Page 37 of Bake You Mine (Port Fortune #1)

twenty-six

Despite the pasta brain flopping on live television, the rest of the day passed uneventfully. They’d returned to Port Fortune a little after eleven. Liam had gone straight to the farmer’s market to scout ideas for the day’s specials.

Sure, he winced every time he remembered that brain going splat . But the embarrassment would’ve been tenfold without Aubrey’s insistence that he make a backup brain. She already looked out for him like they were partners. Maybe that was a reach, but he couldn’t help how he felt.

He was rifling through a basket of spaghetti squash when his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and found his mother’s face on the screen. He sighed as he accepted the call.

“What’s up, Ma? Don’t Joanie and Carolyn have court today?”

“I have two minutes to tell my son how proud I am of him! My baby, on live TV.”

“The brain exploded. If I’m counting on their vote to win, I’m not sure I have it.”

“But you looked so handsome! ”

Liam groaned, getting the typical hot chef BS even from his mother.

“Oh, stop it. I know it tasted good; you used my marinara and meatball recipe! And aren’t you glad Aubrey said to bring a backup? She’s getting extra garlic bread at dinner tonight.”

He’d forgotten all about his mother’s dinner for Aubrey to meet the family, as if she didn’t already know everyone. “Crap, I forgot, and I need to work tonight. I’ve been absent from Elevation too much lately.”

“It won’t be all night. We’re having an early dinner. You’ll be back before the rush. Might as well see if the new sous can hack it, right?”

“Enrique and Lacy are kicking ass. But I’ve been away so much, they must think I’m a slacker.”

“They might as well get used to it, because you’ll be gone more often after you win!”

There was no point in arguing. It would be tonight or another, and he’d rather get it over with. “Alright, alright, Ma. We’ll be there.”

After tonight, he wanted to return to a regular schedule for as long as possible. Either way this competition panned out, his life was about to get crazier.

“Don’t forget your bells, tee-hee.”

She hung up after making her lame Mom joke, leaving Liam shaking his head. He sent Aubrey a text, asking if it was okay. She replied moments later, saying the dinner had been on her calendar. She was onit.com, always.

Another text came through, this one from Jason Morse.

Hey, Liam. I’m emailing you some general info about Devour. No pressure!

He checked his email and found a detailed email from Jason illustrating their properties, financials, and staff. He had one hell of a team. Liam could see himself among them, in his pressed chef’s white with the Devour logo above his name.

He tugged on his whites, finding the Elevation logo. He’d debated for months over font choices. Somehow, he doubted he’d have that kind of freedom with Devour.

Pressure formed behind his eyes. Thinking about it too much was giving him a headache. He replied to Jason’s texts acknowledging the email and telling him he’d get back to him.

All those worries could wait until tomorrow.

“Mom, where are you going?” Daphne poked her head out of her room.

“I’m having dinner with a friend, little bug.”

“Can I go with you?”

The image of Daphne sitting across from Brody with all the loving, loud Linleys, came and went before Aubrey could form an attachment to it.

Because if she did, her heart would be torn from her chest if it didn’t come to fruition.

She couldn’t think of how it would impact her, let alone ponder the damage it would do to her kid.

“Not tonight. Grandpapa made some chicken noodle soup for dinner, though.”

“Is Liam the friend you’re meeting?” Daphne leaned in the doorway.

Aubrey wanted to keep her kid safe from heartbreak, but Daphne was no dummy. If she lied, her kid would see through it. If not now, eventually. “Yes.”

She jumped up. “Then can I please, please come? I love Liam.” She held her hands under her chin and batted her lashes at her mother.

Aubrey put an arm around Daphne’s shoulders. “Liam and I are just getting to know each other, Daph. So that means while we can do fun stuff like the haunted house, sometimes we need grown-up time, too.”

“I’m not a kid!”

“You’re kind of acting like one right now.”

Daphne groaned. “Alright, fine. Promise he’ll come over to dinner soon?”

“We’ll see, okay?”

Aubrey and Chris were testing a new schedule every other weekend, from Saturday to Monday.

Aubrey was still hesitant. Chris had made a real effort to pull his head out of his ass since Kayla moved out.

Aubrey couldn’t punish him forever. But it would take her more than a week or two to relax and fully co-parent with him.

He’d repainted Daphne’s room the color of her choosing—a pale green, replacing the once Pepto pink walls—and they’d picked out a more grown-up bedroom set for her.

“I’m not gonna forget,” Daphne said. “So make sure it happens!”

“Dinner’s ready,” Aubrey’s father called up the stairs.

She blew past Aubrey, her messy braid flopping against her back as she took the stairs two by two.

After getting ready, Aubrey checked in on Daphne, who was already wolfing down soup and watching her newest anime obsession on her tablet.

On her way out, Aubrey stopped at the fridge to bring the chocolate tarts Mrs. Linley requested. She tucked the tarts into a pink Petit Chou bag and walked to the foyer, her father following.

“So, when is he coming to dinner at our place? ”

“Dad, listen, this is new between me and Liam. We wouldn’t be doing this if his mother didn’t have the force of a tornado behind her. We’ll do dinner soon, but I’ve got to pick him up now, or we’ll be late.”

Liam ran out as Aubrey pulled to the curb.

He tugged his hood up against the rain. It was a losing battle as the wind tore it from his face.

He ran in front of Aubrey’s van, and she pressed the button to open the passenger’s side door.

He swooped into the van, bringing the rain and wind with him.

There was something about having him in her mom van, his large frame shoved into a seat that usually held her purse or whatever treats she was taking home from the day, that did her in.

“Holy hell, is Mother Nature pissed off or what? It was sunny until an hour ago!” He turned to her, as if he’d walked straight out of a magazine with his wild hair dripping down his face. He grinned. “Good thing the wet look is in, huh?”

“You’d probably emerge from the middle of a hurricane like you were ready for a perfume ad, hot chef.”

He put a finger to her lips. “Hey, can you not call me that?”

She took his hand in hers, not caring that it was wet. “Of course, especially if it bothers you.”

“It’s not that it bothers me. It’s just something I never wanted. I wish it would die, but it’s a marketing tool. Especially after Chip referred to me by that name this morning at the TV station.”

“Ugh, that’s right, I’m sorry. You’re so much more than the stupid hashtag.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

She squeezed his hand. “Of course. Are you okay?”

He leaned in further for a kiss, brushing his lips against hers before pulling on his seatbelt. “I’m fine, if sleepy. This whole dinner thing isn’t my idea. Don’t tell Ma I had an espresso before I left, okay?”

“Scout’s honor.” She put the van in drive. They had ten minutes to make it to Mrs. Linley’s. She turned onto Sweet Briar, and, thanks to the weather, the street was nearly empty.

“Thanks for coming tonight, Aubs. I know it’s a big step, and I appreciate it.”

“Of course. It’s not like your family are strangers. Hell, I probably know them better than you at this point.”

He let out a laugh before falling silent for a few moments. “Look, I know this may be coming out of left field, but let me say it, okay?”

“Okay?” She cut him a glance.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be with you, Aubs. You can steer the ship here. I won’t pressure you.”

Aubrey’s heart swooped down and around again, and she tried her best to keep her expression impassive. “So, what, are we dating now?” It was odd to say those words out loud, and it felt like the completion of her years-long crush turning into something tangible.

He leaned back, his leather jacket squelching against the seat. “There’s no one else, Aubs.”

At a stoplight, she chanced another glance at him. His face was bathed in the red glow from the light. Somehow, it made him even more handsome.

The asshole.

She leaned forward and caught his chin. “I think we’re on the same page.” This was a good thing, as they were setting plans. But she couldn’t shake the voice at the back of her mind reminding her not to get too attached.

He squeezed her thigh. “Sounds like a plan.”

She sucked in a breath. “Stop that, you, or you’re gonna put dirty thoughts into my head right before I see your family. Hello, awkward.”

He laughed. “Okay, I’ll stop because your ass is gonna be in bed by eight thirty, and I’ve got to get back to work.”

“If they let you leave that early, sure.”

It felt like high school again. Liam’s mother forcing him to bring his date to the house so she could parade them in front of the neighborhood.

He’d told his mother Aubrey would not be sized up for a wedding dress.

A fact he reminded her of as Sasha helped Aubrey with her coat.

The kids had already gathered around her, asking where Daphne was.

He was about to jump in and rescue her, but Aubrey had it handled.

Soon, she had the kids distracted with a card game she’d pulled out of her purse.

The woman was a marvel. He hoped Daphne would be at the next dinner.

Liam turned his attention to his mother. “Where’s Mr. O’Malley?”

She waved her hand. “He couldn’t come. Beef emergency.”