Ashley inhaled sharp and deep. Did he want to kiss her? She tingled in anticipation, but so many things—the threat of Katie bursting out again, the people passing by, the fact that she hadn't kissed anyone in ages, and the knowledge that they were going to be working together in a quasi-professional capacity—held her back. She laid her hand on his chest, intending to keep her distance.
He glanced down at her hand then his gaze took a slow journey back to her eyes. "I had fun today. Thanks for sharing your caffeine break with me."
"I'll see you on Sunday morning when you pick up the cake." Ashley watched him with a mixture of wonder and unease. She felt his heartbeat, steady and strong, under her hand. Not wanting to break contact, she slid it up to his face. The slight stubble scraped like fine sandpaper against her palm.
His eyes closed at her touch, and his hand covered hers, keeping the connection. The wailing siren from a passing ambulance pierced the silence. Xavier opened his eyes and took a step back. He lowered her hand from his face but kept their fingers linked. "See you then."
Ashley nodded, forced herself to break the connection, and hurried inside.
The scent of cupcakes, the sight of the familiar logo, and the sound of Katie working in the kitchen made reason and responsibility return. Ashley took one final peek at Xavier walking away.
What was she doing? She didn't want any complications with their partnership in the upcoming competition, and she certainly didn't have time for distractions that could interfere with her focus on her business.
Xavier Brennan was a complication and a distraction rolled into one.
CHAPTER FIVE
The scent of something amazing filled Ryan's kitchen. Xavier sniffed in appreciation. "You are feeding us whatever that is, right?"
"Sure. The chili and cornbread need a while yet, but I figured you guys would want to stay for dinner." Ryan rolled his head from side to side. "Work was brutal today. I'm so glad we hired another manager to help out with the load, but sometimes, utter chaos still reigns at the gym. Grab a beer and have a seat."
After making sure Rocky was occupied with a toy and treat, Xavier complied. Ryan's kitchen was one of his favorite places to hang out. So many good memories had happened around that table. They'd met Leo's wife Kelsey for the first time there. And the first time Everson had joined them for family dinner, Xavier knew that Ryan had fallen hard for the man.
Shane and Everson joined them, and then Ryan set two stacks of index cards on the table. "Baking terms and definitions. With illustrations."
"You made us flash cards?" Impressed and touched and not entirely surprised, Xavier reached for the pile closest to him. "Will there be a quiz later?"
"Not tonight. But a pop quiz could happen any time between now and the competition. So, be prepared."
He studied the cards. Folding in... how to measure flour... how to separate eggs... Card after card of Ryan's Notes For Non-Bakers offered tips and tricks and explanations. "This is so freaking nice of you."
"Well, I want one of you to win." Ryan leaned on the back of Everson's chair. "So either your foundation can donate to breast cancer research or Everson can donate the money to the LGBTQ homeless shelter we support."
Everson reached back and laid his hand on top of Ryan's. "You're the best."
"And by the best, you mean overly organized." Ryan rolled his eyes and smiled. "I can't help it. I got excited. I feel like I'm your coach teaching you a new playbook."
Ryan was so together. Xavier hadn't been nearly as poised at that age. Back then, excitement and enjoyment had ruled. Thank goodness he'd come to his senses, even if the catalyst had been waking up in the stadium parking lot without having any clue how he got there, on a game day, dangerously close to having alcohol poisoning.
He took a long pull on the bottle, trying to wash away the memory.
"Not only that." Ryan placed a white and green box on the table's center and flipped open the lid. "Mom's recipes."
"I'd forgotten you had them." Memories of that box, of Mom, of sitting at the kitchen table while she baked hit him harder than a linebacker intent on taking him down.
Shane handed him a card he'd plucked from the box. "I remember the day she found you coloring on the backs of some of the cards. You told her you were writing recipes. I think you were four."
Sure enough, the card had green crayon scribbled all over his mother's careful script. Tears stung Xavier's eyes. "She never wrote out a new card to replace it."
Ryan rounded the table and laid a gentle hand on his back. "You should keep that one."
He sniffed once, swallowed until the threat of tears receded, and then tucked the card in his pocket. "Maybe I'll carry it with me for good luck during the competition."
"You should," Shane tugged the box forward and rifled through it. "Since next Sunday is Mother's Day, maybe we find something in here to make for dinner. I think Mom would have liked that."
Ryan tugged the box back, straightening the ruffled cards. "Take some pics of the cards and text them to Leo. He should get to weigh in."
"He's coming home?" Xavier was surprised and pleased. Their pro hockey playing brother's team had just been eliminated from the second round of the Cup playoffs, but with the injuries sustained and treatments required, he hadn't expected to see Leo for at least another few weeks.
"Just for a few days, to get a second opinion on one form of therapy. Then he's going back to Buffalo, but he'll be home again for Dad's birthday. With his and Kelsey's schedules, they'll be going back and forth between both cities for a while this summer."
"I was hoping he'd be here the day I have to go up to New York to co-host Pro
