The Bakery Across the Street
A Contemporary Romance
Chapter 1: Mornings Smell Like Cinnamon
Every morning, Ethan watched her from his coffee shop.
She never noticed him.
She was too busy kneading dough, dusting flour off her apron, laughing with customers.
The sign above her shop read:
SWEET HAVEN BAKERY
And that’s exactly what she was—sweet.
Her name was Sophie Lane.
And Ethan?
Ethan had been in love with her for six months.
Chapter 2: The Coffee Shop Owner Who Never Spoke Up
His shop was directly across the street.
“Reed’s Coffee House.”
Every morning, Sophie walked in at 8:15 a.m., always ordering the same thing:
A vanilla latte. Extra foam.
Ethan always made it himself.
Always tried to say something.
But then—
She’d smile.
And his brain would short-circuit.
Every. Single. Time.
Chapter 3: A Cup with a Secret Message
One morning, Ethan finally worked up the courage.
He wrote on her coffee cup:
“What’s the secret to your cinnamon rolls?”
Sophie blinked when she saw it.
Then, to his surprise—
She grabbed a marker and wrote back.
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. 😉”
Ethan grinned.
And just like that—
A game began.
Chapter 4: Falling in Love, One Coffee at a Time
Day after day, their coffee cup messages continued.
“What’s your favorite book?”
“Pride and Prejudice. Yours?”
“The one where the handsome coffee shop owner gets the girl.”
Sophie blushed at that one.
And Ethan?
Ethan was falling faster than ever.
Chapter 5: The Flour Fight That Changed Everything
One rainy afternoon, Ethan finally walked into her shop.
“Here for a cinnamon roll?” Sophie teased.
“Here for you,” he admitted.
Her breath caught.
Then—
She flicked flour at him.
Ethan gasped. “Oh, it’s war now.”
Flour flew. Laughter filled the kitchen.
And when the mess finally settled—
Sophie was in his arms.
Heart pounding. Eyes locked on his.
And just like that—
He kissed her.
Right there, in the middle of the bakery.
Tasting of sugar, cinnamon, and every dream he ever had.
Epilogue: Love, Sweet as Pastries
Months later, Sophie walked into his coffee shop—
Holding a cinnamon roll and a marker.
She scribbled on his cup:
“Dinner at my place?”
Ethan grinned, heart racing.
Wrote back:
“Only if you make dessert.”
Because sometimes, the best love stories start across the street.
And end with a kiss—tasting like cinnamon and forever.