Page 23 of Bake You Mine (Port Fortune #1)

fifteen

“You guys can head out. I’ll clean up.”

Unused to this kind of statement from Liam, his kitchen guys left so fast that smoke nearly flew out from under their shoes.

“Only Teddy keeping you company tonight?” Damon asked.

If Liam tried lying to Damon, he’d sniff it out in seconds. When you’ve known someone since kindergarten, they tend to understand how you tick. “Someone’s meeting me here, and I want the place to be empty.”

“Empty for who?” Damon’s wife appeared around the corner.

Liam almost jumped out of his skin. “Jesus, Lameka. You’re not one for sneaking around.” He brought a hand to his chest.

She stepped inside and looped an arm around Damon’s neck. “That’s because I usually have two kids trailing behind me like breadcrumbs—only they’re the kind who never stop saying, ‘Mama?’ They’re at grandma’s tonight so my man and I can have a late-night date night.”

She and Damon shared a look, just like they used to share in front of their lockers before homeroom .

Liam laughed. “Then why are you having another one?” Lameka was five months pregnant.

“Because I love them. Mama still needs a break.” She started to lead Damon away, and Liam hoped she’d get Damon out of there before Aubrey arrived.

But he wasn’t that lucky.

“Wait a minute,” Damon said. “You wouldn’t need to clear the room if it’s just Dani coming by for one of your hookups.”

Liam said nothing as he unbuttoned his chef’s whites.

Damon took the silence as an invitation. “Okay, you’re not the type to kiss and tell. Give me something here, dude.” Damon rubbed his hands together.

“Seriously, let us live vicariously,” Lameka added.

Liam tossed his whites into the linen bin. “I have no idea what y’all are talking about.”

“Why aren’t you looking me in the eyes? Nah, something’s up. Who’s the lady?” Damon came around and slapped his hands on the counter.

He and Lameka exchanged a glance. She quirked her lips. “I think I know who it is.”

When Liam said nothing, she continued, “Is it Aubrey?”

Even if Liam could get away with lying to Damon, Lameka was a human lie detector. God help the Jackson children when they became teenagers. They weren’t getting shit past her.

“Yeah.”

Damon gave him another shove while Lameka did a happy dance, both hands on the swell of her belly. “Why am I just hearing about this now?”

Liam sent an annoyed glare at Damon. Obviously, he’d gossiped with his wife.

“Because we’re trying to keep it on the down-low while the competition continues. Hence, the empty restaurant. I didn’t want any kitchen guys seeing her; they live for gossip. ”

“I’ll stay mum. I’m glad you’re starting to listen, bro. You need to be with someone like her. Just be mindful she has a kid, so you know Daphne comes as a package deal, right?”

“I know. But she is in middle school, so it’s not like raising a toddler. Anyhow, I’m glad you think we’re a good match. You’ve been an authority on what love looks like since you met your forever in high school.” Liam lightly jabbed his friend in the ribs.

Damon snorted. “I guess I’m lucky.” He and Lameka shared a smile.

Liam’s phone buzzed with a text from Aubrey.

See you in five.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and turned to Damon. “She’ll be here soon, so could you make yourselves scarce?”

Thank God, they listened to him for once and scrammed. Liam tidied up the kitchen and went to the bathroom to check his reflection. As he cleaned up, he found himself with a case of first-date jitters.

He stepped into the kitchen as Aubrey walked in. He sucked in his breath as he took a good look at her. She wore leggings that clung to her lower half like a glove (holy fucking hell) and a lightweight sweater.

“You look fucking fantastic.” He crossed the kitchen toward her, pausing to flick off the lights. The exit sign cast them both in a soft red glow.

“Is it better to kiss me in the dark?” Her laugh was short.

“Nah, I’m all about setting the mood.” He leaned in closer. She smelled like a clear fall night, mixed with a hint of sugar, which he never would have cared for on anyone but Aubrey. “God, you smell amazing. ”

“Oh, thanks. I got the perfume from this little shop in Baltimore?—”

Before she could get another word in, his lips brushed against hers. Her hand settled into the crook of his elbow as she returned his kiss.

He broke away from her. “Come on. Neither of us wants to violate health and safety by letting things get heated in the kitchen, am I right?” He kissed her again, against his better judgment.

“To be fair, we did almost take things too far in a different kitchen, but I understand it’s different when it’s yours.”

They both fell silent. He was replaying that kiss in his mind—judging by the expression on her face, so was she.

He grabbed his stuff and held open the door for her. “After you.”

“Where are you taking me?” Aubrey was fifty-fifty on surprises, but she was trying to be open-minded.

She trailed behind Liam onto Tulip Turn. At this time of night, a few restaurants and shops were still open, although not many people lingered.

He stopped short, sending her careening into his back. He turned and cradled an arm around her shoulder. “Shit, I’m sorry, Aubs. Here I am, marching forward, dragging you behind me.”

“It’s okay, but will you tell me where we’re marching to?”

His smile shone brightly under the streetlight. “We’re almost there.”

After a few more steps, he halted in front of a battered wooden sign, swinging idly in the wind. Directly below was a staircase leading to a basement level entrance.

“The Far End? What is this place, and how come I’ve never heard of it?”

“It’s a speakeasy owned by my friend Steve. They’re having a soft opening tonight. They’ve kept it quiet to amp up the suspense. You game?”

“Of course, I am. I mean, if you don’t mind being more public with this.”

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 they should be 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?”