Touch by Touch (Riggins Brothers #4) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,52

off, or I’ve worked late. Tuesday, she claimed she and a couple of the girls from the bakery were going shopping and to dinner. We had a server issue on Wednesday that kept me at the office late. Last night, we were all at Royce’s to help assemble furniture for the nursery. I was standing in Sawyer’s office when she called her and personally invited her to join us. She claimed she needed to do laundry and clean. I was at her place Monday night, and it was spotless. I know it’s an excuse, but there’s not much I can do about it.

Shaking out of my thoughts, I push open the door to Warm Delights. “Good morning, Conrad,” Gloria, one of the new hires, greets me.

“Morning, Gloria. How are you today?”

She grins. “I’m good, but we both know you’re not here to ask about my day.”

I smile because I’ve been here for Aspen once since our time together. That tells me that they’ve been talking about me. Suddenly my day just got a little brighter. “Of course, I am.”

“Uh-huh, she’s in the back.” She points to the swinging door that leads to the kitchen and office area.

“Thanks.” I wink and move around the counter, pushing through the doors that lead me to the back of the bakery. Aspen is pulling a large tray of muffins out of the oven. “Are those for me?”

She turns and looks over her shoulder, offering me a smile. “Good morning to you too. And yes, these are today’s special. I assume that’s why you’re here.”

I’m here for you. “That, among other things.” I’m trying to take the advice of my little brother, because let’s be honest. It’s the best I’ve got right now. That is until my sisters-in-law have their little performance. Grant and Aurora come home tomorrow. Hopefully, that means that it will be soon. However, first, I need to tell Grant and Aurora that I want to be with Aspen. I can only imagine what they’re going to say when they find out about what happened between us.

I can foresee a lecture from Grant to not hurt her and only to pursue her if I’m serious, much like Royce and Owen warned me. And Aurora, well, I’m not sure. I’d like to think she knows I’m a good man and that she would be happy for us, but only time will tell.

I smell the air. “Are those banana nut?”

“Yes!” She smiles. “These are my favorite. Aurora has this recipe perfected.”

“Loves banana nut. Noted.” I wink.

“I love lots of things, Conrad Riggins.”

Could you love me? “Oh, yeah? Maybe we should have dinner tonight, and you can tell me all about them.”

“Con—” She starts to turn me down; I can tell by the tone of her voice.

“You have to eat, right? Besides, you skipped out on us last night.”

“I didn’t skip out on you. I had to clean and do laundry. I still hadn’t done laundry since being at the cabin.” Her face heats at the mention of the cabin.

“Well, now that’s done, we should have dinner.”

“I really shouldn’t. I have to be up early tomorrow.” She bites down on her bottom lip, and my dick twitches. Does she know how sexy she is when she does that?

“Come on, Aspen. I’ll pick up takeout. You can go upstairs and shower, and I’ll bring dinner. You can go to bed with a full belly.” I’m begging, but I don’t care. Just a little time spent with her is worth any amount of begging and pleading that I might need to do to make it happen.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Gloria sticks her head around the door. “Aspen, do you have more of those muffins? They’re a hit,” she says and disappears back upfront as quickly as she appeared.

“Shit. Sorry, Gloria.” Just as she reaches for the tray, the timer on the oven goes off. “Damn it.”

I feel bad that I’m distracting her. “You get the timer. I’m not a baker. I’ll take these up front.”

“Thank you,” she says, relieved, rushing to the oven to pull out another batch of muffins.

“Order up,” I say, walking the tray of fresh muffins out to the front counter.

“Does he come with the muffins?” I hear a woman ask.

I look up at her and smile. “Sorry, I’m taken.”

“I don’t see a ring,” she says bluntly.

“Yeah, well, I have to convince her to marry me first.” I’m teasing her, but I realize that I wouldn’t mind a ring on my finger. Not if that