Page 96 of Grounding the Baker
“How are you boys doing?” asked Giselle.
“Speak of the devil,again,” Liam mumbled, making Austin snort.
“What was that, dear?”
“What can I get you?”
She’d already picked her order up earlier. That was something Liam had changed at the bakery as well. He’d started doing preorders for locals to pick up. That way, they got what they wanted no matter when they showed up, and the rest could be for visitors.
“I don’t think that’s what you said, now, was it?” she asked.
Austin was grinning. The fucker.
“Sorry, Giselle. I’m just exhausted. Going to have an early night tonight. Probably sleep at home.”
Austin’s face fell, and it was Liam’s turn to smile.
“I’m loving this foreplay between the two of you, but could I get some pistachio muffins? I’ve heard they’re heavenly.”
“Of course,” said Liam, getting flustered, as he always did when she said something that was both inappropriate and accurate. “How many?”
“Just a couple, so we can try them out.”
Liam dealt with her order quickly so she could be on her way, and for the next few minutes they had some other customers to deal with. Austin was being quiet. He was polite to the customers, but wouldn’t hold eye contact with Liam. Had he said something wrong? He had to know Liam was joking about not going to his, didn’t he? If there was one night he would always stay with Austin, it was Saturday, as neither of them had to be up in the morning and they could just cuddle in bed. Granted, the cuddling usually escalated to the exchange of bodily fluids, but then it was followed by more cuddling.
“I’m still coming to yours tonight,” said Liam. “It was just a joke in front of Giselle.”
Austin grunted.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded, but Liam wasn’t convinced.
They couldn’t really speak as there was a constant stream of customers at their stall, which was great, but they were the only two manning it at the moment, so that’s all they could focus on.
Liam breathed a sigh of relief when Chloe came back from looking round the festival.
“Are you okay on your own for a minute? I need to talk to Austin.”
“Talk?” she said with a smile. “Sure. Alison will be back in ten minutes anyway, so you two take your time.”
He didn’t have time to emphasise that they were just going to talk. Before Austin could protest, Liam grabbed his hand and dragged the man away from the stall area.
“Where are we going?” asked Austin with a chuckle.
That had to be a good sign.
“Liam, relax. There’s nothing wrong. It was just me being all possessive again.”
Liam stopped. They were in the middle of the green, but people were going about their own business. Here was as good a place to go as any.
“Hey, it’s Heartwood’s hottest couple,” said Tony, walking up to them with Gerard, his arms out for a hug.
“Bugger off, you two,” snapped Liam. “I need to talk to Austin.”
They both cracked up laughing, but walked away saying they’d see them later. Austin looked amused.
“It’s not funny, Austin. I’m the one who’s supposed to freak out. You’re the grown-up in this relationship.”
