Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection Read Online Free PDF Page B

he think she had any connection to his family? She barely knew them.
    “What did you do last night?” he said.
    “I-I—” She made a scribbling motion in the air but Nick took this opportunity to jump right into their conversation. Bless him.
    “Oh, man, she’s an awesome writer. She’s only twenty-seven and she’s co-written a couple of books and gotten a three-book contract for her own dessert cookbook series.” Nick turned to her. “I know your deadline’s during the summer, but when’s the publication date for book one? Thanksgiving?”
    For a reason she wasn’t able to analyze, her voice unfroze. “No, just before Christmas. The s-second book is supposed to be released b-by Thanksgiving next year.”
    “That’s right,” Nick said. “And the third one around Halloween of the year after.”
    “And the first one is going to be fantastique ,” Jacques added, “because my éclairs will grace the cover of the pastries section.”
    “His are long,” Nick said appreciatively.
    And Gretchen laughed, which made Elizabeth laugh, which made Rob look at them all like they were more than a little psycho.
    “So, we should get organized here,” Gretchen said. “Elizabeth needs to get a lot of work done, and all of us have other part-time jobs to return to. Who’s got the opening shift today?”
    Rob pulled out the schedule Elizabeth had scrawled on the notebook paper yesterday. “Looks like Elizabeth and Gretchen are on the docket for round one. But—” He waved the page in the air before dropping it and letting it float to the tabletop.
    “But what?” Jacques asked.
    “But it seems to be in all of your best interests to have Elizabeth concentrate her time on finishing this cookbook. Isn’t that right?” Rob said, scanning their faces as he spoke.
    “Oh, absolutely,” Gretchen agreed heartily.
    “You bet, man,” Nick said.
    Jacques squinted at Rob. “But of course. This is why we’re here. This is what friends are for.”
    Rob gulped down some coffee and turned his gaze fully on Elizabeth. “And your having to work these extra shifts is dramatically cutting in to your writing time, right?”
    “R-R-Right, but—” she began.
    “Well, how about I take over your shifts,” Rob said. “I could handle them, too, if…”
    “Oh, no. That’s not fair to you. I-I’m willing to work—”
    “Let the man speak, Elizabeth,” Nick said. “My baklava is being featured on page sixty-five. I’m protective of this book.”
    She glanced at Gretchen, who winked unhelpfully.
    They all turned their eyes to Rob, but Elizabeth sensed his offer of help wasn’t quite as altruistic as it seemed.
    “Here’s the thing,” he said. “I can see you’re signed up for the first two shifts today, Elizabeth, first with Gretchen from ten to twelve-thirty, and then with Jacques, twelve-thirty to three. If I take over both of those, would you be able to help me for just two and a half hours tonight instead?”
    “S-Sure. You mean do the closing shift for you, from eight to ten-thirty?” This she could handle. It would be like her schedule before Uncle Siegfried left, with only half the time away from her computer screen. And Rob would, obviously, be somewhere else. Nighttime party plans, no doubt.
    “Not exactly,” Rob said. “I can still do the mid-afternoon and late-evening shifts you assigned me as well. What I need from you is the time between five-thirty and eight. I need you to come to dinner with me.” He paused. “At my mother’s house.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
    “W-WHAT?”
    Rob took in Lizzy’s—no— Elizabeth’s stunned expression, but if a little trickery was required to get Mama off his case, he wasn’t too proud to stoop to it. Last night had been an evening of enjoyment right up there with a toasty visit to Hades. He had no intention of repeating it. Ever.
    “That seems like a more than fair trade,” the young guy Nick said to her.
    The