That made David chuckle.
A feeling of guilt squirmed inside Mason.It wasn’t that he was trying to keep things from David, but he was well aware that the note in his pocket was probably something David would want to know about.Even if it turned out to be nothing.
But as Audrey said, David had a lot on his plate right now.Not just the Devlin thing, but also security for Senator Marlin.And eventually, he was going to find out about his Grandma and Mick.So did Lincoln.There was no reason to worry them with a random note that might be nothing more than a prank.If it turned out to be something more, obviously, he would tell them then.
Mason would do the work to make sure that the note was nothing and that Audrey and the bakery were protected.That way, David wouldn’t have to worry at all.
The fact that it gave him an excuse to go by the bakery more often… well, that was just going to help him wear out his attraction to Audrey.
ChapterTwenty
Audrey
What a day.
A really good day.
Audrey couldn’t keep the grin from her face as she sat down in one of the chairs, looking at the now-empty and gleaming display cases.She’d sent Alexis and Ashley home, with her thanks, and a bunch of tips for Alexis—who had tried to refuse them, but both Ashley and Audrey had pressured her into taking them.Ashley didn’t need them, and it wouldn’t be right for Audrey to take them.
Besides, she didn’t need them right now.
Maybe one day, but not right now.Hopefully, not ever if things kept up the way they had today.
Sitting back in the chair, peace settled over her as she lifted her feet to rest on the seat across from her.The chairs were plastic, so they weren’t as comfortable as an armchair, but there wasn’t anywhere else she’d rather be right now.
My bakery.
All hers.
Pride and happiness welled up inside her, and tears stung at her eyes.She blinked quickly, raising one hand to wipe them away.She just couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy.
Which, of course, meant that was when her mother called.Impeccable timing, as always.
Staring at her phone screen, Audrey made a face.She didn’t have to pick up.But she should.She’d been dodging her mother’s calls most of the week.Her parents knew her bakery was opening today.At some point, her mom was going to throw a fit if she didn’t start picking up the phone.The longer she waited, the worse it would be.
Might as well get it over with.She was in a great mood, so that was better than trying to talk to them when she was in a bad mood, right?
Audrey swiped the call button, rolling her shoulders back as she tried to reduce the sudden tension between them.
“Hello?”She did her best to sound chipper, upbeat, and hide the exhaustion.Her mom didn’t need any ammunition when it came to her choice to open a bakery.
“Audrey!Finally!Why haven’t you called me back?”Her mother’s tone was unusually strident, and it made Audrey wince.
“I texted you that I was overwhelmed with getting the bakery ready to open,” she reminded her mother and got a snort in return.
“Texts.That’s hardly a respectful way to interact with your own parents.You should have called us back.Or, at the very least, picked up the phone one of the many times that we called.”
It had only been three times, but a bit of guilt lodged in Audrey’s chest, knowing she could have called back.
She just hadn’t wanted to.
Which was why she’d texted.She knew her mother wouldn’t text back.So, guilty as charged.The tension between her shoulders was getting worse and working its way up into her neck.She switched sides for where she was holding her phone and rolled her head around, putting one hand on the back of her neck and digging her fingers into the muscles to try to loosen them.
“Well, I picked up now.I just finished up the grand opening of the bakery.”
“I see.Does that mean you’ll be less busy in the future?”
Audrey didn’t know why she’d hoped for a ‘congratulations’ from her mother, but some part of her had, and it hurt not to receive it.
