Sugar Rush by Elaine Overton Page A

you are used to working in, but I think if you give us a chance we could win you over.” She gave him a cheeky grin.
    He answered with a soft smile. “You already have.”

Chapter 6
    Chapter 6
    The next morning, sitting in his office suite at the Fulton Foods corporate office in downtown Memphis, Eliot considered everything he’d seen and learned about the Mayfield Bakery the day before. And most important, what he’d learned about Sophie Mayfield.
    After she’d settled into her new living space, the afternoon had pretty much taken off at twice the speed of the morning. She was like a general directing troops. As he watched her throughout the day, she coordinated delivery schedules for the weeks to come, assigning task and duties.
    Eliot was surprised to learn that in addition to the few contracts she’d stolen from him, she had been busy getting other large contracts, as well.
    His first order of business this morning had been to call his lawyer, Steve, and have him make another offer to purchase Mayfield. Now knowing what he knew, Eliot was certain he could custom-design a package that pretty little Sophie would find irresistible.
    The door to his office swung open and slammed against the wall. Eliot sighed. He knew that eventually he was going to have to have that wall repaired and a stopper placed behind the door.
    “Morning, Uncle Carl.”
    “Where were you yesterday?!”
    Eliot sat back in his high-back leather chair, resting his elbows on the padded arms. “Out.”
    “Don’t be coy with me, nephew! Where the hell were you? I tried calling you all afternoon and you didn’t answer your cell phone.”
    Eliot narrowed his eyes on his uncle. “I haven’t accounted for my whereabouts to you since I was twelve. So, what’s this really about?”
    “Got another damn e-mail!” He shook his fist and Eliot saw the crumpled papers for the first time.
    He took the pages and pretended to be interested in what he was reading. He already knew it was for the Willows Day Care. He’d seen the requisition for their order yesterday. He considered warning his uncle that there would be one coming from the Thumbelina Nursery, as well, but decided that was only asking for trouble.
    “Here we are sinking, and you’re out gallivanting around.”
    “I told you I’m taking care of it.”
    “How? By spending the day doing whatever the hell you do, instead of finding a way to get rid of this little pain in my ass!”
    Eliot picked up his pen and twirled it between his index fingers. “What if I told you I spent the day working in the kitchen of the Mayfield Bakery and now know a lot more about them than I did two days ago?”
    For one of maybe three times in his life, Eliot realized he’d managed to surprise Carl.
    “What?”
    “I went there to speak to the owner. They all assumed I was the new baker, so I played along to get the feel of the place. Do you realize they are still using a recipe book?” He shook his head, still stunned by that fact. “The owner is a woman named Mae Ann Mayfield, but the real brains of the operation is the granddaughter, Sophie. She’s the real threat.”
    “How big an operation is it?”
    “It’s just what we thought it was—a small-town bakery. But I could see they were improving their equipment and processes, and with Sophie in charge they will be able to really compete soon enough.”
    “They are already competing, that’s the problem. But…you were inside the store, huh?”
    Eliot nodded slowly, not liking the look in his uncle’s eyes one bit.
    “Did they discover who you were?”
    “No,” he answered softly, knowing he was about to regret having said anything to Carl.
    “You have to go back there and get that book.”
    “I can’t.” Eliot was a little spooked by the fact that his uncle had automatically come up with exactly the same idea he’d originally had.
    “Why not? You said they didn’t figure out who you were. Did you officially quit or just leave?”
    Say you