Characters: reader, Bucky (Jimmy), Clint, Wanda.

Summary: Discovering the cute guy you just flirted with is the heir of a rival bakery, you suddenly find yourself running into him all over the city. Can your small boutique bakery compete? And how do you deal with the guy who seems determined to make your life a living hell? Luckily you're distracted by a secret admirer...But who is he? (Inspired by "You've Got Mail", Enemies to Lovers)

Warnings: none! Mild swearing?

Word Count: 1.1k

A/N: You guys!!! I'm so happy that you're all excited for more!! Like...more texting banter and ridiculous insults?? ;) haha. I adore you all for your support LOVE all the feedback I'm receiving! Please let me know your thoughts on part 3!! I adore you all!!<3

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Previously:

Back at work, you couldn't help but think about that absurd text conversation. It was probably just a one-time thing, but it definitely turned your whole day around. Pulling out the ingredients to make tart dough, you couldn't help but hum to yourself. Thank you, dude.

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Later that afternoon, you had finished most of your prep work for the day but chose to avoid the paperwork waiting in your office, so you told Wanda she could take a break. You loved the baking behind the scenes, but also enjoyed helping customers when you had the time.

Carrying a tray of almond croissants fresh from the oven, you grabbed a set of tongs and began restocking the empty space in the pastry case. They had sold out quickly today, which made you proud.

"Ooh, those look good," you heard a male voice say.

Straightening up from your crouch position, you turned with a smile to greet him but instead met a familiar face. Unfortunately.

"Y/N, was it? This is a cute little shop," Jimmy spoke, his eyes wandering around the bakery that was your pride and joy. The words were complimentary, but the way he said it made it sound condescending. Or maybe you were imagining things.

"What are you doing here?" you said, a little sharply.

"I recall that you said I should come visit this morning. Did I mishear you, or..." he trailed off with a raised eyebrow.

You fumbled with the tongs, embarrassed. "I...well, that was before...I didn't know..." You took a deep breath and calmed your nerves. "Are you here to spy on me? Check out the competition?"

Jimmy scoffed at that. "Hardly. My father has been in business for 20 years. We're good at what we do. Most small businesses fail within the first year, especially food establishments. He's seen many shops come and go without any worry, so, no. I don't think there's any need for me to spy," he smirked, amused at your reaction.

You couldn't help it. Anger filled you as he all but said that you were going to fail. That you weren't even worth considering as competition. You've given your heart and soul, your life's blood into this bakery. How dare he belittle you and your business? And yet, you stood frozen with tongs in hand, unable to fire back with a witty retort in the moment.

"So. Can I get one of your almond croissants and a ganache tart, please? They've come highly recommended." Jimmy continued to give that smirk that you'd love to smack right off his face.

"Of course!" you heard Wanda reply from behind you, unaware she had returned. "Do you want me to take over Y/N?"

Recovering from the unfair accusations from the man before you, all you could do was hand Wanda the tongs and slink back into the kitchen without a word. The fury returned as you paced back and forth between the workbench and shelves of ingredients opposite. There wasn't much room to pace, but after a few passes you were fuming. You heard the jangle of bell the over the door and dared to peek out of the kitchen.

"Is he gone?" you asked in a whisper.

Wanda looked at you warily. "Yeah? Why, who was that?"

"Jimmy Barnes."

She gasped. "As in..."

"Barnes Bakery, yup. He's the owner's son, back from college I guess," you uttered, leaning heavily on the counter as all the anger left you. It was too late to reply now, anyway.

"I heard about him! I guess he has a degree in business now and wants to help out his dad. Jimmy, huh? Too bad. He was cute," Wanda said with a shrug.

You huffed out a sigh. Of course he's cute. He probably knows he's cute, too. The jerk. "Um...I'll be in back. Let me know if you need anything and I'll come help close up in a while."

"Mmkay," Wanda chirped as she wiped down the counter.

Back in your office, you stared at the paperwork before you, but couldn't get your brain to focus as thoughts tumbled. He thinks I'm destined to fail? Ugh! How dare that pretty boy with a business degree tell me that my hard work will be for nothing?

A short time later, Wanda asked for more cinnamon rolls and as you set a timer on your phone for the oven, you had a thought. A little random pick-me-up couldn't hurt.

FG: Did dillweed ever fix the order?

Your finger hovered over the send button as you hesitated, then pressing it before you could overthink too much. Three dots appeared. Guess he hadn't ruined his current phone just yet.

B: Yeah, he did. Had to chase him down along his delivery route, but I twisted his arm.

The three dots remained after the first message so you waited for him to finish typing.

B: Not that I don't appreciate it, but why message me now? Weren't you all "Stranger Danger"?

The last phrase made you smile as you let go of the events of the afternoon and chose to text this stranger once again.

FG: I am still wary of all strangers, including you. But I had a run-in with someone just now who made me want to....Well...I probably shouldn't say. Plausible deniability. You know. I could use a distraction.

B: I can distract with the best of them. You can message me anytime. What did they do?

Chewing on your lip a moment, you figured out a general way to explain your frustration without too many details. He was still a stranger, after all.

FG: Just some uppity know-it-all who passed judgement about me and my work. Condescending ass....

B: What a dick. I'm sorry.

FG: Yeah, well. He doesn't know what he's talking about, so his rude opinion is not at all valid.

B: That's right! You go, girl. Or something.

By this point you were full-on grinning down at your phone, the afternoon's events all but forgotten. Glancing at the clock, you saw that it was near closing time. You were almost sad to say goodbye, which was weird. One more message and it was time to return to reality.

FG: Thank you. What does B stand for, anyway? Brian? Bernard? Bozo the Clown?

B: *laughing emoji* I asked you first.

You chuckled at that.

FG: Touche'. I better go. Later, dude.

B: Bye, Franny.

Locking your phone, you straightened the last of your paperwork and headed up front to help Wanda. All the little cleaning tasks didn't seem so bad as you blasted music and danced along. Crawling into bed that night, you set an early alarm and thought back on the crazy events of the day. It was quite the rollercoaster, but you were just grateful that it ended on a high note. Tomorrow was another day, you thought as you got comfortable on your pillow with a hint of a smile on your lips.

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Part 4 coming later this week!! 

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Ahhh!! So??? What did you think of Jimmy showing up at the bakery, out of the blue? He definitely has some strong opinions about the baking business! Don't you hate it when you can't come up with the right witty response in the moment? So frustrating!! That text conversation, though... Who's the mysterious man? He's definitely a lovely distraction. ;) Please let me know your thoughts on this part! I adore you guys!! <3