Page 45 of Third Time Lucky

‘No, he doesn’t,’ I correct him.

‘You don’t get sick of one another?’ she asks. ‘Friends, brothers, and co-workers seems like a lot of time together.’

‘I hate him,’ Aaron says, laughing.

‘And I’m sick to death of him,’ I tease.

‘But he’s a hell of chef,’ Aaron follows.

‘And he’s OK too, I guess…’ I say, reluctantly.

Lucy chuckles and her smile brightens the room. At least my side.

‘How are you two oldfriendshandling working together?’ Aaron interjects. ‘Everything running smoothly over there? No feelings out of order or anything?’

I shoot him a glare.

‘Smooth as butter,’ Lucy snaps back. ‘Ash knows what he’s doing, and I can follow instructions. Can you?’ she asks sweetly, directing her question at Aaron.

He stops what he’s doing, meeting her gaze. ‘When I want to,’ he responds, pulling Madi from measuring out flour and planting a kiss on her lips just to piss me off.

‘Pay attention to each ingredient you add,’ Audri says from the island bar she’s now seated at, watching us as she sips a large glass of red wine. ‘Notice how it changes your mix. Knowing how ingredients react to one another will make it easier in the future to create your own recipes.’

‘Mads, you’re overmixing!’ he exclaims, pointing at the bowl with a grimace. ‘We aren’t whipping the eggs.’

Madi rolls her eyes, but takes a step back, allowing Aaron to take over once more.

‘Fine, Mr Perfectionist. Show me how it’s done,’ she retorts, a hint of competitiveness in her tone.

‘He’s no perfectionist,’ Audri says with a smile as she approaches Aaron and Madi.

She and Aaron have always play clashed. Aaron tends to grind on people until he’s become the annoying little brother you never had. The guy’s never been uncomfortable a day in his life.

‘I intentionally chose hand mixers because they’re harder to use. You’ve got to pay more attention and that’s Aaron’s goal tonight. To pay attention. I won’t eat one more half-done dessert at our Friendsgiving this year.’

‘Hey,’ Aaron snaps back. ‘My desserts are the bomb.’

‘Yes, last year’s caramel pecan pudding?—’

‘Bars,’ he corrects her.

They’ve been having this argument since last Thanksgiving.

‘In my world, melting in your hand is a good thing,’ he says, his eyes on Madi.

Gross.

I glance over at Lucy, who chuckles softly at the exchange. ‘Their dynamic seems fun,’ she remarks sarcastically, a twinkle in her eye.

‘If awkward was fun…’ I tease. ‘I know I’m having more fun than I expected,’ I say, leaning into her slightly. ‘Could be the fact that he’s not my sous right now.’

Her gaze meets mine, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, and I wonder if, in that handful of words, I’ve said too much.

The corners of her lips upturn in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.

‘I’m glad to be your partner,’ she says softly, her eyes warm and inviting. ‘I think we make a pretty good team.’

I nod, unable to tear my gaze away from her. ‘Yeah, we do.’

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