Page 92 of Talk Wicked to Me

“Really, Brandy?” Evie shook her head. “You’re going to do this here?”

“Oh yeah. As your big sister, it’s my job to make sure he measures up.”

Quinton pushed to his feet. “Hi, Brandy. Quinton Anthony. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He offered his hand, and as Brandy shook it, the guys looked at each other in confusion.

“Evie, say it isn’t so.” Zander splayed his hands. “We haven’t had our turn yet.”

Tank and Blaine turned serious stares on Baz. “B, you know about this?” Tank asked.

“Yes, but it wasn’t my story to tell,” Baz said.

Blaine lifted his chin, his eyes silently asking if Baz was cool with it. Baz gave a nod of approval.

“Ohmygod, really, you guys?” Evie asked, exasperatedly. “Do you have to do the whole silent conversation thing?”

“Listen,” Quinton said authoritatively. “I know y’all don’t know me that well, and Baz put a lot of trust in me when he hired me. I appreciate that and the complexities my relationship with Evie bring into his practice. Evie and I didn’t plan this. It just happened. But when you meet the one, you know it’s worth whatever it takes to be together.” He looked at Evie, and then his gaze moved around the table. “I’m crazy about Evie, and I’m not going anywhere. So if you have something to say about this, I’m all ears, and if you want to give someone shit, you bring it to me, not her.”

“Quinton,” Evie said a little dreamily.

He sat beside her, looking at her the way he had in Baz’s office as he took her hand and said, “I know it’s fast, babe, but—”

Evie grabbed his face and pressed her lips to his.

“Well, damn. Guess that answers my question,” Zander said, and everyone whooped and cheered.

Evie and Quinton laughed, and he pulled her into another quick kiss.

“Okay, I approve of you,” Brandy said, pointing at Quinton. “We’ll talk more later. But I also heard that Baz has a new sugar mama who has an adorable little boy. I assume that’s you, gorgeous one.” She waggled a finger at Emerson.

“Yes, it’s me, but I’m not his sugar mama. I don’t support him or anything.”

“Oh, please. I know Baz would never let you pay his way,” Brandy said. “I meant that you’re a kick-ass baker. Ginger has been talking up your cookies and giving them to me every time I come in here, and Evie is convinced you put crack in them, because she’s so addicted.”

“True story,” Evie said.

Emerson laughed softly. “That’s so nice. Thank you.”

“I heard you and Elliott Appleton had a bake-off, too,” Brandy said.

“Wow, word really does spread fast around here. We just did it last week. I baked my mom’s famous ginger snap caramel lava pools, and he baked his cranberry-white chocolate muffins. Their customers were the judges, and after eating all the treats, they declared it a tie. Which I was cool with, but Elliott challenged me to another round. I just love him.”

“Everyone does. He’s hilarious. He’s got more game than half the guys in this town.” Brandy pulled a business card out of her purse and handed it to Emerson. “I have a baby shower coming up in a few weeks. If you have any interest in getting in on the gig with your cookies, or if you want to work together in the future, give me a call.”

“Are you serious?” Emerson asked.

“Absolutely,” Brandy said. “You need a permit if you bake at home, but you can use my kitchen.”

“Or the kitchen here,” Baz suggested, and Emerson’s eyes lit up.

“This is so exciting,” Madigan exclaimed, and the girls all started talking at once.

AN HOUR LATER the place was packed, and Baz and Quinton were carrying trays of drinks from the bar to the table. “You handled the guys well, Quint.”

“I meant everything I said. When we were in school and you used to talk Evie up, I thought you were blowing smoke. I didn’t think any woman could be as cool as the girl you described. But there is something about her, and that first night we talked? I was in, Baz, hook, line, and sinker.”

Baz looked at Emerson laughing with the girls at the table, remembering the adorable flustered mess she’d been when he’d first seen her and the way her chestnut eyes had captivated him. “I know that feeling.”

“I’ve got only one regret,” Quinton said. “I should’ve told you right off the bat, but it was important to Evie that she handle it.”