My phone starts ringing at the buttcrack of dawn and I ignore it. Well, I try to ignore it but the damn thing keeps ringing. Reluctantly, I answer it. “This better be an emergency or Macy’s is having a ninety percent off sale.”

I hear a chuckle on the other end. “Macy’s, really? I took you for a Nordstrom's girl.”

“What do you want, Ridge? I need my beauty sleep.”

“Oh, Hot Lips, no amount of sleep could make you more beautiful. Get up, I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

I sit straight up in bed. “Do what?”

He sighs through the phone. “I have a friend who is shutting down their bakery. They’re willing to let us come in and see if there’s anything you need for your store. The auction is tomorrow so we have to go today.”

“Really? I can be ready in twenty,” I say as I hop out of bed.

“See you soon, Hot Lips.”

I run to the closet and throw on a pair of jean shorts, a green tank top, and my green chucks. Then I run to the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair. No time for makeup, I’ll just sweat it off anyway. I run down the stairs and slide into the kitchen. Zoe looks up from her cup of coffee.

“What in the Sam Hill are you doing up this early?”

I grab her cup and down the coffee in one gulp. “I’ll explain later tater. I’ve got to go.”

The doorbell rings and I grab my purse. I swing the door open to find Ridge about to push the bell again. My stars, he looks yummy this morning in a pair of khaki shorts, a white v-neck t-shirt, and a pair of flip flops.

“You ready?”

I grab his outstretched hand and nod my head. “I am so ready!”

We walk out the door and down the driveway to a very large black truck. I whistle under my breath, “Dayum, Ridge. That is one monster of a truck.”

Ridge walks over and taps on the hood of the monstrosity. Did I mention the hood comes up to his shoulders?

“She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Alice, meet Cynthia, a 2015 Ford F-350 King Ranch Diesel.”

Ridge is looking at me expectantly. Am I supposed to actually say hello to his truck? I close my eyes and count to five. “Hello, Cynthia.” I walk around her and to the passenger side. Before I can open the door, Ridge is there doing it for me.

“Let me help you get in. It’s a little tall,” he says bashfully.

I turn to face Ridge, and he lifts me up by the waist, and gently sets me in the passenger seat. He taps my knee with his finger and closes the door. I watch him run around Cynthia to the driver’s side and hop in. He glances over at me, smiling wide as he puts his sunglasses on. “Buckle up, Hot Lips.”

The trip to Brown’s Brownies is a short one. It’s not far from my house, but I had no idea it even existed. After Ridge helps me out of the truck, excuse me, Cynthia, he grabs my hand and we walk into the bakery.

I’m in love. Complete and total love with everything I see. Ridge introduces me to an older lady, Ashley Brown. She explains that she and her husband are ready to retire and spend some time with their grandchildren. Everything in the shop is for sale, and she’s willing to negotiate. It’s like a yardsale lovers paradise. I run my hands over the small bistro style tables that are surrounded by those little iron chairs with the roped hearts on the back. I only see three, so I tell Ashley I want them all. Over her counter is a large blackboard, and I can see us writing the daily specials on it. I claim it, too. The display cases are in great shape, no broken glass or damage other than normal wear and tear. I take all of them as well. Then I see it. The focal point of my little store. An antique, rolling coffee cart. If I could pick it up and run out of the store right now, I would. I settle for telling Ashley to slap my name on it as well. I add her inventory of coffee cups with saucers, small white ceramic plates, and an assortment of spoons and forks.

“Well then, Miss Alice, you’ve done about bought me out of everything. I have the list of the items you want, how about we sit over some coffee and work the numbers?”

Ashley is a shrewd woman, but I get a heck of a deal on everything. She even threw in her industrial coffee maker and an older cappuccino machine. Ridge tells me he’ll have to get a small U-Haul to bring everything over to the shop. He doesn’t want to risk scratching up the tables or breaking any glass on the cases. I agree, under one condition.

We make one quick stop on the way back to my house. By the time we pull into the drive, I can hardly contain my excitement. Ridge is chuckling at me, but I’m too hyped up to care. As soon as he puts the truck in park, I’m hopping out of the beast with my bag from the paint store in hand. I skip to the back and watch Ridge lower the tailgate and remove my coffee cart. Ridge carries the cart to the backyard where Zoe is waiting with a large trash bag already on the ground, and a rag in her hand.

“Tell me again why I had to meet you two back here with this?”

I throw my hands out, doing my best to impersonate Vanna White and show off my new cart. “Look at it, Zoe! Isn't it perfect for the store?”

Zoe walks over to the cart and looks it over. She then raises her head and blinks at me. “Al, it’s an old rolling cart. I’m pretty sure my Granny has one in her house.”

“Not like this one, Zoe. We’re going to clean it up, then paint it. It’s going to be a focal point in the cafe part of my shop.”

“We’re going to paint it? What color did you get?”

I ignore Ridge’s snort. He was horrified with what I chose, but once he sees it, I know he will change his mind. I reach into my bag and pull out the small can of paint I bought on our way home. I use the screwdriver I had Zoe bring out with her to get the lid off. I look up at Zoe. “Are you ready?” I lift the lid to reveal the Bubble Gum Pink color I chose.

Zoe leans over and looks closer at the paint can. “It’s pink.”

“No, it’s Bubble Gum Pink.”

Zoe looks at the paint again. “Al, I don’t care what you call it, it’s pink. Why did you pick pink? It’s going in a pot shop for crying out loud.”

I roll my eyes at her. No one understands, so I try to explain my choice in color. “In one of my favorite books, the MC, main character, takes back control over her life. In doing so, one thing she does is paint her furniture Bubble Gum Pink! It’s empowering! Just imagine, all the pot stores are so drab…”

“Hey now!” Ridge hollers out.

I shake my head at him. “Fine. All the pot stores, besides CronCorp, are drab. We want something different so, here you go. I also bought a few small bistro tables with iron chairs, a display case, and a huge chalkboard for our daily specials. It’s going to be the best pot store ever.”

By the time I’m done explaining my vision, my excitement has overtaken me and I can’t keep still. I’m like a human jumping bean. I snag the rag out of Zoe’s hand and begin to meticulously wipe down the cart. It needs to be clean before I start painting it. Once I’m sure there’s no dust on any crevice of the cart, I pull the small paintbrush out of the bag and start painting. It doesn’t take long before the old coffee cart is done. I stand back and admire my work.

It’s perfect.

“Huh. I didn’t think I would like the pink, but it looks pretty good. Nice job, Hot Lips. I’m impressed.”

I preen under his compliment.

“I like it. It’s a daring color, Al, but I can dig it.” Zoe throws her arm over my shoulder and we both take a moment to admire our new cart.

“It’s not about the cart, Zoe. It’s what it represents. It’s bringing life back into something that was on the verge of dying. We’re taking over a man’s world, and doing it the way we want. Pink coffee carts and all.”

Zoe and I fist bump. “We’re going to kick some ass, Al.”

“Yes, Zoe, we most definitely are going to kick some man’s ass.”

“As long as you promise to kiss it afterwards, you can kick mine anytime.”

I tilt my head up and smile at Ridge. “Thanks for helping me, Ridge.”

He wraps his arm around my waist. “Anytime, Hot Lips. Anytime.”

“Do you need me to go with you?”

“It’s alright. I can handle them, Zoe. I need you to meet Ben at the shop so he can get started on the remodeling we talked about. You have the list and know what we want. I can deal with a few stuffy suits at the board meeting.”

I glance at myself one last time. I’m dressed for the office in a pair of black dress pants with a red blouse. I put on my black Michael Kors kitten heels and head out.

I’m greeted at the office by Mrs. Sterns. “Alice, it’s so good to see you. The board is waiting for you, but be sure to stop by and visit before you leave.”

I lean down and give her a quick hug. “Of course I will.” I turn away and head to the boardroom at the end of the hall. I open the door, standing straight with my chin lifted, and walk into the room like I own it. Which, I guess I do.

“Good morning, everyone.” I greet them all cheerfully.

My uncle is the one to respond to me, “Nice of you to show up, Alice. I hear you’ve been busy lately. Closing down the shop we had? What were you thinking?”

I sit down in my chair and give him my best blank look. “I was thinking, Uncle, that the shop was falling apart, had rats in it, and was run by high-as-a-kite Barbie. If I’m going to turn this company around and bring money back into it, I need to make some changes. I decided to start there.”

“You need to get permission from the board to do anything like this.”

“No, Uncle Richie, I don’t. I already looked into it. Since I am the majority holder, I can make decisions like this without coming to the board first. Now, was there something specific you called me in for, or was that it?”

Uncle Richie’s mouth just opens and closes, over and over like a fish.

I stand up from my chair. “Well, if that’s all the business you had, I’m going to head on out. I need to pick up some papers to look over then head to the shop. We just started the remodel today and I need to be there to oversee it.” I pause at the door and look over my shoulder, “Ladies, gentleman, as always, it was a pleasure.” I walk out, closing the door behind me.