Luscious(31)

She noticed a book sitting by the stove. Macon’s mother’s recipe book. He’d left it. She would have to make sure it got back to him because she knew how precious it was, but first she opened it. Maybe it would give her some kind of look into the woman who had given birth to the man she loved. Macon had only told her that his real mother had died young and he’d been left with a cold father and a stepmother who hadn’t wanted children.

She flipped through the pages. The recipes weren’t elaborate. This was the cookbook of a housewife, a simple memory book of easy meals and treats likely passed on from her mother and her grandmother. They were written in a neat feminine hand and her eyes teared as she noticed each recipe had one ingredient in common. The last ingredient listed for each dish was the same. Love.

Somehow, in that moment, she could practically feel this woman reach through time and offer her kindness, asking her to be patient with her boy, to give him what he truly needed. Love. Somehow, someway this book was meant for her. She was the next in line. Macon might be an artist, but she would be the one to cook for their children.

She wiped her eyes and selected a recipe. Snickerdoodles. They would be a good start. She found the ingredients and got to work.





CHAPTER NINE





Macon stared at the pie on the counter. It was the sixth offering this week. It sat there with its slightly crooked lattice crust. She was impatient with it. That type of crust required a very precise hand. The presentation was less than perfect and he couldn’t help but want a taste.

But then he also wanted a taste of the woman who had made it.

Why the hell wouldn’t she leave him alone?

“Oh, what do we have today?” Jake was straightening his tie as he entered the kitchen. His eyes had immediately gone to the counter.

“Apple,” Serena said as she offered Jake a mug of coffee. “It was still warm when Macon brought it in so I think she’s having trouble sleeping.”

Was she sitting up all night baking?

Jake took the mug from her and his free hand wound around her waist, pulling her close. “I don’t know about that. All I know is while Ally makes a mean pie, it’s not yours, baby. You’ve got the best pie in the entire world and I can never get enough of it.”

He took his wife’s mouth in a hungry kiss.

And Macon rolled his eyes because Serena didn’t bake. The last week had been a horrible trial. Living with his brother, Jake, and Serena meant continually watching either Jake or Adam trying to get into their wife’s pants. They were like horny teenage boys. And Tristan pooped a lot. The kid was cute, but damn he could stink up a room, and half the time Macon was left holding a grinning baby with a diaper full of poo because the three of them were getting it on now that they had a babysitter. They’d treated him like glass that first night, but after two days of tiptoeing around him, his family seemed to figure out that double penetration was way easier when someone was watching the baby and Uncle Macon was put to work.

He’d spent most of his time sitting with Tristan and talking about Ally. That kid knew more about his relationship with Ally than anyone should. Luckily, he just drooled a lot and tried to eat his own fist.

This was what he was reduced to. His only confidant was a baby and the woman of his dreams was a yard away making dessert after dessert and leaving it on his doorstep. He’d woken up the morning after he’d discovered her lie and there had been a plate of cookies waiting for him. She’d wrapped it in foil with a note. For Macon.

Nothing else. He hadn’t touched them. He’d brought them in and put them on the counter and walked away. When he’d gotten to work and found her there, he’d ignored her completely. He’d kept his head down and done his job and she’d done hers. She hadn’t sought him out, hadn’t come by his station. The one time they’d locked eyes accidently, she’d given him the saddest smile like she’d known he wasn’t playing her games anymore.

He’d gotten a ride with Eric and thought it was all over.

He’d been greeted the next day with a vanilla cake with simple chocolate frosting. For Macon.

How much did she think he ate?

“Hey, you two. How about I get in on that action?” Adam was carrying Tristan as he entered the kitchen. He looked down at the counter. “Nice. I’ll take that up to the office. Ian is starting to think this argument between you and Ally is the best thing to happen to him.”

McKay-Taggart was benefitting from the end of what had to be the shortest engagement in history. Adam or Jake simply picked up whatever he left on the counter and took it to work and put the pie or cake or cookies in the break room where it was devoured by hungry agents.

Jake stepped back and took Tristan from Adam, hauling the baby up and giving him kisses that had him giggling at his dad. “Ian wants to put in a request for more lemon.”

“Ian can bite me,” Macon said, his surliness showing. He wasn’t going to march across the lawn and encourage Ally.

“I would watch out,” Serena replied. “Ian likes to bite. I’ll go out and ask Ally if she can put something lemony in her rotation.”

This whole conversation irritated him. “When did Ally become your damn personal baker? Excuse me. Sarah. Let’s use her real name.”

“She prefers Ally. It’s her middle name,” Serena explained. “She really wants to make a break from her past.”

He narrowed his eyes, staring at his sister-in-law. “And how would you know that?”

If Serena was intimidated, he couldn’t tell. “I went over to see if she was all right. You know, only a couple of times. A day.” She shook her head and planted her foot on the hardwood floor, pointing a judgmental finger his way. “She’s my friend. Just because she made one phenomenally stupid mistake doesn’t change that. If I cut people out of my life because they did stupid things, I would have no friends. And yes, I’m looking at you, Jacob Dean.”

Now Jake was staring at Macon with what Macon liked to think of as his satanic, soul-claiming face. He was fairly certain Jake used that face right before he killed people. “Thanks for reminding her, brother. My day’s blown. Let’s get to the office, buddy.”

Three days a week, Tristan went to the office with his dads when they weren’t out on assignment. Ian Taggart had turned one of the unused conference rooms into a daycare center. The other two days Tristan stayed home with Mom. They liked to say it was the best of both worlds. Serena got to work and be with her boy and so did Jake and Adam.

He wasn’t going to have a kid like Tristan. And it was all Ally’s fault. Before Adam could pick up the pie, Macon grabbed it. It was time to show Ally that he wasn’t playing around.

“Tell Ian the bakery’s closed.”

“I think he’s moved into his anger phase,” Jake whispered to Adam.

“Kai warned us this would happen.” Adam was frowning his way.

He clutched the stupid, probably-had-too-much-cinnamon-in-it pie. Had she even used ice water for the crust or had she thought cold tap would be enough? “You’re the one who started this, brother. You want to tell me why you’re looking at me like I’m the bad guy? And why is Kai saying anything? Does he not understand patient-client confidentiality?”

He was really tired of everyone having an opinion. He’d heard it from Eric and Javier and the line chefs. Poor Ally. She looks tired. She seems so sad.

The other servers had stopped talking to him with the exception of Deena, who still communicated but seemed to think four-letter words and dirty hand gestures were appropriate.

He was the fucking victim here.

“I called Kai because I was worried about you,” Adam explained. “You’ve completely shut down. And don’t think I am not fully aware of the part I played. I acted hastily. I was trying to protect you but I should have brought the problem to the group and figured out how to handle it. Macon, sometimes it’s more important why a person lied than that they lied in the first place. I think we should talk about this.”

“I don’t want to talk. I want to do my job and live my life and I want to do it without that woman.” He couldn’t even say her name sometimes.

But he could dream about her. He dreamed about her every single night. He saw her gorgeous face as she worked over him, her lips mouthing the words “I love you.”

“I’m going to get Tristan in his car seat,” Jake said, his face grim. “Please come help me, baby.”

Serena nodded and followed him out, leaving him alone with his brother.

“You’re not only mad at her,” Adam began. “You’re mad at me and I don’t blame you.”

“I’m not mad at you.” Adam had done what any good brother would have done. He’d brought him the truth. He’d shown him the facts and saved him from making a damn fool of himself.

“Of course you are and until you acknowledge it, it’s going to be difficult around here.”

Well, he should have seen that coming. “I’ll find a place of my own then. I wouldn’t want to make your life difficult.”

“You see. Right there. You take everything I say in the worst possible manner. I don’t want you to leave. I want you to talk to me.”