Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m out of coconut flakes. I’m sure I ordered more, but it probably got lost.”

“That sucks.”

“It’s okay, this stuff happens to me all the time.” I sank down on one of the tall stools. “I’m sort of cursed.”

“What do you mean?”

I sighed. “You want the truth?”

He nodded and pulled up another stool.

“I broke a mirror. And it wasn’t just any mirror. It was my grandmother’s full-length antique mirror in this fancy, gilded frame. When I was little, I used to love to stand in front of it and twirl. I guess she remembered that because she left it to me. Literally the first day I had it in my possession, I broke it.”

His eyebrows drew together. “But why does that make you cursed? You don’t really think your grandma would curse you from the afterlife or something, do you? Over a mirror?”

“No, I don’t think she did it. It’s not her fault, it’s just… the physics of luck, you might say. I broke a mirror. That’s seven years bad luck. Although to be honest, I do think it’s worse because it was a special mirror.”

He eyed me like he was suddenly not so sure that hanging out in my bakery was such a great idea.

“I know, I know, it sounds crazy. It’s okay if you don’t believe me. Most people don’t. I think my aunt is the only one who understands. My mom and sister certainly don’t. They think I use it as an excuse so I don’t have to take responsibility for my problems.”

“Grown-ups love to say stuff like that.”

I laughed. “Very true. I deny it, though. I know bad luck isn’t to blame for everything. Not even my biggest life problems. It’s mostly a lot of little stuff that’s inconvenient. Although it tends to build up after a while.”

“How much longer do you have?”

“Until the curse ends? Around six months now.”

“That’s not bad. It’s almost over.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Beth came back into the kitchen. “The lobby is clear for now. Do you mind if I take a quick break? I have an errand to run.”

“Of course. We’ve got this.” I winked at Owen.

I grabbed one of the cookie timers and brought it up front. Owen came with me, and I was about to ask him what he liked to do when he wasn’t hanging out at Angel Cakes, when a customer came in.

My heart sank a little. It was… what was his name? Matt. He looked unkempt with a hole in his shirt and worn jeans. The smile that lit up his face was too suggestive to be described as friendly.

“Hi. Harper, right?”

I nodded. “Can I help you?”

He didn’t look in the case. Just came up to the counter, his eyes locked on me. “How have you been?”

“Fine, thanks. Is there something I can get for you?”

“Oh, yeah.” He started perusing the pastry case. “Man, everything looks good.”

Owen turned so his back was to the customer and gave me a look.

I tried not to giggle.

“What do you suggest?” Matt asked.