Chapter 7 #4
Naturally the icing behaved perfectly too, like it wouldn’t have dared to even consider splitting in Mia’s presence – though at one point Aiden had to grab the spoon that seemed to be intent on taking over and stirring the icing itself.
It was only after making sure that the spoon was firmly behaving, when he was halfway through icing the final batch of cakes, that his over-tired brain started to nudge him, trying to get him to pay attention to something important.
It was like not being able to remember the word on the tip of your tongue – he was just too tired to fully get it.
Instead, he focussed on finishing the last tray, and handing them to Mia to pack carefully into the boxes she’d been constructing for him.
When the last box was eventually stacked in the fridge, he finally breathed properly. ‘You’ve been amazing, Mia. Thank you so much. I couldn’t have done it without you.’
‘You’re more than welcome.’ She smiled tiredly. ‘But we’re not really done. We still have all this’ – she gestured around – ‘to clean up.’
‘I’ll come in early tomorrow and deal with it.’
‘Aiden?’ Mia leaned over and turned his wrist to see his watch. ‘It’s already late enough to count as “early tomorrow”. You stack the washer and I’ll wipe down. Then we can both get some much-needed sleep.’
He was too tired to argue, especially with Mia, so he just smiled and thanked her again before tackling the mess.
‘I owe you hugely for this,’ he told her earnestly as he finally, finally locked the bakery up.
‘No, you don’t. I’m not interested in collecting any more favours from you.’
‘Right, of course. Phillip.’
She fell into step alongside him. ‘I meant I’m not really interested in counting favours between friends.’
‘I like that.’ He flung his arm around her shoulder and she squeezed him briefly round the waist. ‘Where’s your car?’
‘At home.’
‘You’re planning on walking?’
She pulled away from him and twisted weirdly, ending up spinning in a circle.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Checking to see if my wings had grown in yet. I had a patient call me an angel the other day, and you seem to think walking isn’t my only option.’
‘Haha. Come on.’ He fell back into step with her. ‘I’ll walk you home.’
‘You need to get home and sleep yourself. And this is Hudsbury.’
‘I’d feel a lot better if you let me see you home safely.
’ Mia didn’t complain as they crossed the town square, so Aiden assumed she was OK with his company, but he wanted to reassure her.
‘Just to your door. I won’t make things awkward.
I know you’re looking forward to your next date with maybe-prince Phillip. ’
‘I didn’t think you’d try anything,’ Mia told him honestly.
It really was an odd thing to him, having such a normal conversation with a woman he’d had sex with – but he was glad she still trusted him as a friend. He realised with a guilty start that he hadn’t been listening.
‘Sorry, I missed that.’
‘You look like you’re miles away.’
‘Halfway to being asleep.’ That was probably why the streetlights seemed to be glowing softly pink, instead of their usual bright white, making the walk seem almost romantic. It might have been, if they’d not been talking about her dates with another man.
‘Which is even more reason why you don’t need to walk with me.’
‘We’re nearly there. No point leaving a job half done. Besides, if my ma found out I let a pretty girl walk herself home at this time of night – especially after she’d been helping me – she’d give me hell.’
‘I like the sound of your ma.’ Mia giggled again. ‘But, you know, you could just not tell her.’
‘Oh, she’d find out. She always seems to know what I’m up to, even when I’d much rather she didn’t. And she doesn’t hold back when she’s annoyed with me.’
‘The bike or your dating habits?’
‘Hmm?’
‘I was wondering which one got you in the most trouble. If it were my mum, those would probably be highest on her worry list.’
‘She’s never loved the bike,’ he admitted. ‘And I don’t think she knows about my… dating habits. Anyway, yours are more interesting than mine. When are you seeing Prince-wannabe again?’
‘In fewer hours than I would have liked.’
‘You’re seeing him today? Mia, you should have said.’
‘Why? So you could have sent me home earlier for beauty sleep?’
‘Yes.’
‘And then you’d still be working now. As it is I’m starting to worry about you getting home safely.
In fact’ – this time her eyes definitely narrowed – ‘you must be exhausted. Because I can’t think of any other excuse for you telling me I need hours of beauty sleep before I can be presentable enough to go on a date. ’
‘Not exactly what I said.’
‘Seriously, Aiden.’ She headed up her garden path. ‘Come in. Let me make you coffee.’
‘That’d be good, if you’re sure you don’t mind.’
‘Wouldn’t have offered if I did.’
‘I wonder what your date would think.’ He couldn’t help the smallest of smirks when he followed her past the wall he’d pinned her against, and a small, selfish part of him was glad Mia hadn’t met her maybe Triple D until after that.
‘Grab a seat. I’ll bring your coffee through.’
‘Thanks.’ He flopped onto her couch and scratched at his shoulder.
He didn’t remember her tucking a blanket around him, but he was grateful for it – and the pillows she left next to him – when he stirred enough to snuggle down properly later.