Page 8 of Grounding the Baker
“I thought he said he was working from home?”
Chloe gave him a knowing look, but Austin would not apologise for trying to learn everything he could about Liam over the past week. He’d enjoyed their daily chats. She shrugged, so Austin let it go. It wasn’t like he could text Liam to check he was okay. They hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers, and why would they? To Liam, Austin was just a customer in his mum’s bakery.
“He just said it was an important meeting. He left last night, but said he’d be back today. Should I tell him you came in and asked for him?”
Austin chuckled and shook his head. “I’m sure you’ll tell him whatever you like.”
“Austin Calder,” said a familiar voice.
He turned round. “Good morning, Giselle.”
“Austin will take his coffee to have here. You can bring it over.”
She linked her arm in his and practically dragged himover to her table, which was in the corner. It was the one she always occupied, as did her wife.
“Where’s Henrietta?”
“At the shop, but we’re not here to talk about my better half, are we?”
“Should I be nervous?” he asked warily.
“It depends on what your intentions are with our Liam.”
He snorted, remembering what the gossip was like in this town, and Giselle was always at the epicentre. Even when she was younger than Austin was now, she’d been like this.
“What do you think you know, Giselle?”
“No, no, no, Austin Calder. I’ll be asking the questions.”
“Okay, then. To answer your questions, I don’t have any intentions... yet.”
She smiled. “So, you are interested?”
The coffee arrived at that moment, so he said nothing as he took the first sip. It was the perfect temperature and just the right amount of bitterness. He didn’t have sugar in his coffee. He considered his next words.
“I’m aware what shit timing it is, but... I’m happy just getting to know him. It’s not like he lives here anyway. I know he’s only staying here to support his dad and he’ll go back to London at some point.”
“That’s not the case anymore,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, which he knew meant she had gossip. But he’d need to work for it. “Does that change your thinking?”
“If he is sticking around, then yes, I would be interested.”
“In what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, do you want to date him or fuck him?”
Austin spluttered his coffee, feeling his cheeks heat. He’d forgotten Giselle had no filter. Henrietta had a bit more tact than her wife, which was still not a high bar. Giselle was looking at him with one eyebrow raised. He would not give her the satisfaction of answering.
“I see,” she said.
“See what?”
“You want to do both!”
He chuckled. She wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t admitting to anything. His face felt warm, but he was deluding himself that it was just the heat in the bakery.
“Can I offer you some advice?” asked Giselle.
