New Neighbor Arrives
864 Words
Five Years Later.
The aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls filled the air as Amelia Hart hurried behind the counter of her small café.
"One caramel latte and two blueberry muffins!" she called.
The morning rush was in full swing. Customers filled nearly every table, and the line at the register seemed endless.
Yet despite the chaos, Amelia smiled.
Five years ago, she had been a frightened pregnant woman crying alone in a tiny apartment. Now she was the proud owner of Hart's Bakery Café. It wasn't a fortune, but it was hers. And no one could take that away from her.
"Mama!"
A tiny voice broke through the noise.
Amelia looked up just in time to see Lily racing toward her from the back room. The little girl threw her arms around Amelia's waist.
Amelia laughed. "Lily Hart, weren't you supposed to be coloring?"
"I got bored."
"You got bored after five minutes?”
"It was seven."
Amelia shook her head.
"Such a difference."
Lily grinned mischievously.
At five years old, her daughter was a whirlwind of energy, questions, and endless curiosity. And Amelia loved every second of it, even the exhausting ones.
The café door opened. A delivery driver entered carrying several boxes.
"Flour shipment." Amelia signed for it before glancing at the clock.
Almost noon.
The morning crowd would soon disappear, thankfully. Her feet were already protesting.
By the time she closed the café that evening, exhaustion had settled deep into her bones.
She and Lily walked home together beneath the warm glow of streetlights like they always did.
Their little cottage sat at the end of a quiet lane. It wasn't large. The paint needed refreshing and the garden needed attention. But it was home.
As they approached the property, Amelia froze.
A moving truck stood in front of the vacant house next door. Several workers carried furniture inside.
"Mommy!" Lily pointed excitedly.
"Someone's moving in!"
Amelia hadn't seen anyone living there for almost two years.
She watched curiously as another box disappeared through the front door.
Then she saw him. A tall man stepped out of a black SUV.
Dark hair. Broad shoulders. Dressed casually in a fitted black shirt and dark jeans.
The evening breeze ruffled his hair as he turned to speak with one of the movers.
For a brief moment, Amelia forgot how to breathe.
The man looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine or on a movie screen. Not in their quiet neighborhood and definitely not next door.
As if sensing her gaze, he looked up. Their eyes met.
Amelia quickly looked away.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She touched her cheek with her palm.
Ridiculous.
She was a grown woman, not a teenager with a crush.
Beside her, Lily waved enthusiastically.
"Hi!"
The stranger blinked before smiling.
And goodness gracious, what a smile it was.
Warm.
Genuine.
Dangerously attractive.
"Hello."
Lily tugged Amelia's sleeve.
"Can I say hi?"
"No."
"Aww."
Before Amelia could stop her, Lily was already running toward the man.
"Lily!"
The little girl ignored her, naturally.
Amelia hurried after her.
By the time she reached the sidewalk, Lily was standing directly in front of the stranger.
The man crouched slightly to meet her eye level.
"Hi," Lily said proudly. "I'm Lily."
The stranger smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Lily."
"I'm five."
"That's a very important age Lily."
Lily nodded seriously.
"I think so too."
Amelia finally reached them.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "She likes introducing herself to everyone."
"No need to apologize."
His voice was smooth and calm.
The kind of voice that made people just…listen.
He stood. And suddenly Amelia realized just how tall he was.
"You're tall", it slipped out of her mouth.
"I'm Adrian.” He said with his hand forward and a smile on his face.
Just Adrian. No last name, no explanation. Something about that felt odd but she didn’t really think about it in the moment. How could she? He just stood there looking so handsome and gorgeous.
She quickly came back to herself and offered a polite smile.
"Amelia." And shook his hand.
He took the hand and gave it a little kiss like a prince would do to his princess. “Nice to meet you Amelia”
For a moment, neither spoke.
The air between them felt strangely charged.
Almost electric.
Then Lily broke the silence. And the handshake.
"Do you have cookies?"
Amelia groaned. "Lily!"
Adrian laughed.
A deep, rich sound that made Amelia's stomach flutter unexpectedly.
"No cookies," he admitted. "But I do have chocolate."
Lily gasped dramatically. "I like him."
Amelia buried her face in her hands.
Adrian's laughter grew louder.
And for the first time in a very long time, Amelia found herself laughing too.
Neither of them noticed the black luxury car parked several houses away. Or the man inside watching Adrian carefully before speaking into his phone.
"Your Highness has arrived."
The line went silent.
Then a voice replied. "Keep watching him."
The call ended. And the man drove away unnoticed.
Back at the cottage, a prince hiding from his crown smiled at the woman who was about to change his life forever.
- Writer
