“Thanks.”She blushed slightly and pleasure spread through her at his words.
“It’s an old family recipe that Mom has been making for as long as I can remember. Though I’m pretty sure my ancestors made the pasta shells by hand.”Emily reached for a piece of bread.
“So, I guess I won’t ask for this recipe, either.”He grinned.
“You can ask…but don’t expect an answer.”Olivia relaxed at the easy dinner bantering.
They ate their meal chatting about the cafe and the new software. Emily excitedly told them about all the social media posts she’d been making and still planned to make. She’d been taking lots of photos with her handy-dandy fancy new cell phone her dad had gotten her.
Not that it still bothered her.
Much.
But she did love seeing her daughter so animated.
As they finished the meal, Emily jumped up and grabbed her plate.“It was great, Mom, but I’ve got to run. Meeting my study group. We have that big science exam tomorrow. I won’t be late.”Emily set her dishes in the sink with a clatter and within minutes had swept out the door in the whirlwind that was always her daughter.
Austin leaned back in his chair.“That was a great meal. Just great.”
“Thank you.”She stood and picked up her dishes.
Austin immediately jumped up and grabbed his plate.
“No, sit. I’ll clear the table.”
“Nonsense. I’ll help.”Austin brought the dishes over while she rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher.
She looked around at the picked up kitchen and turned to him.“So, would you like another drink out on the lanai?”
“I would.”
They brought beer out with them and settled back on the chairs. The breeze had shifted slightly and filtered in through the screening. A mother duck and her brood swam past in the canal.
Austin let out a long sigh.“Man, I could get used to this. It’s so peaceful here.”
“It is. I just love living on the canal system. Maybe after things calm down from all the crazy of the opening, I could take you out cruising the canals.”She caught herself.“I mean, if you’re still here in town.”
“I’ll be here for a while longer. I’m in no hurry to leave.”His mouth curved into one of his irresistible smiles.
A smile that made her pulse quicken, though she firmly ignored the feeling of it racing through her veins. And ignored the smile, too. Totally.
Austin set his beer down and leaned toward her, his eyes intense.“I know we said that we wouldn’t date. But…I really do enjoy spending time with you. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yes, it’s fine. I mean, I like spending time with you, too.”A lot. Like a lot, lot. But she didn’t say that out loud.
“Though I’m pretty sure the twins still think we’re an item. I guess we should clue them in on our change of status.”He winked as he leaned back in his chair.
“Won’t matter. They’ve made up their minds.”She laughed.“No one changes the minds of the Jenkins twins.”
Chapter 15
Austin didn’t really mind if the Jenkins twins or the whole town thought he was dating Livy. Unless that caused problems for her. Because, to tell the truth, he’d love to be officially dating her. Though Jesse’s warning did still nag at him.
But Livy intrigued him. He loved the musical tones of her laugh and the way one side of her mouth quirked up when she was trying to hide a smile. He loved the way she blushed if he gave her a compliment. He—he should stop listing off everything he loved about her.
Ignoring his thoughts, he concentrated on his beer while they chatted about the opening of the cafe. Glancing at his watch, he thought he should probably leave. She had a big day tomorrow to finish getting ready for Friday’s opening.
But he really wanted to stay. So he did, and they chatted for a while longer.
