Page 57 of Bake You Mine
He jabbed a thumb toward the door. “Everyone in there isn’t the type to give two shits about what we’re up to.” He leaned down to swipe a kiss against her cheek, singeing her mind around the edges like a crème brulé.
“Then, alright, let’s go. Is there a secret password?”
“Of course. Come on.”
She followed him down the freshly poured concrete staircase, pausing at a shiny wooden door that still reeked of varnish. Liam rapped his knuckles against it, and immediately, a small window opened, revealing a pair of blue eyes.
“Password?”
“Shark fin.”
The window snapped closed, and the large door creaked open after a swipe of the locks. Inside, a cozy, dimly lit space beckoned.
“Hey, Liam, my friend, how are you?” The man behind the door clasped Liam’s hand. “I see you brought a lovely guest?”
“This is Aubrey. She owns Petit Chou.”
“Ah, I’ve seen your place, it’s lovely. Have a seat anywhere, and be honest about your experience, okay?”
Liam led her past the bar, full of people hunched over their beers, and to a booth in the back. The booths were partially fashioned out of old, battered wood and whisky barrels, giving each booth a fair amount of privacy.
Once they’d tugged off their coats and settled in, she had a look around.
The walls were whitewashed brick, and chunky wooden beams lined the ceiling. A chandelier crafted out of multi-color beer bottles lit up the booth.
“This place is cool.”
Steve approached to take their orders, and once he’d left, she turned to Liam. “So, this is an official date, huh? Not a pre-bang drink?”
He barked out a laugh. “I meant what I told you. I’m in no rush.”
Part of Aubrey wondered if theyshouldbe rushing. With the first challenge completed, who knew what would happen next? This hot chef was a gentleman of the highest order.
Steve reappeared with their beers and a selection of snacks.
Liam tilted his bottle toward her. “Cheers.”
She clinked the neck of her beer against his before taking a hearty sip. She could sense his gaze on her. Her body flushed as if she’d stepped out on a summer day.
“I just want to be sure you’re okay with…” He drew a finger between them. “This. I want to know what you’re thinking.”
She set the bottle down so quickly that she worried it would shatter against the tabletop. Luckily, it stayed in one piece. “Are you sure?”
He laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, maybe not.”
She held his gaze.
His hand came to rest on top of hers. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight, Aubs.”
There was something so earnest in the way he spoke that her heart melted a little.
“It was either this or true crime podcasts while I cleaned Daphne’s bathroom.”
He barked out a laugh. “I’m glad my company is preferable to cleaning toilets.”
“Somehow, I think you’d find a way to make that look attractive, too.”
He laughed again before leaning ever closer. His dark hair fell against her forehead. “How about we start the evening with a kiss?”
