Page 46 of Bake You Mine (Port Fortune #1)
thirty-four
“When the hell were you going to tell us you had a thing with hot chef, Aubs?” Ella gave her a soft punch on the arm.
Of course, the whole crew had turned out to help pack up and get those last-minute catering orders out. Tom had set up his tablet so everyone could watch a live stream of the segment.
“I’m good at keeping secrets, I guess.”
That earned her a few side glances from her crew.
When she’d woken up that morning, her insides swirled around like a tornado. She wanted the best for Liam. Then she saw the televised kiss again, and all the thoughts of losing Liam made her sick.
She excused herself to run to Elevation to check on the final batch of macarons in the oven. She figured Liam wouldn’t be down for hours. He wasn’t an early riser on the best of days.
Of course, this day was the exception. She found the man himself peering inside a produce delivery box.
Liam glanced up from inspecting a bundle of kale. His usual handsome face was worn, with bags under his red eyes. Even his usual perfect bedhead resembled a rat’s nest .
“You said I could use the ovens? Here’s your key.” She pulled it from her pocket and set it on the counter.
Liam wiped his hands on his jeans. “Of course. I forgot.”
All she wanted was to be comforted by his arms. God, what was wrong with her? She’d give herself whiplash at this rate. It wasn’t fair to her or Liam to go back and forth like this.
He stood at the back door, holding it open with one hand. His phone began to chime from his pocket. With a sigh, he reached for it. “Sorry, that’s Jason’s ringtone.” He tapped the screen to answer the call. “Hey, Jason? I’m in the middle of something. Can I call you back in five?”
Aubrey was close enough to hear Jason’s voice, and he was certainly not pleased at being pushed off. He’d acquiesced after a moment of Liam’s reassurance.
Her timer went off, and she went to check on the macarons. They were perfect.
“How many more orders do you have for those? You can use my oven as much as you want until they’re done.”
“That was the last one.” She closed the oven door.
He stepped closer to her. “I’m leaving. Can you check my latest post when you get a chance? I’m retiring the hot chef hashtag.”
“Wow, that’s a change. Did you talk it over with Jason?”
“No, but I’m sure he’ll have an opinion. I’ve got to run. I’ll see you later, okay?” He brushed his hand across her shoulders before leaving her alone in the kitchen.
Liam returned from the farmer’s market with a cloud hanging over his head. Jason was displeased to find out on social media that Liam had retired #hotchef. Jason, who’d declared it a foolish move, said they should trademark the term instead of letting it go by the wayside.
It wasn’t like Liam was the only one posting with the hashtag, anyway. It was a little too late for trademarking. Now he had to wonder—was Jason after the hot chef persona or Liam himself?
Finding Aubrey’s father in Elevation’s kitchen and happily chatting away with Damon sent Liam’s uncertain mood spiraling.
“There’s Mr. No Longer Hot Chef gracing us with his presence.” Damon slapped Liam on the shoulder.
“I figured we needed to go out one-on-one so I can get to know you better,” Bill said. “When are you free?”
Liam turned away, completely not in the mood to have this conversation.
“Liam,” Bill said, “everything all right?”
Everything was the opposite of all right.
Liam forced himself to turn around. “I’m okay.”
Damon frowned. “Your poker face is shit. What happened?”
“Guys, go on a break.”
Benito and Enrique didn’t need to be asked twice, so they ducked out the back door and pulled vapes from their pockets.
“Ah, shit, what happened?” Damon asked.
It was better to come out with it because Damon wouldn’t give up until he sorted out the issue.
“Aubrey’s asked for some space.”
Bill’s face bloomed in surprise before he sighed. “Well, that was better than I thought, given her moping. Aubrey’s always been a big thinker. She needs to mull over every major decision.”
“What did you do?” Damon questioned .
Liam flung open the refrigerator door and began rooting around. “What do you mean? Nothing!”
Damon said something Liam didn’t catch with his head inside the fridge.
His friend caught Liam’s shoulder, pulled him back, and slammed the refrigerator door shut.
“You two seemed so happy. Today, we’ve had a ton of new followers on the Elevation accounts.
People are saying what a great story it is, all eager to get reservations. ”
What could Liam say to that?
“Aubrey has always been a cautious person. She doesn’t give her heart easily.” Bill took a sip from his to-go coffee cup. “A lot is happening for you both when your relationship is at a very early stage, especially now you’ve gone public in a major way.”
Liam palmed his face and took a breath before asking the question at the forefront of his mind. If anyone knew his chances with Aubrey, it was her father.
“How much space do you think she needs?”
“I know my daughter well, but can’t read her mind.” Bill reached for his cup again. “You will have a different life if you open a multi-million-dollar restaurant venture in DC. If that’s what you want, I can’t say I disagree with her being cautious.”
“That’s what she said last night. I don’t know if DC is the answer to our problems.” It was odd, voicing the thought racing around his brain.
Damon cut Liam a glance. “Boy, you’re going back and forth like a seesaw. You’re not just playing with your life here. I’m a partner, too, even if a minority one.”
“I know! I’m starting to realize I had my dreams all wrong. Lameka said the other day, we don’t have to leave Port Fortune. If we want to stay, we must look at things differently.”
“Yeah, but ideas aren’t going to manifest a workable space,” Damon said. “Or the money we’d need. ”
Liam tore his fingers through his hair. “Now you know why my thoughts are all over the place.”
Damon slapped an arm around Liam’s shoulders. “We don’t have to decide everything today, dude.”
Liam exhaled. “Well, not everything, but the DC part, if not today, in the next few days. Jason won’t wait forever; he’s already growing impatient. And Aubrey shouldn’t be kept in limbo, either.”
Bill stared at Liam for a few seconds before he spoke. “It’s a cliché as old as time, but if it’s meant to be, it will be, young man.” He headed toward the back door, pausing to squeeze Liam’s shoulder.
Once he was gone, Liam leaned over the table, catching his face in his hands. “Fuck my life, man. I feel like shit.”
“Look like it, too, so maybe you take today off.”
A laugh tumbled out of Liam’s lips. “You never encourage me to take unscheduled leave. Especially since I’ve been gone a lot from the restaurant during the competition.”
“I’ve never seen you like this.” He chuckled to himself. “Well, one time. When Sasha colored on your Pokémon cards when we were ten, you cried like your mama told you you were ugly.”
Liam’s shoulders dropped. “I just need a day, man. I’ll have my head on right tomorrow.”
Probably not, but Liam could fake it until he made it.
“Then go. You’ll be no use to us like this anyway, and the time away will be good for Enrique and Lacy.
Don’t go holing up in your apartment. Get out of the house if you’re back in time for dinner service, cool.
If not, we’ll have it covered, and I’ll feed my main man, Teddy, if I see your car is gone.
You have a lot on your plate right now. You’ll make it up to me. ”
Liam sputtered a few words before Damon waved them away. “Stop talking and get gone before I change my mind.”
Liam left, grateful to be out of Dodge for a while.