Page 6 of Grounding the Baker
Liam startled. He’d been in his own head, trying to work everything out. He looked up to be greeted by Nathan’s kind smile.
“Nathan, how are you?”
“Okay. How are you?” He was frowning, looking like he wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was.
“Taking each day as it comes,” Liam replied. That was the truth.
Nathan nodded as if he understood, but the frown was still on his face.
“I made chocolate orange muffins.”
He looked as if he’d just won the lottery. It was oddly flattering that his baked goods could make someone that happy.
“Can I have two, please?”
“Feeling hungry?”
“One is for my friend, Austin.”
Nathan gestured to the guy next to him, who Liam hadn’t noticed. And why hadn’t he noticed him? Because he was a walking lumbersnack.
He was over six feet tall, broad shouldered, and had an outdoorsy look to him. This was a man who worked with his hands. His eyes were a warm brown, and he had a beard which was well maintained and short, but had enough length to run your fingers through. His smile was warm, and if Liam wasn’t mistaken, there was a spark of interest in his eyes. He was also wearing a plaid shirt, and Liam almost fainted on the spot from the amount of hotness coming off this guy.
“Pleased to meet you, Liam,” said Austin, holding out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about your muffins.”
Okay, why did that sound dirty rather than corny? Liam wasn’t sure, but he shook the man’s big hand, which was warm and callused, and he wondered what it would feel like running over his body.
“I was very sorry to hear about Sylvie. She was a wonderful woman.”
“You knew my mum?”
“I’m from Heartwood, but only just moved back. My mum was Reenie Calder.”
“Oh, you’rethatAustin.”
“That would be me,” he said with a smile.
“You have a daughter, don’t you?”
“Yes, Maisie. She’s eight.”
The guy lit up like a Christmas tree at the mention of his daughter. It was endearing. His mum had been good friends with Reenie, but he didn’t really remember Austin as he’d moved away when Liam was still young. He’d been back to visit, but their paths had never crossed, because he would have remembered this guy. He also remembered his mum mentioning that Austin’s wife had died and he was raising his daughter on his own. Of course the perfect man would be straight. Ugh, life was a bitch sometimes.
Liam remembered Nathan was standing at the counter as well. He had an amused look on his face.
“Can I get you anything else, Nathan... and Austin?”
“I’ll get my oat milk latte and muffin to go. I think Austin will want to have his here.”
Austin glared at his friend, who chuckled. Liam wasn’t sure he’d ever heard Nathan laugh in all the years he’d known him. Austin ordered a regular latte, but said it would be to go as well. Liam took their money and passed the order to Chloe, who was back behind the counter. How long had he been embarrassingly flirting with the straight guy?
“I’m going to check on something in the back,” he said.
Liam needed to get away from Austin before he made a complete fool of himself. Besides, even if Austin was on his bus, now was not the time to be thinking about him. Perhaps he was just visiting, and Liam wouldn’t be seeing him every day. Then he remembered Austin saying he’d just moved back to the area, and he just knew the man would become a regular visitor to the only bakery in the village. Liam was going to have to get his libido under control for the next time he saw Austin.
THREE
AUSTIN
