Page 89 of Bake You Mine
The asshole.
She leaned forward and caught his chin. “I think we’re on the same page.” This was a good thing, as they were setting plans. But she couldn’t shake the voice at the back of her mind reminding her not to gettooattached.
He squeezed her thigh. “Sounds like a plan.”
She sucked in a breath. “Stop that, you, or you’re gonna putdirty thoughts into my head right before I see your family. Hello, awkward.”
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll stop because your ass is gonna be in bed by eight thirty, and I’ve got to get back to work.”
“If they let you leave that early, sure.”
It felt like high school again. Liam’s mother forcing him to bring his date to the house so she could parade them in front of the neighborhood. He’d told his mother Aubrey would not be sized up for a wedding dress. A fact he reminded her of as Sasha helped Aubrey with her coat. The kids had already gathered around her, asking where Daphne was. He was about to jump in and rescue her, but Aubrey had it handled. Soon, she had the kids distracted with a card game she’d pulled out of her purse.
The woman was a marvel. He hoped Daphne would be at the next dinner.
Liam turned his attention to his mother. “Where’s Mr. O’Malley?”
She waved her hand. “He couldn’t come. Beef emergency.”
Liam cocked a brow. “That sounds an awful lot like an excuse, Ma. Especially given that his truck has been seen leaving the neighborhood early in the morning. Now that I think about it, beef emergency kinda sounds like a strangely named?—”
Likely assuming the direction of the conversation, his mother cut him off. “Doesn’t Aubrey look pretty tonight?”
Sensing he’d get nowhere further on the butcher issue, Liam sighed. “Of course, she does. She looks pretty every day.”
Liam was stern with his mother, but he was borderlinegiddy after his conversation with Aubrey. They were on the same page and ready to take things to the next level.
His mother cocked her head. “Whatever you say, William.”
If Aubrey was nervous, she didn’t show it as they gathered around the long table. The whole crew had turned up: Brandon, Becky, and their kids, Joanie, Carolyn, and their kids, and Sasha.
Liam was grateful he came from such a kind, if overbearing, family. Sometimes, during dinners like this, he realized how much he missed his father. He’d been louder than most of them combined, and with a heart made of solid gold. All these years later, people still stopped Liam to tell him stories about how his father. He would have adored Aubrey.
Caught up in his memories, Liam was dragged back to the present by Sasha’s loud voice.
“Tell me you’ll do the advent calendars again this year, Aubs.”
“It’s funny you mentioned it, because we got the boxes from the printer today.”
“Advent calendar?” Liam ventured.
“Of course, you wouldn’t know, you non-sweets-loving weirdo.” Aubrey tapped his knee under the table.
The playful insult had his family roaring, especially the kids.
“Uncle Liam won’t even eat any of our birthday cakes!” Brody said.
“We’ve been over this. It’s not weird to not like sweets.” Liam might have pouted a little at the pile-on.
“I’m just giving you a hard time.” Aubrey seemed to realize the double entendre at the same time he did, as her cheeks flared. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I do a twelve-day advent calendar. I make seventy-five, and they’re distributed via lottery. I fill it with treats and coupons. The final day’s prize is a tart or a bouchefor their holidaydinner.”
“That’s a great marketing idea,” Liam said.
“You could learn a thing or two from Aubrey,” Brandon said.
Liam managed a hearty eye roll. “I already have.”
Liam noticed an odd tug in his chest. This felt fast, but somehow not fast enough. Like he regretted he hadn’t spent more time with her. He wished he could go back in time and realize the feelings she’d had for him. He’d been oblivious once, but never again. This thing between them had always been inevitable.
