Page 26 of Bake You Mine (Port Fortune #1)

eighteen

Liam hardly noticed the journey from Elevation to Gary’s office. He was eager to hear the results. As he stepped into reception, the ringmaster himself was visible through the clear conference room windows, hovering over a laptop with his accountant.

Of course, Aubrey had beaten him there. She sat opposite Gary’s desk in one of the guest chairs, jogging her knee. “Gary said it’s going to be another minute. He’s double-checking everything.”

“Nervous?” He reached forward to swipe one of the mints Gary kept in a jar on his desk.

“Aren’t you? Or is that hot chef confidence carrying you through?” She gave him a light punch on the arm. “I saw you snuck into Petit Chou and took a picture with the chocolate cake in the display case. Nice joke.”

“You’re not mad, are you?”

“No. Besides, it’s not like you’ve made something terrible for me to do if you win and I don’t.”

“Oh, I have my ideas,” he said. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I was thinking more like if I win the whole shebang, you let me take you away somewhere nice. You, me, and a bed with a view.”

Aubrey started to sputter out a reply. Their ringmaster interrupted them by sweeping into the room.

“The people have spoken! More importantly, the results have been verified!”

Ben trailed behind him, ready to snap their photos for the city’s social media accounts.

Gary walked through the room, waving a piece of paper. Liam squinted to try to get a look. Gary caught on to his spying and held it close to his chest as he settled into his grand leather chair and rolled it up to his desk.

“As with everything with this competition, we needed to double-check the figures to make sure no transaction was missed. It was that close.” He pulled out the paper to regard it. “I doubt either of you is interested in the statistics of it all, am I right?”

“I’d rather just know the winner,” Aubrey said.

“Same,” Liam said.

Gary smiled and turned the piece of paper around to face them, but kept it far enough away that they couldn’t see anything.

“Allow me to say that Aubrey’s empanada is my favorite dish of the afternoon.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate at both of your trucks. ” He pushed the paper across the desk.

Aubrey leaned over and quickly scanned the figures before she leaned back in her chair, declaring, “Liam sold three hundred dollars’ worth of food; I sold two hundred and ninety.”

“Fuck, it was close,” Liam murmured.

“Liam won, so he received three points. Since the figures were so close, Aubrey has been awarded two. So, a total swap around of the first challenge.” Gary said. “Now you’re equal at five points each. You two are going to keep it entertaining until the end, aren’t you?”

Liam hardly heard the conversation. He reached for the paper for confirmation as Aubrey’s shoulders slumped forward slightly.

“Congratulations, Liam. You earned it.” It didn’t show on her face if it pained her to admit defeat. He reached forward and squeezed her shoulder. He knew how it felt to lose.

He set the paper down and turned to her. She had her hand out, and he gave it a shake.

“Aww, the continued good sportsmanship is a lovely thing. I must run, but I want to meet you both at the vacant space tomorrow afternoon. We’ll discuss the third challenge and a few particulars about the renovation. I’ll text you later with the time.”

He stood up, and they followed, knowing they’d been dismissed.

Aubrey swiped the paper off his desk and reread it while they left Gary’s office. “Damn. It was close.”

They slipped through the office doors and toward the elevators. He jabbed the down button. “As the winner, I believe I have more immediate spoils to attend to.” The elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. He pushed the door closed button frantically. “Is tonight too soon?”

It was time to escalate things to the next level, but he also wanted to make sure she was ready.

She didn’t reply immediately, making the short elevator ride seem like it lasted days instead of seconds. She lowered her gaze to her tightly clasped hands. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

Liam’s face dropped. Why had she changed her mind now? “What do you mean? ”

They stepped out into the lobby. Aubrey grinned up at him and slapped him on the arm. “I’m kidding! Oh my God, you should have seen your face. You’d have thought I’d hurt Teddy or something.”

He gave her a shove, and she giggled as she returned it. They continued walking until they were back on Sweet Briar.

“I might have to make you pay for your cruelty.” Liam reached for her hand.

“I’ll be waiting on pins and needles to find out my punishment.”

“More like a reward, huh?”

She took off toward her van with a laugh, and Liam exhaled. It had been a fantastic day so far. But the best part was still to come.

Aubrey tried to take a page from Liam’s book as she readied herself for their evening. She didn’t need to overthink so damn much. The timing of this couldn’t be better, with Daphne spending the night with Chris, leading up to the fall festival.

Aubrey’s father was also absent, working a late-night shift at the homeless veterans’ shelter. She closed her bedroom door and left a note on the counter letting him know she’d be elsewhere.

That would open her up to a million questions in the morning, but she was a grown-ass adult. She didn’t have to tell her father anything yet.

She texted Liam before she backed out of the driveway. He told her to come to his apartment since she knew the front door code .

On the drive there, she remembered Liam’s lovely post about the second challenge. It was authentically him—no hot chef bullshit. He still tagged his posts with the dumb hashtag to boost engagement.

There was only one more hoop to jump through, although part of her would be sad when it ended.

But her loss reminded her that she should be considering plan B. Even if that plan only meant they were making do until the lease ran out next year. She tried not to think much beyond that. Because otherwise, she’d find herself in an anxiety spiral.

She shook out her nerves after pulling her van into the alley parking lot behind Sweet Briar. Then she tugged down her mirror and looked at herself.

“You’re a beautiful woman worthy of Liam’s attention, Aubrey. You’ve got this.”

After her pep talk, she exited the van and punched the code into the keypad by the front door.

Any remaining nerves rattled straight out of her as she took the steps two by two. This night would be different from any vague fantasy she’d allowed herself when she’d harbored her crush, but different wasn’t always bad.

She knocked on Liam’s door. While she waited for him to answer, she considered making a smart-assed quip about how the spoils he’d ordered had arrived.

When he opened the door, the joke died on her lips.

He was handsomely disheveled in tattered jeans and an old band T-shirt, his wild hair swooped to one side.

The real thing outmatched any fantasy. She reached for him, pulling him out into the hallway.

They tumbled together as she arched up to kiss him.

They fell against one another until her back came to rest on the brick wall opposite his door.

Her hands slid up under his shirt before Liam took a half step away from her .

“Um, not to be a prude or anything, but we should probably take this inside. Besides, it never ends well once Teddy tastes freedom.” He nodded toward the door, where Teddy’s gigantic paw poked through the crack.

Aubrey blinked. “I didn’t realize we were in the hallway. Damn, your mojo is strong.”

He snickered as he reached for her hand, and they walked inside together. Teddy looped around their legs before hopping onto the back of the sofa.

“Why don’t you take off your coat and stay awhile?”

She paused to throw off her coat and kick off her shoes. “So, are you going to tell me about my punishment?”

“Why tell you when I can show you?” Liam reached for her again, capturing her in his arms and lifting her off her feet.

“If you caveman lift me, I will fucking kill you.” She butted her head against his shoulder.

He snorted. “Thanks for taking my fantasy away from me, Aubrey. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.”

They laughed again as he carried her into the bedroom. He set her down on the end of the bed.

He sat beside her, their thighs touching. The next kiss came in a rush, taking her breath. She was eager to proceed, but Liam took his time. His kisses were slow, languid as she angled closer to him.

He snaked a hand behind her, gently fisting a handful of her hair and giving it a gentle tug.

A feral-like noise burst out from deep in Aubrey’s throat.

He broke the kiss, wearing a devilish grin. “You like?”

“Until ninety seconds ago, I would have said no, another item chalked up to your persuasive skills.” She leaned in close, inhaling every bit of him. How did he smell so good? He lowered his head toward her, and she ran her fingers through his hair.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for ages.” She pushed his hair back in the other direction, enjoying the silky strands between her fingers.

“Have you thought about…this before?” Firecrackers of sensation exploded everywhere he touched.

“If you’re asking whether I had fantasies, they were more like dirty dreams, impossible to shake off. It felt weird to me, having fantasies about someone I know.” She stared at the pattern on the rug, unable to meet his eyes. “The heart wants what it wants, I guess.”

“Is that why you kept your distance? Your dirty mind worked overtime, and you couldn’t face me in the light of day?” He waggled his eyebrows. Before she could protest, he cupped her cheek. “I’m kidding, Aubs. I believe you.”

She huffed out a breath. “I’m glad.”

“I had dreams about you, so we’re even.” He kissed her, then stood up.

She reached for him, unbelieving. “Seriously?”