Page 26 of Off-Limits Love
Either way, she hadn’t made a good impression to his family if Elias’s intense expression was anything to go by.
“Nice to meet you as well,” Elias said.
“Did I hear you talking about Mak baking? London, you have to get her treats in here. You’d sell anything she made. For real. I’ve never had anything taste as good as they did.”
“Well, that’s high praise.” London eyed Mak again.
“I could bring you some samples,” Mak offered, heart in her throat. “I’d be happy to do it, and I’d love a professional opinion.”
“I’m wounded,” Hudson said, hand over his heart.
Mak and London laughed while Elias just shook his head at Hudson’s antics.
“An opinion I can do,” London said with a nod. “That would be great. I couldn’t sell them until you got your license, but I’d be happy to sample them myself and offer feedback.”
“Let me know when that day is,” Hudson said. “I volunteer, too.”
Mak blinked, unable to believe her ears. “Okay. I’ll do that and check into the licensing as well. Thank you.”
“Every dream starts somewhere. My coffee shop started off as a dream. Pretty sure Elias would agree, given the number of businesses on his roster of late,” London added. “Congratulations on the new restaurant, by the way. I’ve heard wonderful things.”
Elias dipped his head. “So far so good.”
“Hey, mind if we join you?” Hudson asked as he pulled out a chair across from her and plopped himself right down.
Mak was taken aback by the move, as was Elias, given his hesitation.
“Uh, sure.”
“Great.”
Elias pulled out the chair beside his kid brother, and Mak was treated to the full force of both men’s stares. “You guys really do look a lot alike.”
London laughed softly, still standing there, taking it all in.
“You should see the group of them at once. The brothers are basically all twins. Just at different ages and stages. What can I get you guys to drink? Are you hungry?”
They placed their order without once looking at a menu, and London asked Mak if she wanted anything else. The moment London walked away, Hudson pounced.
“So, couple of things,” he said, angling his head as he stared at her. “Have you seen Finn since you went paddleboating and the picnic?”
Mak sensed the younger Blackwell had a reason for asking, but given how things had ended yesterday… “Ummm. Briefly.”
“So he came over to visit? Brought one of the sheep?”
Hudson looked far too excited at the thought. Like he’d put his brother up to it?
She glanced at Elias and found him studying her with just as much intensity as Hudson. “He…brought Dash over.”
“Ah, Dash is a cutie. Did Emi like him? Did Finn stay a while and visit?”
Mak huffed out an awkward breath when Elias elbowed his brother in the ribs, earning a quick glance from Hudson and a glare from Elias that Hudson obviously chose to ignore.
“Dude, it’s not like Finn’s gonna tell us.”
Elias’s thick, dark eyebrows drew down more tightly over his nose, but then he grimaced and gave her an apologetic shrug.
“At least give her a chance to respond before asking five more questions,” Elias drawled.
