Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7PNBJJFK6R28A793AK9GC

The bell above the door jingled as the morning chill slipped inside, carrying the scent of cinnamon and buttery warmth. The countertop gleamed under the soft glow of the bakery lights, rows of fresh pastries lined up like silent sentinels. "You’re late. Again." "Traffic on Main was a nightmare—someone’s old Ford decided to take a nap in the middle of the road." "Typical. You’d think after all these years, people would learn to park properly." A chuckle rumbled as a hand reached for a still-warm scone. "Or maybe they just enjoy watching the world go around them." "Or maybe they’re plotting something. You know how these small towns get." The fingers stilled mid-bite. "Now you’re being dramatic. Besides, who’d want to plot in *this* place? The biggest scandal last month was old Mrs. Hargrove’s prize-winning zucchini getting stolen." "Exactly. Too quiet. That’s when the real trouble starts." A pause. The sound of a coffee cup being set down with a little too much force. "Speaking of trouble, did you hear about the new sheriff’s deputy? Rumor has it she’s got a past." "Oh, please. You’re the one who spread that gossip about the mayor’s cat." "Self-defense. Someone had to warn people about that thing’s nighttime yowling." A slow smile spread across the face behind the counter. "Fair enough. But if you’re so worried about secrets, maybe you should stop digging into other people’s business." The air between them hummed, thick with unspoken things—old grudges, half-truths, and the quiet promise of something more.