Page 16 of Ravish

“Don’t ‘Aunt Tammy’ me. These are Lara’s cinnamon rolls.”

Colby turned to her. “You don’t sell these at your café.”

She shook her head. “I have an exclusive arrangement with the farmers’ market for them.”

“Enterprising young lady,” his mother said.

“Thank you.” She kept her gaze on her roll.

Was she embarrassed? She had no reason to be.

“My Colby was a crab fisherman, did you know that?” There was pride in his mother’s voice.

“Really?” Tammy asked.

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Lara asked, glancing at him.

“Very.” He popped a piece of cinnamon roll in his mouth. Damn, this woman could cook. The dough was light with just the right amount of cinnamon and cream cheese.

“Is that all you’re going to say?” Lara asked, a frown marking her features.

“Please, tell us more,” Tammy said.

“Crab fishing was a lure to me. A way to make money quickly,” said Colby.

“This one never worried about the danger, while I sat at home, worrying,” Martha said.

Lara’s frown deepened.

“Don’t let her fool you. I made sure she was taken care of, and I never took chances.” Colby didn’t. The six years he spent in Alaska, he’d been as careful as he could be. It was a near miss on one of the crab boats that made him quit. Yes, the money was good, but he wasn’t going to lose his life for some crustaceans. He had other plans. And now those plans included Lara.

“I was so glad when he came home,” Martha said, patting his hand where it rested on the table. “He’s such a good son. Made sure to send me money every month, and when he got home, he bought me a house.”

Tammy’s eyes went glassy. “That’s the kind of man my Lara needs.”

The groan Lara let out made all of them smile. “Okay, that’s it. I’m going for a walk. Meet you at the car in thirty minutes, Aunt Tammy.” Lara stood up and walked away.

“Go, young man. She won’t wait for you,” Tammy said.

Colby kissed his mother’s cheek. “Car in thirty.” Then he grabbed the bag of fruit and went after Lara. “Are you okay?” he asked when he caught up to her.

“Fine. I just don’t need my aunt setting me up. She never liked my ex. That should have told me something. But no, stupid me, I married the ass.”

“We all make mistakes.” He didn’t like the way she talked about herself.

“Maybe, but I bet you didn’t marry one.”

“Hey.” Colby grasped her arm and pulled her to a halt. “What’s going on?”

Lara shook her head as someone bumped into her.

Spying a small space between two vendors, he pulled Lara into the opening. “I know we haven’t known each other for long.”

Her lips tilted up. “True, yet last night I think I agreed to something I’m now not sure about.”

“Is that what this is about?”

Lara looked down at her feet. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

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