* * *
I hadn’t planned on stopping by Audrey Jane’s, but I felt I needed to. I may be late to work at Brooks, but I need to talk to her. I was sad when Aunt Audrey moved locations from her original cupcakery, but when she said she wanted to design her own shop, I understood. Thankfully, she let me help, and the result is absolutely insane. She wanted a fairy garden look, so while the storefront is made of glass with a huge Audrey Jane’s sign in neon lighting hanging in the window, the walls are covered in greenery and flowers. The cases are large and filled with colorful cupcakes and flowers. I love it. She has seating for those who want to hang out and eat their cupcakes. She even has authors who come in and work, savoring both their writing and her cupcakes.
Best of both worlds, in my opinion.
When I enter, Audrey is behind one of the cases, filling it with new cupcakes. The tables are full of people, eating and enjoying their afternoons.
“Welcome to Audrey Jane’s,” she calls out as I walk toward her, coming around the counter. When she notices me, she smiles. “Hey, honey. I wasn’t expecting you.”
I smile as we embrace. She kisses my cheek, and I hold her tight. “I wanted to see you.”
She kisses me once more. “My love, what’s up? Don’t you have work tonight?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m heading there after I talk to you.”
Her brow perks. She has on her bright-yellow apron that has flowers along the edges and Audrey Jane’s written in big letters on the front. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and her new glasses, which she hates very much, sit on the brim of her nose. “You all right?” she asks, taking my hand in hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I insist, leaning into the glass case. “I’m good. I promise.”
She eyes me and then squeezes my hand before going back to refilling the case. “Okay. What’s up?”
“I wanted to come in Sunday morning to make some cupcakes for a date I have.”
She flashes me a grin. “A date? Do I know him?”
I hesitate, but then I remember it’s Audrey. She keeps all my secrets like the awesome aunt she is. “Probably. He was one of Aiden’s best men? Wesley.”
She thinks for a second. “Sexy, dirty-blond kid?”
I grin. “Yeah, that’s him.”
“He’s gorgeous.”
“He is,” I agree, unable to stop the smile on my face. “I told him I want to make cupcakes for a living.”
She’s stunned. Her eyes are wide as she stares at me. “Oh, so you like him, like him.”
“Yeah,” I admit, biting my lip. “I mean, it’s always been kinda hot between us, but this time, it feels different.”
“Oh, is he the guy you made out with at the wedding?”
I nod. “Yeah, and when I realized that was all he wanted, I pulled back. He’s being different now, though.”
“Well, that’s good. How’s Aiden going to feel about this?”
“I don’t know,” I say, a little worried. “Wes says he’s going to talk to Aiden if we want to continue things after Sunday.”
She nods. “Seems legit.”
“I think so,” I say softly, still very unsure. I hate the thought of giving up control of my heart, but Wes is not making it easy to resist. I’ve always liked him. I’ve always been attracted to him, and things could be special between us. “He’s a good guy, though.”
“That’s good. I trust your judgment. You know your worth, my love.”
I nod. “I learned from two very strong women.”
She laughs. “That’s more your mom than me. She taught me everything I know.”
“She is pretty awesome.”
“She is,” she agrees as she moves to another tray. “So, do you think Aiden is going to have an issue?”
“Probably,” I say, knowing he will. “He thinks Wes is a manwhore.”
“Is he?”
“He is,” I say with a laugh. “But for real, I think he’s ready to move on from that life.”
“Like I said, I trust your judgment,” she says, looking over at me. “But God help him if he does you wrong. Between Aiden, Asher, and your dad, he’d be a dead man.”
I smirk. “This is true, and I think he knows that.”
She holds up her hand. “Hold on. I take that back. He shouldn’t be scared of them—he should be scared of Emery.”
I laugh out loud, and she grins over at me. “That’s the damn truth right there.”
Our amusement grows as she continues to put more cupcakes in the case. When her laughter subsides, she says, “Is my terror of a niece behaving?”
I roll my eyes. “She’s been watching this murder show, and it’s scared her to the point she’s been sleeping with me.”
She laughs. “Not surprised.”
“Right?” I say, shaking my head, and then I realize I don’t see my cousins. They’re usually here in the afternoons. “Did Penny go with Phillipe and Tate?”