Page 50 of Layla Meets Her Match

I take the order for the next person in line, but my mind is anywhere but on sugary treats. I haven’t dated in a long time, so I’m reading too much into everything. Lincoln is probably just friends with Astrid.

But does that also mean he’s only interested in being just friends with me?

CHAPTER 28

LINCOLN

I hate that I had to cancel my plans with Layla tonight. It’s probably for the best, but I was looking forward to seeing her. An idea strikes me as I’m leaving the facility after my physical therapy appointment later. Dottie would love to meet Layla and Margot. It would brighten her day, and it would be a way to see Layla without the temptation of spilling how I feel. I may be able to wait in the background while she spreads her wings, but I still need to spend time around her, and more than just the few minutes we get to chat at the bakery truck every morning.

I ignore the fact that I saw her last night at her apartment, and that my need is bordering on an addiction that I might not be able to control for much longer.

Lincoln: I know Dottie would love to meet you and it might distract her tonight. Would it be weird if I asked you to come with me to hang out with her?

Layla: Not weird at all! I’d love to meet Mrs. Van Buren. Plus there’s something I want to get your opinion on. A theory I have about our poisoning culprit that’s better shared in person.

My interest is piqued by that. The sooner we figure out what’s happening, the less complicated my cookie-buying can become. And I can bring treats to Dottie again. I’ve been afraid to bring anything to her the last few weeks after the first incident, even the ones that Dillon has deemed safe.

Lincoln: It’s a date then.

I add a winking emoji so she knows I’m just teasing. But maybe she’ll read into it exactly what I want her to and give me the go-ahead to date her for real. A guy can hope.

Lincoln: Definitely not replacing our celebration party though. Still count on doing that sometime.

Layla: I’ll hold you to that.

Layla: Have you heard from Dillon about the German pancakes?

Lincoln: Yeah. He had some results when I dropped off the scones this morning. He says there was arsenic on them again, but not the crystals like before. It was more saturated into the pancakes AND the filling, so he thought it might have been sprayed on top.

Lincoln: He said he sent the report to Officer Brady. But it sounds like he’s no closer to figuring anything out either.

Layla: *crossing fingers emoji* Maybe what I found out will lead to something. See you tonight?

Lincoln: I’ll pick you up at six.

Layla: Can’t wait!

Six o’clock takes way too long to come. I can’t help but get to Layla’s apartment a few minutes early, and it’s encouraging that she’s already got all her stuff ready to go. I grab the car seat for Margot that she has waiting by the door and the gray-and-pink backpack that serves as her diaper bag, throwing it over my shoulder. Layla grins at me.

“What?” I ask, following her as she carries Margot out of the apartment, then standing by while she closes and locks it with a keypad. I notice there’s a new doorbell camera next to her door.

She shakes her head at me. “Nothing. I just think it’s cute how you have no problem carrying around all the frilly stuff of Margot’s.”

“I like pink,” I say as we head downstairs to my Bronco.

“I like that you like pink.”

I want so badly for the way her eyes are dancing to mean something. Like that she sees the way I’m comfortable with Margot’s stuff also means I’m comfortable with Margot.

“I see you got a new doorbell camera.” I glance back in the direction of her apartment as we exit the building.

“Ordered it last night right after Jack left. Bless Amazon next-day delivery. It’s been a lifesaver since I had Margot.” She opens the back door of the Bronco, and I slide the car seat in. I wish I could put it in for her, but instead I hold out my hands for Margot so she can get everything secured. “Maybe if I’d had it last night,” she says as she ducks inside the Bronco, “he could have just slid the envelope under the door when I didn’t answer.” She chuckles and makes quick work of putting in the car seat and anchoring it.

I picture driving around in my Bronco with a car seat in there permanently. Hopefully Layla doesn’t notice my blush as she reaches for Margot. I’m getting so far ahead of myself, but it’s been harder and harder to distract myself from my feelings for Layla and the future I want with her. Football has been the only time that I can keep my mind off her. Inviting her to come hang out tonight isn’t helping the issue, but I’d just be at Dottie’s thinking about her anyway.

I open Layla’s door for her once she has Margot all buckled in, and she smiles at me appreciatively. This whole scenario is so much my little family fantasy that I have to take a few deep breaths as I round the front of the Bronco.

She’s texting when I get inside. “Sorry,” she says. “Mila and I didn’t have a chance to talk today about Jack showing up at my apartment. She wants all the details. Especially since she found out about it on social media.”

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