Page 95 of Bake You Mine
“Look at you,” Tom said. “With a new boyfriend and maybe a new restaurant space to boot. You two are good together, boo.”
Aubrey rubbed the skin between her eyes. Even though everyone present would know tonight, the winner wouldn’t be officially announced until Monday morning when theSunrise Washingtonsegment aired.
As if her friend could read her mind, he said, “Don’t startoverthinking, Aubs. Liam looks at you like every day is the Fourth of July.”
She turned to him. “How could you get all that from me rubbing my face?”
“Because I’ve known you for thirteen years, I can read the meaning behind every micro-expression.” He inspected his watch. “Come on, it’s nearly time for you both to be put out of your misery.”
Aubrey snorted. “That sounds rather dire.”
Gary poked his head in. “The reporter and camera guy fromSunrise Washingtonare here. Liam’s tied up with Mr. Jason Morse right now, but do you have time to be interviewed?”
Her stomach had become an elevator, soaring down twenty floors without stopping. “Jason Morse is here?”
Gary threw up his hands. “The man donated five thousand dollars to the event, so they found a seat for him.”
Before Aubrey could ask Gary for more information, Tom prodded her, “Go ahead; I’ll go to the kitchen tent.”
Swallowing down her nerves, Aubrey followed Gary and put on her best fake smile.
The kitchen tent bustled with activity by the time Damon and Liam arrived. Liam hated being late, but it couldn’t be avoided. When Jason Morse strode into the kitchen, he’d been elbow-deep in the prep sink, trying to get out a clog so big it could have sunk theTitanic.
Jason said he’d had a free evening and wanted to see how the competition resulted. He asked if he could take over a booth at Elevation until the event started.
Liam had barely had time to step into the kitchen tent before the reporter and cameraman fromSunrise Washingtonhounded him for an interview.
Now, he was running behind.
Then he remembered that the competition had ended. Elevation was closed for the night. After this, he could relax, no matter the outcome.
“Hey, there’s Aubrey,” Damon said.
Liam looked up from counting appetizer plates as Aubrey walked in, Tom trailing behind her. She wore her usual pink chef’s jacket, her hair in a French braid. She was so lovely, he wanted to kiss her—and that was the first thing he would do once the winner was announced. Win or lose, he’d have her by his side.
Aubrey hugged Damon. “Save a plate of wings for me; I’m starving.”
“Anything my lady desires, she will have.” Liam tipped an imaginary hat.
Their plates went out one after another. Once they were finished, there was nothing to do but wait. A nervous pit settled in his stomach like a stone in a peach. He glanced over at her, her face a mask of worry.
He sidled up next to her and slung an arm around her shoulders. “You see Gary wielding the envelope?” He leaned in and pointed to where Gary appeared with a golden envelope as if he were Willy Wonka.
“I also see Jason Morse.” Her shoulders stiffened.
“Yeah, he about scared the hell out of me, turning up unannounced. He has an interest in how the contest turns out.”
“Guess he’s taken a shine to you, huh?” Her gaze stayed straight ahead.
“I guess I’m this week’s lucky penny, I don’t know. Are yousure you’re okay?” He started to massage one of the knots out of her shoulder.
She allowed herself to relax under his touch for a moment before stepping away. “I’m fine, I promise. I’m going to clean up a little. I can’t stand here and wait.”
He started to tell her there wereotherways they could pass the time, but she rushed off. He exhaled. Hopefully, it was just nerves getting to Aubrey. Once the announcement was made, they’d have to have a serious conversation.
About the future.
Theirfuture. He’d never been more confident that he was in love. It wasn’t a word that came easily to him, but when he thought about Aubrey, it was the first word that came to mind.
