Page 19 of Grounding the Baker
“No. Thank you, though. We’ll be fine. You should enjoy yourself with Maisie. It’ll be her first Heartwood festival.”
“Will you have unicorn cupcakes there?” she asked.
“For you, I will,” he smiled. “Are you enjoying the cupcake, then?”
“Yeah. You’re a much better baker than my dad.”
Liam snorted. “Is that so? Maybe your dad just needs some lessons.”
Was Liam flirting with him, or was he reading too much into it? Oh well, there was only one way to find out.
“I wouldreallyappreciate any help I could get,” he said with a smile.
That Liam went bright red had to be a good sign, right? It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Liam out for dinner when a large presence appeared at their table.
“And what do we have here?” asked Gerard, raising an eyebrow at Austin.
“Hi, Uncle Gerard. Look, Liam made me unicorn cupcakes.”
“Wow, don’t they look amazing? And doesn’t this look cosy,” he said, with a pointed look at Austin. “Chloe, I’ll have mine here, please.”
“No problem,” she shouted.
“Move up, Austin.”
He glared at his friend. The fucker was not being subtle and should mind his own business. They were just having coffee, and he didn’t like that Liam looked uncomfortable.
“I better get back to work. I’ll leave you to it,” he said.
“Thank you for the cupcakes, Liam. You didn’t have to do that, but thank you anyway. I know Maisie loves them.”
“I do,” she said, getting up and putting her arms up for Liam to hug her, which he did with a smile.
He went back to work, and Austin couldn’t help watching him go. His heart was beating so fast after seeing this beautiful man hug his daughter.
“You are so fucked,” whispered Gerard, reminding Austin that one of his supposed best friends had gatecrashed their... well, whatever it was they’d been doing.
“Is there a reason you’re here?” he snarked.
Gerard nodded at Maisie and signalled for them to go outside to talk.
“Will you be okay here for a minute?” he asked Maisie.
She nodded and was already onto her second cupcake. He closed the box to make it clear they were taking the rest home before following Gerard. Austin detoured to the counter to speak to Liam.
“Can you keep an eye on her for a second, please? I just need to go speak to myfriendin private. I’ll be outside.”
“Of course.” He smiled.
“Chloe, can you give me Gerard’s coffee to take away? He’ll be leaving after we’ve spoken.”
She smirked and poured the coffee she’d just made into a takeaway cup and passed it to Gerard. Liam had a confused look on his face, as if he wasn’t sure what was going on. That made him even more adorable. Once he had the coffee, he passed it to Gerard and signalled for him to get out of the bakery. His friend at least looked a bit embarrassed by his behaviour.
Once they were outside, they walked away from the front window of the bakery.
“What are you playing at, Gerard? Liam was getting to know Maisie, and you come in being a dick.”
“We discussed this, Austin. I’m just trying to stop you doing something that will get you both hurt.”
