Luscious - Lexi Blake Page 0,68
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.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m not angry. Hell, I’m not really even angry with her. She did what