Page 5 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man (Festival of Hearts #2)

Reginald

We set up in peace and then I clear my throat. Nodding my head, I glance over at the booth that’s catty corner to us. “Would you like a coffee? One of those fancy ones that all you girls like? I didn’t have time to get a cup this morning yet.”

She smirks and faces me, her hands on her thick hips. “So what you’re asking me is if I’ll watch your booth so you can go get a coffee because you need your caffeine hit, old man!”

“I’m not old,” I scoff. “But I am saying that if you care to stay and keep an eye on the booths I’ll grab us something caffeinated to tide us over until lunch.”

Nodding her head, she smirks at me and leans on the table that I placed in her space. “I guess if you’re going to be so magnanimous then I can watch our spaces and let you know if there’s something serious going on.”

“Great.”

“Great. I’d like a caramel latte if that’s alright?”

“Sure. I’ll be back as quick as possible.”

I wander off and head to the coffee booth. I can still see her from here and I find myself staring at her as I wait for the line to clear. She’s so dang beautiful that it takes my breath away.

I’ve worked hard to shore up my defenses around her since I met her but now that I actually talked to her for more than five seconds and saw the emotions in her hazel eyes, it was hard to put her in a box as just an annoying woman.

Instead she was starting to feel like someone I wanted to get to know.

I turn around to place our order and then move over to the side to wait for our coffee.

And that’s when I glance over and see the man standing there talking with her. The same one that’s been haunting Silas’s land next to me like he can’t wait to get his hands on it.

My breath freezes in my throat and there’s a tightness in my chest like a band squeezing me tight.

Her hands wave around in the air and she’s glaring at him like she’d like to fry him where he stands. But she doesn’t. And he just laughs, throwing his head back and then reaching out for her hand.

A growl rolls out of my chest and I start when I realize that the feral sound was mine.

Shaking my head, I grab our order and stalk over to the booth. Her hazel eyes jump up to me and fill with a combination of guilt and annoyance and relief.

I don’t understand it at all. But keeping my thoughts to myself, I hand her her coffee. She takes a sip and her lips purse, dragging my eyes down to them.

They quickly jerk back up when she says, “ Thank you, Reginald. I really appreciate this.” She holds her cup up and the oily guy in front of her smirks and then turns to me and holds out his hand.”

“Hi, I’m James. I’m Cinnamon’s boyfriend.”

“That’s ex-boyfriend, James. And I’d appreciate it if you found someone else to bug right now. I’m really busy.”

“Trying to get your little business up and running, huh? I’ve heard all about it.” The dude’s lips twist and he grimaces. “I can’t believe that you’re willing to give me up for this little side hustle.”

“I didn’t give you up. You took off for that fancy job that you just had to have!” She stalks away and her slender, pale hands fuss with one of her boards and the stack of brochures that she has sitting in front of her.

“I’ve told you that I had to do it. For us,” he whines and I feel my whole belly curl inside me. It doesn’t sound like this guy is ready to leave her alone and move on.

I’m not sure about her. If she really wanted him to go she’d tell him to get the heck away from her. I’ve certainly had her do it to me so I know she’s capable of it.

Her hazel eyes lift, narrowed. “I don’t care about the money.”

His brown eyes roll and he smirks. “Oh, if only everyone didn’t care about money. We could all spend all our time puttering around with something that will never make enough money to pay for the mortgage. Or groceries.”

My brows lift and I suck in a breath. She shoots him a shattered look but doesn’t get a chance to open her mouth before Agatha comes steamrolling in.

“Oh, James dear,” she coos. “Do you think that you could help me get this booth set up over here? The young vendor is pregnant and her husband had to stay home sick so she’s all alone.”

He shoots a speculative look at her and then his eyes dart back to Cinnamon who looks gutted.

It’s hard when the people you love can’t support you in your passions.

But she still doesn’t say one word to him so I have to think that she doesn’t want to.

Does she still love this guy? Is she helping him get the property next to me?

Is she the enemy or a reluctant partner for this fair?

James nods to Cinnamon and gently touches her hand, not even flinching when she pulls her fingers out from under his.

“I’ll be back to talk to you later, sweetheart.” He turns and walks away and Agatha sears her with a glare of her own.

“You need to make it plain that you’re not interested in whatever fresh reconciliation plans he’s got with you. He hasn’t changed no matter how many times he tells you he has. Give him his walking papers, Cinnamon.”

And she turns to walk away and I see a sparkle of tears in her eyes. My stomach turns over. My chest tightens and I swear I almost feel tears pushing against my own eyes.

What the heck is wrong with me?

I don’t need this kind of hassle in my life. And I’m still not sure if she’s as innocent as she appears.

Or is this lost little woman act just that? An act to try and distract me and help the oily ex get what he wants.

Shaking my head, I walk back to my booth and sit down in my rocking chair, my head swimming.

I hate the thought that I don’t want her to be the bad guy along with her ex.

I hate that I want her to be…well the sweet, innocent woman that I can’t stop thinking about no matter how hard I try.