Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
“I’ve got to get to the bakery. Marley Brighton can bake like an angel, but she’s not so great with customers,” her mom said with a grimace. “She threatened to shove an éclair up a guy’s ass because he didn’t understand that pastry cream isn’t whipped cream. She’s like the baking equivalent of her mom. I left you macarons. Don’t worry about your dad. He’s letting TJ know that we’re here for you both.”
Sure. That was what he was doing. “Don’t plan a wedding yet.”
Her mom stopped at the door, a glint in her eyes. “Me? Would I do that? Would I get together with Theo and Erin at a nice restaurant where we can plan out the rest of your lives and talk about grandbabies? Would I? I doubt it. By the way, if you need me on Friday night, I’ll be at Top. Maybe you and TJ could take Jayce to a movie or out for pizza?”
“Mom,” she began.
But she was already gone, and Lou was left with a dozen perfectly crafted macarons and a million questions.
* * * *
TJ practically ran into the 4L building, stopping only to show his security badge. He’d been given one a year ago when he’d helped Lou work on a big project. She’d modified the twins’ cell phones so they were basically mini laptops with features no one outside of the spy world would ever need or think to put on a phone.
He’d held her spare tweezers as she’d worked on the microchips and got her lattes and snacks.
It had been a good time.
He was worried he was in for a not so good time this afternoon, but he was ready. He’d picked up pad see ew from her favorite Thai place along with a cold brew that would fuel her through the afternoon. He would sit on her couch while she worked and probably fumed his way, and hopefully she would let him sit in the front seat with her when they drove home.
He was taking his badge back from the guard when something knocked into him, wrapping long arms around his waist.
He looked down and couldn’t help a smile. Jayce Ward. Lou’s kid brother was one of his favorite people in the world. Probably because he seemed to be one of the only people who thought he deserved Lou. He wrapped an arm around the kid. “Hey, Jayce, how are you doing? I just saw your dad.”
Jayce’s head turned up. “I thought he was taking Molly and Sprinkles to the vet.”
So that was the excuse he’d given. “I’m sure he is, but he wanted to stop by and make sure everything was okay at your sister’s place.”
Jayce stepped back and looked so much like his dad. “I bet he wanted to ask you if you’re planning on marrying my sister.”
“Jayce.” Daphne Ward caught up to her son. “I told you to be patient.”
“But he’s with Lou, right?” Jayce looked from his mom to TJ. “I heard you’re Lou’s boyfriend now. I kind of thought you were always Lou’s boyfriend, but Mom told me no and then she said a bunch of stuff that I didn’t understand.”
Before his talk with Boomer he would have said yes, he was Lou’s boyfriend and plowed right through, but now he wondered. He’d spent the last hour thinking about how she had to feel. He had to be patient. He got on one knee so he could look Jayce in the eyes. “Your sister is my best friend and always will be, but we’re talking about maybe taking it to another level. But you need to know that no matter what happens between us, I’ll always love her, and I’ll always be here for you, buddy.”
“Cool,” Jayce said. “Because Mom says you’re taking me for pizza on Friday.”
“I am.” He’d learned to simply agree with the Ward women. Although there was something Daphne hadn’t thought about. “Unless your sister needs me. I’m sticking close to her for the time being.”
“Oh, she’ll be with you.” Daphne gave him a soft smile as she stood next to her son. “Her dad and I are having dinner with your parents, so I thought it would be fun for you to spend some time with Jayce.”
TJ stood, staring at the woman he wanted as a mother-in-law. “That sounds like you’re planning something. Don’t push her, Daphne. She needs time.”
“She needs to change her mindset.” Daphne leaned over and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t worry, sweetie. Everything is going to work out. Was Boomer hard on you?”
“Of course not. I can’t say the same about Molly.”
Daphne chuckled. “Well, then all is right in the world. Come along, son. Let’s go save the customers from Marley’s rage. You can have all the sandwiches that didn’t sell from lunch.”
“Awesome. I hope there’s peanut butter and jelly. Bye, TJ.” Jayce raced for the door.