Page 91 of Dating the Defensive Back

She glances between Ava and me, and I get the feeling she wants to ask what’s going on between us. Thankfully, she doesn’t—but I get the feeling she will when she corners me later.

“So what is Ava Maxwell up to these days?” she asks Ava.

“I’m a pastry chef at a bakery just off the Strip with aspirations of owning my own place someday.” She has this glow about her as she answers the question.

“Oh, I love the ambition,” Mom says. “Isn’t running your own bakery a lot of work and long hours?”

Ava nods. “It is, but when you’re doing what you love…”

“It doesn’t feel like work,” Mom finishes for her.

“That’s right,” Ava says.

“Tell her about your cookies,” I say, nudging her.

Her cheeks turn a little pink as she says, “Our bakery is known for the kitchen sink cookie recipe I created. I have the recipe copyrighted, so if I leave, I can take it with me. Still, I tend to do some of the prep work at home so nobody learns what my secret ingredient is.”

“That’s so neat! When can I try one?” Mom asks, and I realize I haven’t tried one yet, either. I held one in my hand and handed it back over the counter, but the sweet delight her bakery is known for hasn’t crossed my tongue yet.

Her cunt has, but her cookie hasn’t.

Wrong time to be thinking about that, and an even worse time to pop a boner.

Fuck.

“Maybe we can swing by later and grab some for everyone to try,” I suggest.

We talk more about what it takes to run a bakery, and it sounds like the startup for it requires a lot of cash that Ava doesn’t have right now.

Lincoln shows back up a short while later, interrupting the easy conversation with, “My girls are ready for you.”

“My girls,” Mom says, holding a hand to her heart. “I’m just so happy for you, Linc.”

He grins and tosses his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks, Mom.” He kisses her on top of the head, and then the four of us head down toward his room.

“Grandma’s here,” he says softly, and he leads Mom in first. Ava and I walk a few paces behind her, and I’m a whole head taller than my mom, so I spot Jolene holding the baby with a soft smile playing at her lips as she gazes down at the little bundle wrapped in pink.

She doesn’t look like she just put in the hard work of labor even though she did, and the little baby she’s cradling to her chest is just like Lincoln described. Perfection.

I’m not a baby guy, but damn, she’s adorable.

I’m not sure why, but I can’t help a quick glance over at Ava.

Her eyes are a little misty as they fall onto the new mom and baby. I think she might be feeling the same strange pulse of emotion I am.

It’s not what I was expecting to feel today.

I thought I’d put in my time with my family, show off my new “girlfriend,” and we’d call it a day.

Instead, I can’t help but wonder about a future with said “girlfriend” and maybe one or two of these little perfect creatures born from the intimate connection we share.

Is it a possibility for my future?

I have no idea.

But I think it’s more of a possibility now than it ever was before, and that alone is really fucking terrifying.

Chapter 38: Ava Maxwell

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