Chapter 1
Chapter 1 :)
Stella
“Damn it!” I say as I open the oven and see the burnt cookies in front of me. I’ve been off my game lately, burning more cookies than I have since I was a teenager just learning how to bake. “What the hell is going on with me?” I ask out loud like someone is going to respond to my question. I’m alone in my shop at the moment, I haven’t had a customer in almost an hour.
Before I can question myself further, the door opens.
“Welcome to 1917!” I shout as I make my way across the bakery. “How May I help you?”
I take in the man who just stepped into my shop. He has mid shoulder length brown hair, piercing blue eyes, a sharp jaw line hidden under a short but full and well groomed beard, and a light grey t shirt that enhanced his muscular build. Beautiful black and grey tattoos with pops of color covered his arms. The veins on his arms bulge as he holds his phone in one hand and the other falls to his side. This was the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
“Hi,” he forced a smile, he looks overwhelmed with decisions.
“Can I help you find something in particular?” I offer.
“It’s my best friends birthday today and of course, I forgot I’m in charge of the birthday dessert,” he rolls his eyes and shrugs playfully forcing another smile. A smile can’t help but creep it’s way my lips.
“Well lucky for you, you’re in the perfect place. I made fresh apple pie this morning or we also have traditional birthday cake-“
“Apple pie is perfect,” he cut me off, a real smile forming on his face, “apple pie is his favorite. How many do you have?”
Wow, what a smile. “Perfect, I have three left,” my smile grows bigger.
“I’ll take all three,” he begins to pull out his wallet as I move to box up the pies. “Do you happen to know anywhere I could find vanilla ice cream?” He asks me.
“I make some here, we have more flavors as well, or there’s a market right up the street.” I inform him.
“You make your own?” His eyes widen slightly, an even larger smile covering his mouth
“Yes,” I smile back at him, I try holding back a giggle.
“What other flavors do you have?”
“Right now I have pumpkin, chocolate, vanilla, fresh strawberry, and cookies and cream with my oreo style cookies. We have pints and gallons of all of them.”
“A pint of pumpkin and strawberry, and a gallon of vanilla please.”
“You got it, friend,” I smile at him.
“Friends already? I don’t even know your name,” he smiles at me again.
“It’s Stella,” I smile back.
"Stella. It’s nice to meet you, I’m James.”
“It’s nice to meet you as well, James.” I can’t stop smiling. “Let me run to the back to grab your ice cream, I’ll be right back.”
I grab the ice creams James requested then head back to the front.
“Alright, here we are James. Three apple pies, a pint of pumpkin ice cream, a pint of strawberry, and a gallon of vanilla. Anything else for you?”
“I think that’ll do,” James Buchanan Barnes was written in silver across the black card he handed me. Oh. “Can I add a tip on there?” He asks and it catches me by surprise.
“Um, yes, you can add it on the iPad after I swipe the card.”
“Perfect,” his icy blue eyes catch mine. I can’t help but blush. I don’t usually act this way around customers, but James really caught me off guard today.
I then the iPad around to him, he enters an amount and signs. I hand him back his card and ask if he wants a receipt.
“No, that’s okay Stella. Thank you very much for your help today. Enjoy your evening.” He grabs his bag and turns to leave.
I watch him leave as discreetly as I can before turning the iPad back to face me. My jaw almost hits the floor when I see the tip James left me. $10,000? I must be dreaming.
“No Nat, I have no idea who this guy is,” I say into my phone to one of my best friends Natasha Romanoff. I texted her and our other best friend, Wanda Maximoff, after James had left telling them a handsome stranger left me a $10,000 tip. Nat and Wanda were roommates so Nat had me on speaker phone.
“What was his name? Is he from here? Did you get his number?” Natasha grilled me.
“His names is James. James Buchanan Barnes is what his card said. I’m not sure whe-“
“Wait, James Buchanan Barnes?” Nat asked.
“Uh, yeah,” I replied back.
“No way,” Wanda gasped.
“‘No way’ what?” I asked.
“Um, Stell, we grew up with a James Buchanan Barnes.” Nat said.
“No way,” my jaw fell to the floor for the umpteenth time today.
“What did he look like?” Wanda asked.
“Um, dark long hair, the most piercing blue eyes you’ve ever seen, and a wicked smile,” I smiled myself thinking back to the way James’ smile warmed my core.
“Yep, that’s Buck,” Nat said.
“Definitely,” Wanda confirmed.
“What? Who’s Buck? How do you even know that? Maybe there’s another man named James Buchanan Barnes around,” I offered.
“Please hold,” Wanda said. Nat started humming the Jeopardy theme song as we were “holding.” My phone dinged with a photo attachment from Wanda.
My mouth dropped, again, as I looked at the photo she sent.
“No fucking way,” I gasped.
“I knew it!” Nat and Wanda said at the same time.
“No, there’s no fucking way. This is totally not happening,” I said again.
“Yes, it is, Stell, just accept it,” Wanda laughed.
“Want me to send him your number?” Nat giggled.
“Oh you should totally do it," Wanda egged her on.
“No! Please, no,” I said, horrified of that idea.
“Stell, how soon can you get to our apartment?” Nat asked.
“Uh, like ten minutes, why?”
“Because we’re going out and we need to get ready,” I heard Wanda giggling in the background. What have these girls gotten me into?