Page 40 of Bake You Mine
“Don’t wait too long, William.”
He loved his mother, but less so when she got in needly moods like this.
“Ma, you should get out there and mingle.”
She slapped her hand gently on his forearm. “I already had one love; I don’t need another.”
It’d been five years since Liam’s father died. He’d been performing a routine traffic stop on the job as a Virginia State Trooper when some asshole sideswiped him on the highway, killing him instantly.
The fool had begged for their family’s forgiveness, which his mother had given without hesitation. Liam wasn’t as generous, even if the man now campaigned with local law enforcement, encouraging people to slow down when they sawfirst responders on the side of the road.
All well and good. It still didn’t bring Liam’s father back. His family had also been fighting with the state for years to get the full insurance payout that they deserved from the accident. The state was trying to nickel and dime them because their case could set a precedent for others. It wasn’t about the money for his mother—his father’s legacy was tied to the case.
Teddy howled at Liam. “Sorry, my dude.” Liam patted his butt, and he continued eating. “I had one great love, too, but you’re trying to get me to have another.”
She rounded on him. “Are you talking about that idiot Dani? Innoway does that resemble my love for your father.”
“No, remember Oria? She was my girlfriend in San Francisco. We were together for three years?”
When his mother only let out an annoyed grunt, he continued, “I love you, but you’re treading.” He huffed out a breath. “To be real, I’m feeding you a little of your own medicine. Dad’s been gone for years. We kids and grandkids would welcome a gentleman in your life if you wanted to date.”
Teddy finished eating and hopped off the counter. She swiped his empty plate and turned on the tap. “I’m not dead, William. I know I’ve still got it. Mr. O’Malley, the butcher, asked me out last week.”
Liam rubbed his palms together. “Really? Maybe he’ll give me a discount if you two get together.”
The butcher had aged nicely. As a somewhat recent widower, he was the over-sixty version of #hotbutcher.
“That’s not funny.” She flicked off the tap with the side of her hand and whipped a dishcloth off the oven door to dry Teddy’s plate.
“We just want you to be happy. I know you want me to settle down. Aubrey’s not the woman for me, okay?”
“Why, is it because she’s older? You’re always dating girls too young—both emotionally and physically.”
“Her age has nothing to do with it. I didn’t know she was older than me until an hour ago. Look, being honest, she’s pretty much come out and said she doesn’t see me like that, okay?”
His mother fixed him with a firm stare. “Really? What did you do?”
He threw his hands in the air. “Nothing! I can say she’s hesitant after her divorce. I met her ex today, and I see why.”
She folded over the dishtowel and laid it across the oven handle. “I won’t push Aubrey or anyone else on you. Don’t wait too long, okay?”
Liam would say anything to get his mother to stop talking. “Okay, I hear you. Happy?”
She started to speak, but Liam cut her off. “Are you gonna accept Mr. O’Malley’s offer?”
“I don’t have to answer that.” She pursed her lips.
He bent to kiss her cheek. “Then I have the right to plead the fifth, too.”
With a huff, his mother left. Liam liked to freshen up before dinner service, so he’d be down later.
While he got ready, he thought about what he would do now that Dani was officially out of the picture. He needed to find someone else eventually. Once this competition was settled, it was time to download some dating apps and put himself out there again.
“Another thing for the mounting to-do list,” he muttered, then laughed at the unintended innuendo.
Aubrey surveyed the space, Liam at her side. All the tables and chairs had been brought in, and they’d spent the last twenty minutes arguing over their placement. They only had one more day to get it right.
Then, there were the linen choices. Aubrey wanted something off-white; Liam’s choice was dove gray. In the end, they chose gray because Liam used his charms on her. She was no more a general of her heart than a recruit in boot camp.
