Baked with Love

by Peggy Jaeger

  “We can sleep on the plane,” Mac told his wife when she said she was too keyed up to go back to bed.

  After wishing them safe travels—again—Lucas helped Nanny into his car, me following.

  “The lass is closer,” Nanny told Lucas, hitching a thumb to where I sat in the back seat. “Makes sense to drop her first. Then you can take me back to the Arms. Breakfast’ll be served in a bit, and I want to be dressed and present to tell everyone me news.”

  “It’s really Colleen and Slade’s news, Nanny, not yours.”

  She turned to me and even in the darkness of the cab I could see her steely-eyed glare. “It’s me first great-grandchild, Number Four, and you can bet your last coin I’m gonna make sure everyone knows it. Happy news so rarely gets passed around in an old-folks home and a new baby is just about th’ happiest news there is, so don’t you be telling me it isn’t my news to share.”

  I caught a quick flash of Lucas grinning in his rearview mirror reflection. For once, he wasn’t the person being chastised by my grandmother.

  It was still dark when he pulled up to the back of the inn.

  “Mind your manners and walk her inside, boy,” Nanny commanded.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Stifled laughter filled his voice as he held the car door for me.

  I leaned into the passenger window and kissed Nanny’s cheek.

  “Take a nap today,” I told her. “Or else you’ll be exhausted come the afternoon.”

  “Aye, I’d planned on it. And I’m relying on you to take me shopping sometime this week for presents for me namesake and her sister.”

  I told her I’d call her later to set up a day.

  “You really don’t have to walk me in,” I whispered to Lucas as he followed me up the three steps to my back entrance. “I’m a big girl now.”

  He laughed as he held the door and let me go in first.

  “Yeah, but I was trying to figure out a way I could do this without Fiona becoming suspicious. This gave me a legitimate reason because no one says no to your grandmother when she issues a command.”

  The moment the door closed behind him I was in his arms, his lips covering mine, our bodies touching from chest to thighs. The promise of what could have happened had we not been interrupted earlier swirled around us.

  Lucas shifted and pressed my head against his chest. “Is it wrong to say I wish you lived farther from the hospital?”

  I laughed and shook my head.

  His sigh was long and deep. “I wish I could come back here after I drop her off, but I’ve gotta get some sleep before I head to the station.”

  “I need some rest, too,” I said through a yawn.

  His lips were back on mine before the yawn ended.

  My shoulders shook with laughter, as did his.

  “I’d better get her home before she marches in here to find out what’s taking so long.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

  Nodding, I held the door for him and watched as he got back into the car. The last thing I saw before heading back upstairs was Nanny’s face, a knowing smile gracing it, as she stared at me.

  Chapter 12

  Running an inn is, as I’ve said often, a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week job.

  The morning after Colleen’s babies arrived, while Mac and Cathy were off to their honeymoon, I still had a full house of guests, half of whom were checking out. I usually serve a bigger than usual hot and cold breakfast for my guests on Sundays, so that those getting on the road won’t have to stop along the way if they find themselves hungry, and those who are staying get a nourishing meal to last them the better part of the day.

  I managed to get two solid hours of sleep once I laid my head down and before I had to get up, bake, and cook for the day. Around eleven, my phone pinged with an incoming text.

  —You get any sleep?— Lucas asked.

  —A little. U?—

  —Same.—

  The little floating dots indicating he was typing ran across the screen.

  Then, a sad-faced emoji and —I miss you— popped up.

  Grinning, I scrolled through the emoticons in my phone until I found a happy face with closed eyes and tongue lolling out of its mouth. I clicked on it and typed —You miss my cooking—

  —Truth. But I miss u more. I’ll try to stop by later if I can. Okay?—

  Unfortunately, a domestic disturbance call took up much of his afternoon and evening.

  The next morning, he dropped Robert off without coming in because he had to deal with a car accident.

  Tuesday, I slipped away for a few hours and took Nanny to Concord to do some baby-present shopping. She was exceptionally quiet on the drive, something she rarely was, so I asked if anything was wrong.

  “Tilly was hospitalized last night, and I’m worried about her.”

  Tilly Carlisle was Nanny’s best friend and also a resident of the Arms.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Losing weight, and she’s a mite more distracted of late. They found her wandering about the grounds last week in nothing but her girdle. Had no idea where she was going when the staff asked. I suppose they’re doing tests and such today.”

  I reached across the seat and grabbed her hand, gave it a squeeze.

  “It’s a carin’ lass you are, darlin’ girl,” she told me, a half smile on her lips.

  Nanny’s spirits improved greatly with each baby store we frequented. After about two hours, though, she started to tire. Back in the car, she fell asleep almost instantly and only woke when we were back at the Arms.

  “There now, lass, we still haven’t had a proper gab fest, and you promised me we would.”

  “We will, Nanny.” I stored the box of scones I brought for her every week into her bedside table as requested. “Things look light next week, schedule-wise, for me, so I’ll see what evening works best. Okay?”

  She agreed and then kissed my cheek before going into the residents’ lounge for a visit with her friends.

  For most of the week, Lucas and I kept having near misses, most often due to his job.

  Even Robert claimed there were a few days he only saw Lucas when he dropped him off at the inn and then picked him up again, having to go right back out to work as soon as the teen was home.

  He was helping me carry bags of food into Colleen and Slade’s home when he confessed how busy his father was.

  I wanted to get the place stocked so when they came home with the babies, neither of them would have to worry about feeding themselves.

  “I’ve never seen so many casseroles,” Robert said as he unpacked a few bags filled with plastic containers.

  “They’re fast, easy, and the way I make them, nutritious,” I told him. “A new baby is a lot of work and exhausting. Double the number, and Colleen and Slade aren’t gonna want to do anything like grocery shop and cook when they have any free time. They’ll probably want to rest, themselves.”

  After I got everything put away, I left a note telling Slade where everything was and how to reheat the dishes.

  Back at the inn, I found Lucas sitting in my kitchen, a cup of coffee and my insomnia cookie tin in front of him.

  “Sarah said I could have some,” he told me when he caught me eyeing him and the open box.

  He looked worn out. Dark swatches colored the skin under his eyes, and the corners of his lips were crevassed. Those little lines fanning out across his temples seemed deeper and more etched today.

  “You don’t need permission, Lucas.” I picked up his cup and refilled it from the pot.

  To his son, he asked, “You done for the day?”

  The teen nodded.

  “We were just at Colleen’s, filling her fridge with food,” I said. “The babies are coming home tomorrow, finally. Almost a week in the hospital seems long.”

  “It’s because they’re twins,” Lucas said, stifling a yawn. “And Colleen’s not nineteen anymore, so they probably kept the three of them to make sure no postpartum c
omplications arose.”

  He lifted the refilled coffee mug to his lips, and the sigh that broke at the first sip told me just how tired he was.

  “Robert told me how busy you’ve been the past few days,” I said when the boy excused himself to go wash up. “You look like it’s been a rough week.”

  He lifted a hand to me. “Come here.”

  When I was close, he gripped my hand and lifted it to his lips.

  “It’s better now.” He placed a sweet kiss across my knuckles. My free hand snaked up and cupped his cheek. The way Lucas nuzzled into my palm and kissed it had my legs shaking.

  “I need to see you,” he whispered. His gaze bored straight into me, leaving no doubt about the intent behind those words.

  “It’s been hard to schedule time,” I said. “We’re both so busy.”

  “Do you have a wedding this weekend?”

  “Just tomorrow night. It’s small. Twenty for dinner. I’ve got nothing planned for the next two weeks.” Grinning, I added, “Colleen wouldn’t give up more than three weekends. Even if she needs to bring the babies with her, she’s working again and not leaving it all up to Charity.”

  “Your entire family consists of workaholics,” he said, kissing the hand he held again. “The normal forty-hour workweek doesn’t exist for any of you.”

  I smiled at him because it was true.

  “So, can I come by tomorrow, then? After?”

  I was all set to say yes when he added, “I miss you.”

  Those last three words sealed the deal in stone.

  “Any time after nine, I’ll be free.”

  Robert’s footsteps had Lucas releasing my hand.

  “You all set?” he asked his son.

  They left shortly after, a container of leftover chicken parmigiana and a few cupcakes with them I’d put in a go-bag.

  “See you Monday,” Robert said.

  Lucas mouthed I’ll text you later over his son’s head. I nodded.

  ****

  Never let anyone tell you a small wedding is easier than a large one. They’d be wrong.

  By the time the dishes had been cleared and the happy couple had gone back to the room they’d share for the night before leaving on their honeymoon in the morning, I’d been on my feet for over sixteen hours. I was operating on sheer momentum and muscle memory to keep myself upright.

  As I put the last dish in the dishwasher, my phone pinged.

  —You free?—

  Lucas.

  I typed back I was and to come on over when he could.

  —I’m at the back door.—

  Laughing, I all but ran through the hallway to let him in, my fatigue magically flown.

  “That was fast,” I said as I closed the door behind him.

  “I’ve been sitting out there for twenty minutes, waiting for the damn car clock to read nine.” He hauled me up against him. “Watching it take forever to tick the minutes by was as torturous as waiting for cement to harden.”

  I smiled against his quick, hard kiss.

  “Well, you’re here now,” I said, nuzzling his jaw. “That’s what matters.”

  “Are you done for the night?”

  “Just let me lock the front door. Go on up.” I pointed to the staircase.

  After one last sweep through the rooms to make sure all was settled for the night with my guests, I bounded up the back stairs to my apartment and found him standing in the living room, hands on his hips, surveying the room.

  “I don’t think I’ve been up here since I helped you and Eileen move in,” he said. “You’ve done a nice job fixing it up.”

  “Thanks. Eileen was in charge of decorating the inn, but this space was mine from the beginning.”

  “It looks like you, your taste. Your touch.” A half smile warmed his lips. “Cozy and comfortable, welcoming and relaxed. Just like your inn, your private space feels like the best parts of home. Being able to create a space like that is a rare gift, Maureen.”

  Saying his compliment pleased me is too tame.

  Unexpected nerves appeared. We were all alone in my apartment for the first time, and thoughts of where I wanted the time we were spending together to go sailed through me. I folded my hands together and asked, “Do you want anything to drink? Eat? Did you get a dinner break?”

  “I’m good. Come here.” Just as he had in my kitchen, he stretched out a hand to me. When I slipped mine through it, he tugged me close and wound his other around my waist. The green in his eyes was bright, and they glistened as he stared down at me.

  His fingers trailed up my neck and across my chin, his thumb swiping at my bottom lip. Tingles of anticipation exploded within me.

  Lucas rested his forehead against mine. On a long sigh, he whispered my name.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He pulled back, a half grin playing at his lips again. “Nothing and everything.”

  I cocked my head. “Cryptic, much?”

  His short bark of a laugh echoed around us. He slipped his hands into mine and tugged me toward the couch. “Let’s sit down for a minute.”

  Once we were seated, Lucas tossed his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close.

  “Care to explain now?” I asked as I ran my nose down his neck and then back up, taking in his plain man-and-soap essence.

  With his head tilted to give me better access—which I dutifully took advantage of—Lucas grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips.

  “Can I just tell you how much I adore when you do that?”

  He smiled and kissed my palm.

  “And that, too?” I said.

  His smile grew, then softened. “That’s one of the things I wanted to talk to about,” he said.

  “What? How much I enjoy when you kiss my hand?”

  He chuckled. “I’ve been thinking, and I need to be clear about what I want if we’re going to be together. What you want, too.”

  Those little nervous kicks started dancing in my stomach again. I swallowed. “Okay, like rules or something?”

  He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I mean. Christ, I’m no good at this.” He took a breath, then squeezed the hand he held. Those tiny lines at the corners of his eyes deepened. If I didn’t know better I’d think he was nervous. “I want to assure you I’m all in with whatever you want between us. We can take it slow and date, go out in public, or simply keep our relationship to ourselves for a bit. I don’t care. What I do care about is you. Being with you. I want you. Just you. In any way. If that means we take a beat, get to know each other better on a personal, adult level, then fine. But make no mistake”—his eyes drilled into mine—“I want you. In every sense of the word.”

  I didn’t need to be convinced. The way he’d kissed me proved the physical attraction between us was profound. That he was giving me a choice to take it further instead of simply accepting we’d wind up lovers was a huge insight to the kind of man he was.

  “I won’t push you,” he continued, “into anything you’re not ready for or don’t want. You’re too important to me, Maureen.”

  Cathleen has commented many times over the years about a gene for boldness running rampantly through Nanny. Since I’m the one who’s the most like her in other ways, it stands to reason the genetic trait resides in me as well.

  Lucas’s words sparked it to fire up. Taking a deep breath and never breaking eye contact with him, I slid up over his thighs and straddled his lap. He shot his hands to my hips and held on to me as I gripped his shoulders.

  “You’re important to me, too, Lucas. More than you can ever know.”

  I bent, placed a hand across his cheek and kissed him, keeping the contact light. “And I think you should know what I want from this relationship, too.” His eyebrows rose. “You. Simply you. In every sense of the word.”

  I kissed him again, this time with a smile blooming across his mouth.

  “I don’t need to be wined and dined or to show off we’re together to the gossips in this town. I sim
ply want to spend time with you. Without anyone else around. You.”

  The moment our lips touched, I knew there was no way I could keep the contact light again. One swipe of Lucas’s tongue across my lips and I was a goner. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding up my back to press me in closer. The throbbing of his lengthening erection against me was full proof of how much he wanted this…wanted me.

  I pulled back and stared down at those lips, now swollen and wet, his eyes half closed and so damn hot it was a wonder smoke wasn’t billowing from them.

  “I’m not sixteen anymore, and neither are you.” Confusion sailed across those hooded lids. “We don’t have to be relegated to a couch make-out session when there’s a perfectly good bed in the next room.” I skimmed my mouth across his jaw, trailed my tongue across his bottom lip as he’d done to me. A rush of power washed through me when his hands flexed against my back.

  “Maureen?”

  “Come on.” I hopped off his lap, then grabbed his hands and hauled him up. No easy feat since he was built like a tank. He used the leverage to pull me back down on top of him.

  His eyes were intense and searching. “You’re sure?”

  “More than anything I’ve ever been sure of,” I said.

  I never knew such a big man could move so fast, but before I could take a full breath I was lifted up in his boulder-like arms.

  “I think I like this as much as having my hand kissed,” I said on a laugh as he carried me to my bedroom.

  Lucas stopped short at the doorway.

  “That’s some bed.” Laughter rang in his voice. “A man could get lost in it.”

  “You won’t.” I kissed his neck.

  “Oh, I know I won’t,” Lucas said, dropping a knee to the mattress and still holding me. “And I’m stoked we’ll have some room to roll around in.”

  He sat me down on the bed with my legs draped over the edge and kneeled between them. With his hands fisted next to me on the comforter, we were both eye level. Amusement ran across his face.

  “What?”

  “I’m trying to figure out why you need such a big bed, and I’m coming up blank.”