back a laugh. "More joy? What does that even mean?"

Ethan shrugged, his eyes twinkling. "I'm just saying, a little more magic would really elevate the experience. You know, a little sparkle."

Sophie couldn't help herself. She burst into laughter, shaking her head as she leaned against the counter. "Magic, huh? I'll see what I can do. Maybe sprinkle some fairy dust on top next time?"

"I mean, if it's not too much trouble," he teased, brushing the crumbs from his lips and smiling as he leaned back casually against the counter, clearly comfortable with how the conversation flowed.

For a moment, Sophie simply watched him—his easy posture, the way his eyes softened when he smiled, how his hair kept falling into his face like he hadn't bothered to comb it this morning, and how she found herself noticing all of these little details. It wasn't like she hadn't seen this kind of relaxed confidence before; her regular customers were all friendly in their own way, but with Ethan, there was something different.

"Let me guess," she said, shaking her head with a smile. "You don't do anything halfway, do you?"

Ethan raised his coffee cup in a mock salute. "What can I say? Life's too short to do things by halves." He took a sip, watching her with those easy, calculating eyes. "By the way, have you ever thought of expanding? Maybe a new pastry? A little surprise?"

Sophie tilted her head, genuinely intrigued now. "What kind of surprise?"

"Something unexpected. You know, a little twist to catch people off guard. Imagine if you had a cupcake with jalapeno jelly in the center. People would lose their minds over it."

Sophie's eyes widened, taken aback by the suggestion. "Jalapeno? In a cupcake?" she asked, only half-joking.

"Exactly." Ethan's grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect his idea was having on her. "It would be a perfect balance. Sweet and spicy. People would be talking about it for weeks."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, eyeing him in disbelief. "I think you've lost it."

Ethan's smile softened, his gaze turning just a little more sincere. "You might be surprised. People love a little challenge. Plus, it'd be something no one else would dare try."

Sophie paused, considering it. The idea felt... insane, but a part of her was intrigued. Ethan wasn't wrong, though—her bakery could use something that made people stop and think. Something that felt fresh.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, setting down her apron. "But I can't promise I'll make jalapeno cupcakes anytime soon. The world might not be ready."

Ethan chuckled, leaning forward a little. "Fair enough. But, hey, if you ever do decide to make them, I'll be first in line to try one."

Sophie watched him for a moment, the sincerity in his eyes catching her off guard. She wasn't sure if it was just his usual playfulness or if there was something more in the way he was looking at her—like he genuinely wanted to see her succeed. It felt... nice.

"So," she said, shaking off the thought, "you've tasted my cupcakes. What else do you want to try? My scones, maybe?"

Ethan's eyes sparkled at the mention of her scones. "You know, I'm starting to think you're trying to kill me with deliciousness. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I can handle much more."

Sophie grinned. "You'll survive. I'm not trying to kill you, I swear. But if you're going to be around this much, I'll need to keep you well-fed."

"Oh, trust me," he said, his voice lowering slightly as he stood and walked a little closer. "I have no problem with that."

Sophie's heart skipped, just a little. She tried to laugh it off, her cheeks warming. "I wasn't expecting that to be your offer."

Ethan raised both hands, grinning sheepishly. "Hey, no pressure. I'm just saying, I could get used to the idea of free food."

Sophie bit her lip, trying to maintain her composure. "You've got a lot of nerve, you know that?"

"Comes with the territory," Ethan said, casually dropping his empty coffee cup onto the counter as if it were the most natural thing. "When you're a connoisseur of fine pastries like myself, you get used to the perks."

Sophie couldn't help but laugh again. She shook her head, her hands resting on the counter. "Alright, alright. I'll take you seriously. But don't say I didn't warn you. I'm not always as easygoing as I look."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, leaning a little closer. "I wouldn't dream of testing you, Sophie. You seem pretty good at handling your own stuff."

For a moment, the playful banter hung in the air, and Sophie realized that she didn't mind it. In fact, it felt... right. Ethan made her feel lighter, in a way. As though she wasn't walking on eggshells around him, as if he was the kind of person who appreciated her for more than just the bakery and the food she served.

"Well," Sophie said, breaking the silence with a grin, "you've officially made yourself a regular. But I warn you—this place might not be quite as exciting as you think."

Ethan's eyes softened, his voice turning quiet. "I'm willing to take that risk."

And Sophie—heart pounding just a little faster now—wondered if she was ready to let herself take that risk too.