Page 18 of Bake You Mine (Port Fortune #1)
eleven
Liam figured he had a visitor when Teddy didn’t greet him. Only one other person had a key to his apartment, so it wasn’t hard to guess who the uninvited guest was.
“Ma, where are you?”
Her out-of-tune humming carried from down the hall, where he found her cleaning his toilet, earbuds tucked in. He thought about sneaking up on her, but she liked to say he’d never be too big for her to beat his ass.
Teddy sat on the vanity top, watching Liam’s mother work.
He entered the bathroom, hoping she’d see him in the doorway. Liam waved to his mother, and Teddy leaped from the counter into his arms. He caught him and allowed the old cat to lick his chin.
She tugged an earbud out. “William, it’s not nice to sneak up on people.”
“I wasn’t trying to! It’s not my fault you were too busy humming along to “Boogie Shoes” to hear me coming. What are you doing here anyway?”
She paused the music and set her phone on the counter. “Why are you acting as if I have ulterior motives? ”
Fed up, Teddy squirmed, and Liam released him onto the vanity top. “Because I know you?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re a busy man. I don’t mind tidying up the place. And giving Teddy Weddy some love.” She rubbed him under his chin, making him erupt into a loud purr.
His mother was a bit of a clean freak, but she wasn’t prone to swinging by randomly to tidy up his place. “Why are you here? Aren’t you guys busy at the firm?”
His mother led a team of two other paralegals at Joanie and Carolyn’s law practice. There was never a slow season in family law.
“It’s Saturday, and I work half days. I figured I’d eat at the restaurant after tidying up your place. Even if you guys are always busy, being the chef’s mother should allow me some privileges.”
Flimsy reasoning at best. He didn’t have time to remark on it before his mother carried on speaking.
“How’s planning for the first challenge going? Sasha told me it’s a dinner for thirty-five?”
Liam hadn’t thought much about the number of guests since he could do a dinner for thirty-five with one arm tied behind his back and an eyepatch. So far, the only challenging aspect was his opponent.
“Yep. Monday night. Aubrey and I are working together to ensure the food flows well.”
His mother pursed her lips, trying to swallow a smile. “You know I love your food and Aubrey’s, too. If you weren’t my kid, I’d be rooting for her!”
He leaned against the door frame. “Gee, thanks, Ma.”
She motioned him to leave the bathroom, and he turned the light off on his way out the door. Teddy ran ahead of them, wanting his evening meal.
“You know what I mean. I have a sweet tooth for days.” She cleared her throat, which meant full meddle mode had engaged. “So, are you two getting along?”
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”
“What? It’s an innocent enough question.” She thumbed the beads on one of her low-hanging necklaces.
Teddy began to howl for dinner, and he didn’t let up until Liam dumped the stinky goop onto his plate. He tugged gently on Teddy’s tail, which the old guy loved. “Aubrey and I are neighbors, currently competing in a contest thrown by Gary and the city. Nothing else.”
Especially since she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested—which he kept reminding himself was a good thing.
“You know Brody is in little Daphne’s class. The school is having a fall festival soon. Maybe you should swing by. Brody would love to see you there.”
“I will if I can; just let me know when it gets closer.”
“It’d be good for you, I think, to spend more time around kids.”
He groaned. “Kids aren’t on the horizon anytime soon.”
“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 saw first 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? In no way 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.
She picked up the printed menu to remind herself why they were spending so much time together.
First course: Liam’s fig and arugula salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette and Aubrey’s mini sourdough rolls to accompany.
Second course: Liam’s lamb sliders paired with Aubrey’s handcrafted pomme frites and garlic aioli dipping sauce.
Third course: Liam’s choice of regional cheese plate with pimento cheese crackers and Aubrey’s mini lemon soufflés.
It was anyone’s game. Gary had been by earlier in the evening to ensure they were getting along and to review the menu. Otherwise, he’d been a hands-off ringmaster.
“I’ve already placed an order for the centerpieces. I figured you wouldn’t care about flowers, candles, and shit like that.”
Liam made a gimme motion. “You figured wrong. Show me.”
That resting dick face had returned, and God damn her stupid little brain for thinking up ideas to wipe away his sour expression.
“God, you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Aww, it’s nice you think of me at all, Aubs.”
She thought about him far more than she should, but she wouldn’t admit it.
After finding the photo of the floral mock-up, she enlarged the image and passed her phone over. He inspected the rustic wooden boxes filled with arrangements of sunflowers, roses, and other fall flowers. Electric candles were placed between the flowers, giving the centerpieces a warm glow.
She braced for a tirade. Instead, he handed her phone back with a smile.
“You know, I need to ask you something.”
“Do you like the centerpieces?” She tapped the phone screen.
“Yes, they’re nice. But can I ask my question?”
She waved him on.
“When did you tell Gary about your idea to expand the space?”
“Oh, not this again.” Aubrey tucked her phone into her pocket. “Does it matter? It’s not going to get you out of this competition.”
“I know. But can you indulge my curiosity?” He leaned toward her, wearing a shit-eating grin.
She forced herself to meet his eyes. “It was early June. I know because it was right around my dad’s birthday. We talked about it at dinner that night.”
He focused on her for so long that it took everything in her not to run and hide.
She tugged on her braid. “Well? What about you?”
He tapped the tabletop. “You got me beat. It was June 12th.”
“Hmm, by your logic, this space should be mine by rights?”
“My opinion has changed since originally making that statement.”
Being under the scrutiny of Liam’s gaze was like sitting under a hundred spotlights.
“Anyway, back to why we’re here, the last thing to do is to inspect the kitchen. I want to double-check to ensure all the equipment works as it should.”
She headed for the swinging doors, pausing to flick on the lights. She groaned when she remembered Gary’s insistence that they use it for most of their prep and cooking.
If she found out this competition was a reality TV pilot pitch, she was gonna kill him.
That said, the kitchen could work, with a little realignment during renovations.
Petit Chou lacked a full kitchen, which meant it was impossible to expand in a way that matched her vision.
If she won, once the walls were torn down, they could flip around the floor plan and use this kitchen to offer a broader menu.
They could do full-service brunches and high teas.
Maybe even lunch. Special events like bridal and baby showers.
She tried not to let the daydream get too far ahead of her, since her fate was out of her hands.
Liam brushed past her as he walked over to the stove and fussed with the knobs. With that slight contact, her brain turned to goo, like crème patisserie.
She conjured up visions of great generals of the past. Would they fold so easily? Would an Olympian give up the day before the match after years of training?
“We may have to kick everyone else out, and it will just be us in the kitchen.” Liam flicked on one of the knobs. The gas hissed as the burner flared to life.
Standing next to him had her heartbeat thumping in her throat. She reminded herself that after this competition, they were finished. She could pencil in: find a man on her New Year’s resolutions list. Scratch that: find a nice, sensible man. One who didn’t make her sensible side fly out the window.
Her brain fed these rationalities while her body begged to be close to Liam.
She’d told Liam his charms were worthless on her because she was a coward when it came down to it.
After all, who else would have a crush at her big age?
Keeping him in his place made sense, especially as one of them would lose. According to her anxiety, at least .
Aubrey yanked open the fridge and stuck a hand in to gauge the temperature. The cool air was much needed to calm her overreacting body.
Liam left the kitchen to answer a phone call.
She rubbed nervously at her face. She had to pull her shit together, or else she would lose by default. She’d only have her white flag for company.
“Are you all right?”
She peeked from behind the fridge door. Liam’s dark hair was swept over to one side, and his tattooed forearm braced his weight against one of the metal shelves. She slammed the fridge closed and stood there awkwardly.
His beauty was so unfair. She should say goodnight and get the fuck out of Dodge. Especially as he stared at her like he wanted to take his time devouring her, eyes dark and focused, lips parted. And no, she wasn’t imagining it this time. All of this was as real as the proverbial heart attack.
Blood roared through her ears. Her limbs were a little tingly. Maybe this was a heart attack, after all?
Or maybe this was years of longing finally bubbling to the surface.
Life was too short for lessons. Or she was just too stubborn and old to learn them. As of right this second, she’d given up the fight regarding her attraction to Liam.
He tracked her progress across the small kitchen and started to duck out of the way as she approached. It was hardly an unwarranted reaction. She barreled past him at least a hundred times since this contest madness had begun.
This time, her hands betrayed her. One shot up to grab the side of his neck. Lastly, it was her mouth that did her dirty as she arched up on her tiptoes and kissed him.