“Same thing in my book,” Drake says. “Only I prefer pumpkin pie, not apple.”
Ember smacks his arm with a tea towel.
“I wonder who does like apple pie?” She raises one eyebrow as if she already knows the answer.
Their laughter fills the room, but mine doesn’t quite join in. I slice two pieces of apple pie, plate them, and cover them with foil.
“Where’s that going?” Ember asks.
I shrug. “Saving it for later, that’s all, before you gannets eat it all.”
Ember’s lips twitch. “Sure.”
I give her a look, one that says don’t start, but she just grins wider.
“You’ve gone soft, Chief,” Drake says.
“Soft?” I narrow my eyes. “I’ve been up since five, ran six miles, and put out an actual kitchen fire two blocks away, all before lunch.”
“Sure, you’re hard as nails,” Drake says, grinning. “But the second a certain girl blinks at you, you’re all custard inside.”
Sienna bounces in the doorway, clutching her stuffed cat. “Can I have custard?”
Ember rummages in my cupboard. “We have cream. You like apple pie, bug?”
“Love it with custard.”
Drake strokes Sienna’s hair. “I don’t think they have apple pie with custard here in the States like we do back in England, bug.”
I grab more plates and start serving dessert.
Mason strolls into the kitchen. “What’s with the small portions? We on rations?”
“Chief’s saving some for later,” Sienna says, snitching on me with a toothless grin.
“Later?” Mason echoes. “You expecting company?”
Drake grins. “Your dad’s got a woman coming over.”
I shoot him a warning look. “You keep running your mouth and I’ll find you some extra chores at the station tomorrow.”
Drake lifts his hands in mock surrender. “All right.”
“It’s just a neighbourly gesture.”
“Sure it is,” Ember says, exchanging a knowing glance with Drake.
Mason chuckles. “Wait. Which neighbour? Do chicks go for that? Maybe I should bring pie to girls too.”
“Do that,” I say dryly. “But you might want to try a personality first.”
Drake barks out a laugh, Ember groans, and even Mason smirks as I grab my beer and sink into the armchair. The noise of the game fills the room again, but my focus drifts to the foil-covered plate cooling on the counter.
It’ll keep for later.
I tell myself it’s just dessert. Deep down I know it’s more than that, and apparently so do Drake and Ember, but Mason can never know I have a thing for his ex. He might not want her like that—I made sure of that a while back—but just because he doesn’t want to date her doesn’t give me the green light by any means. I’m old enough to be her dad.
I take another sip of beer, knowing this will be my only one if I’m to drive over to her bungalow later. Just want to make sure the girl’s looked after, that’s all.
