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

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: 2.1k

A/N: Ummmm. So, yeah. :) I know, there's been so much anticipation leading up to this part!! Just know that there's a lot more story coming and just trust me, it'll all work out. I'm actually still on vacation as you read this so I can't wait to get home tomorrow to read all your reactions!! I love you all. As always, any feedback is adored and appreciated!! <3

_____________________________

The afternoon went by in a blur as you tried your best to work quickly and efficiently until your date. The lunch rush came and went, followed by a short lull in customers so during that time, you baked extra back-up for Wanda to fill the pastry case with while you were gone. Another short rush came so you went up front to help. As 3pm neared, Wanda basically shoved you out the door so you could get ready and head over to the cafe.

You didn't have time to fully shower and do your hair, but you cleaned up as best you could and made sure there wasn't any flour or cake batter visible. Slipping on your favorite Beatles shirt, you paired it with a comfortable but flattering pair of jeans and cute shoes you could walk in. Putting on makeup for the first time in a while, you liked the way it accented your features and made you feel more dressed up than you were. With one more primp of your hair, you grabbed a jacket and headed down the stairs onto the sidewalk.

As you walked past the bakery, Wanda waved and gave you a thumbs up, which you returned. You arrived at the Hawk's Nest with 10 minutes to spare, so you looked around to carefully select a table.

"Welcome to the Hawk's Nest, can I help you?"

Whirling to face the familiar voice you laughed. "Clint, it's me."

The blond's eyes widened. "Y/N? Wow, you look great! I mean...you look different."

You just shrugged with a smile. "You mean I'm actually wearing something without flour on it and put makeup on for once?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Well, it's a good look. What brings you here in the afternoon?" Clint asked, walking around the counter to clear one of the tables covered in coffee mugs.

"Actually," you said nervously, "I'm meeting someone. Sort of a...blind date?"

Clint offered an encouraging smile as he stepped closer. "That's great, Y/N! You work too hard. I hope it works out for you," he said with a friendly squeeze of your arm.

"Thanks, Clint," you smiled shyly and headed for a table.

You sat at a table for two with your chair facing the door. Checking the clock again, it was eight minutes until 4pm. Fidgeting nervously, you pulled your jacket open so your shirt was visible, but then decided to take the jacket off entirely and placed it on the back of your chair. You straightened the sugar packets in their small container on the table and brushed away any crumbs visible. A voice nearby spoke then, making you jump.

"Hey, Y/N," Clint began, noticing your jumpy behavior. "Whoa, sorry. I guess you don't need this coffee, since you seem pretty alert already, but here's your usual. It's on the house." He placed the coffee drink on the table with a wink and then walked away.

"Thank you," you called out after him.

You had considered ordering a drink while you waited, but then you'd have to get another one when B arrived. Right? Wasn't that the proper protocol? You weren't even sure anymore. Regardless, you blew on the mug of coffee lightly and took a sip of the comforting elixir. Five minutes until 4pm.

Each time the bell above the door chimed, your eyes flew to whoever was entering. There were all sorts of people: an elderly couple with arms linked, a girl with her nose buried in a book, and three young teenagers who laughed and joke around as they ordered. There was a close call when an attractive man entered, but his girlfriend, you assumed, entered a moment later.

Your fingers tapped on the table as the minute hand on the clock ticked closer to vertical. You held your breath as it struck 4pm and your eyes were trained on the door for what felt like eons. A minute passed. Then two. Digging out your phone, you checked the time to make sure the clock was correct, and it was. Sipping your coffee, you jiggled your leg under the table to vent some of your nervous energy.

Five minutes late, but you figured he just might not be a very punctual person. Taking your last sip of coffee, suddenly you had nothing else to occupy your hands or your attention. At ten minutes past 4pm, you pulled out your phone to check for a text you might have missed, but there was nothing. So, you decided to send a message of your own, just in case.

FG: Still planning on the Hawk's Nest, right? Didn't break your phone already, did you? ;)

You hit send, hoping your text sounded light-hearted and not like nagging. Watching the text send and then be marked as "delivered", you now knew it wasn't the fault of his phone. Where was he? Your mind began to run wild then, envisioning scenarios where possibly he was hurt somewhere or held captive. Maybe he was stuck on a subway train or in traffic. What if he just decided not to come and it was all a ruse? What if, what if, what if?

B was now 20 minutes late with no messages on your phone. Feeling the disappointment settle in your heart, you thought about leaving right then. Perhaps he wasn't the person you thought he was. Or maybe it had all been a facade. Maybe you got "catfished", or whatever the term was, and he wasn't a young man in his 20's but an old man. Or a woman. Who knows?

Just as you were reaching behind you for your jacket, the door jangled and your heart leapt in your chest. Eyes flying to the door, you held on to hope until....you saw him. Jimmy. Unbelievable. Hoping he hadn't noticed your presence, you hunched down over the table and put up a hand, shielding your face. Maybe he would just order and go away without you having to speak to him at all, you prayed.

You heard him greet Clint and then the sound of footsteps drawing closer filled your ears. No. Please, no.

"Y/N? Is that you?" Jimmy asked from where he stood beside your table.

Begrudgingly dropping your hand, you finally looked up to reply. "Jimmy. What are you doing here?" you asked coldly.

This was not the time. You couldn't deal with him in your current state. He looked perfect as always in black jeans and a zipped up hoodie with his hair expertly quaffed. Obviously he had cleaned up since you saw him earlier because there wasn't a hint of hat hair on that head. Why did his very presence mock you somehow?

He shrugged. "I was in the neighborhood. Listen, I—"

Suddenly, you slid you chair back with a scrape of the wood and got to your feet. "Not now, Jimmy," you said in a clipped voice as you slipped on your jacket and took a step toward the door.

Jimmy gripped your arm lightly. "Hey, wait, I—"

"No!" you exclaimed, a little too loudly as you shook off his hand. "Can't I have one moment's peace? One day where I don't have to feel your little jabs and criticisms about how I'll never make it in the business world? About how I'm doomed to fail? I've wanted this my entire life and I've worked too hard for too long and sacrificed too much for you to try to take it away from me," you snarled angrily within inches of his face.

Jimmy seemed speechless but he couldn't have stopped your rant, anyway. There was a pent up fury that was suddenly being unleashed from inside you.

"I haven't had an actual day off since I opened the bakery. Why? Because it is mine. All mine, I'm not riding on my daddy's coattails. I have built this business with my bare hands and I won't let you or anyone take that away from me. I'll wake up at 4am and bake until my lungs are white with flour, I'll plunge toilets in the middle of the night when tenants call, I'll scrub floors and do dishes until my hands crack and bleed. Because that's what it takes. I want this more than anything and you have no right to criticize because you know nothing about my life or my business," you finished, finally taking a breath and standing up straight with conviction.

The brunet's mouth had gaped open sometime during your unleashing of words and he still had yet to recover.

Straightening your jacket, you began to feel the anger drain from you, leaving behind the heartbreak and sadness of being stood up. Refusing to fall apart in front of this man, you squared your shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business to run," you declared, storming out of the cafe and down the sidewalk before the tears began to fall.

Wanda was surprised to see you returning so early, but when she saw the look on your face, she knew. She excused herself from the one customer at the counter and followed you back into the kitchen where she wrapped her arms around you without a word. You clung to her and cried for a few minutes until you finally pulled yourself together. Wiping your tears and blowing your nose, you gave Wanda the short account of what happened. He never came.

She asked a few questions, but there were customers to attend to and it was still a little too raw to speak of, so you said you'd tell her later and asked her to get back to work. There was no time for you to fall apart. Making yourself presentable, you passed through the bakery once again and headed upstairs to change. Looking down at the crumpled Beatles shirt on your floor, your heart squeezed. How could you have gotten it so wrong? Had you misread all the signs?

You went back to the kitchen and focused on what you did best: baking. Blasting music and singing along, you did your best to distract yourself. As the night ended and you closed the bakery with Wanda, you finally offered more details about what happened, including your encounter with Jimmy. She was impressed by your outburst and only wished she could have seen the look on his face. It was a pretty spectacular face, you admitted with a small smile.

As you were about to lock to door, you finally voiced the worry that had been rattling around in your brain.

"What if he showed up, took one look at me...and left?" you asked with eyes downcast.

"No," the long-haired brunette assured you instantly. "Whatever his deal is, it has nothing to do with you. If he's everything you had told me, then there has to be a logical explanation for him not showing up. You are amazing and beautiful and a badass baking boss who deserves someone who will not be intimidated by that. And if it's not this B guy, then forget him," Wanda said sternly as she pulled you into yet another hug.

You let out a watery smile and thanked her before watching her walk to the subway station and then climbing the steps up to your own home. Getting ready for bed, you slipped out of your pants and plucked your phone from the pocket. You hadn't been able to bring yourself to check for messages as you worked, mostly assuming there wouldn't be any.

Tossing the device on your bed, you washed your face, dressed, and crawled under the covers. Only when you plugged in your phone to charge did you see the screen illuminate, showing a text message waiting for you. With shaking fingers, you opened it.

B: I'm sorry. There are no words that could possibly express how sorry I am. I wanted to be there so badly. I have no excuse. Someday, I hope that I can explain but right now....I can't. I won't expect you to forgive me and if you never wish to text me again, I'll understand. But just in case you do...I'm still here.

Feeling tears threaten, you locked your phone and set it aside. A small sob escaped as you curled around your pillow, wishing and praying for a deep, dreamless sleep.

__________________

Part 10>> Coming 16 Aug 

________________________________________________

Ahhh!! I know, I know, I'm sorry!!! It absolutely broke my heart to write this part, but this is the way it had to go. It's far from the end, though, so I hope you'll trust me to make it right. Some of you will say that she should have let him speak because, yes, maybe he would have told her the truth, but I really think what it comes down to is...she wasn't ready to hear it. That screaming rant at Jimmy feels a little cathartic, though, right?? He deserves it, for sure. Now we get to see if what's been broken will be able to come back together again. I adore you all and again, I'm sorry for the heartbreak. It'll all be okay, I promise. :) I'm still on vacation as you read this so I'll reply when I'm home! Please let me know your thoughts, I live for your comments and feedback!! Thank you. <3