Akash

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CURRY PASTIES? DONE.

Coconut tarts? Done.

Curry lamb and potato pies? Done.

Sweet saffron scones? In the oven.

Me? Elbow deep in flour, caster sugar, and coconut milk.

A shout from Alice pulled his attention from the dough for candied ginger scones in his hands. The twins generally handled customers well, so it didn’t seem likely they’d encountered a problem. Akash could only stare stupidly when the door swung open and a broad-shouldered blond suddenly filled the doorway.

Hamish.

In the few days since visiting the Sin Bin, Akash hadn’t been able to get the man and his kiss out of his mind. He’d contemplated calling, but hadn’t yet managed to pluck up the courage. Hamish strolling casually into his bakery hadn’t even occurred to him.

“Are you hungry? I’ve got fresh scones.” Akash wiped his dirty hands on the blue striped apron tied around his waist.

Hamish jolted forward as if shoved, glancing over his shoulder to glare at the giggling teenagers.

“Don’t mind the twins,” Akash said. “They’re harmless.”

Mostly harmless.

“A fairly impressive shove for two slight kids who barely come up to my shoulder.” Hamish stepped further into the kitchen, allowing Akash to see the two faces fighting to get a view through the round window in the door. “What exactly are they expecting me to do?”

Akash rolled up a small piece of dough into a ball and with a steady aim launched it at the window, chuckling when the twins squeaked and fell away from the door. He dusted his hands off yet again and strove for calm in the overwhelming presence of the man in front of him. “Scone? Pasty? Pie? Are you hungry?”

Hamish made his way around the long work tables, stopping just before he bumped into Akash. “Am I hungry?”

Akash blinked up at him. “Well, you’d know, wouldn’t you? I’m a baker—not a psychic.”

Hamish caught Akash by the front of his apron and dragged him closer. He captured Akash’s lips with his own for a crushing kiss, leaving both of them shuddering for breath. “Shit. You muck with my control.”

“Me?” Akash tugged his apron free and stumbled backwards. His lips felt swollen from just one kiss. “You’re the one who barged into my kitchen.”

“I was shoved.”

“You barged into my kitchen while I’m making tarts.” Akash ignored his protest.

Hamish bent forward to peer down at the pastries. “They look more like scones.”

“I meant scones. Don’t be an arse.” Akash glanced over to find their audience of two had returned. “You two get back to work.”

“Aled mentioned you worked with your family.” Hamish appeared to be trying to lower the sexual tension in the room. “Where’d you meet the kids?”

“Alice and Alex?” Akash didn’t need to look around the man to know the twins hadn’t stopped eavesdropping. They’d learnt the hard way to listen in on what people said about them. “They are family.”

Before Hamish could respond, the twins burst into the kitchen. They threw their arms around Akash, crushing him in a hug between them. He turned his head to avoid a mouthful of hair.

They might put on a giddy and mischievous mask for the world, but Akash knew the twins struggled with not only their painful past, but being autistic as well. They trusted no one. He doubted anyone had ever treated them as a family should.

In the time Akash had known them, he and his family had grown to care deeply for them. His mother often sent packages of treats, and the twins ate at his home frequently both in Cardiff and Fowey. Aside from a flat of his own, Alice and Alex had been the biggest change in his life since moving thus far, though he wondered if Hamish might change that.

Akash smiled apologetically at Hamish over the blond heads resting on his shoulders. “Grab a scone or two. I’ll only be a moment.”

Hamish nodded with a smile before stacking three of the freshly baked scones in his hands. “I’m good. Take your time.”

With an arm around each sibling, Akash guided them out of the kitchen and awkwardly led them down the narrow hall into the office at the back of the building. Alice immediately took up her favourite spot on a worn leather chair in the corner. Alex sat on the edge of the desk, leaving Akash in the middle of the room; work meetings always wound up with them in the same positions.

Akash kept his eyes on the wall. Both of the twins were autistic. It affected them differently—but equally—and eye contact didn’t come naturally to them. He suspected it was one of the reasons their parents had treated them so badly. Their earlier hug showed him how at ease they’d become with him. “Are you two doing all right? How about you take a break for a bit?”

Alice nodded. Alex shrugged. So, yes.

Akash moved over to his desk to turn on his Beatles playlist, which usually helped the two overwhelmed teens relax. “I’ll manage the shop.”

Leaving them to settle down, Akash returned to the kitchen to find Hamish had already finished the three scones. The man smiled at him almost sheepishly, but casually grabbed a fourth from the nearby tray and started to nosh on it.

“Mind if we head out front? The twins are resting for a moment.” Akash checked on the dough proving on the counter, glanced into the oven, and finally grabbed the remaining scones to take out to the displays. “Want another one?”

Hamish shook his head. “Think I’ve probably had enough. I have been tasked with bringing back half of the bakery. You’re a sodding genius with spices. Best scone I’ve ever had, but don’t tell my mum.”

“Our secret.”

For several minutes Hamish appeared content to watch him move around the shop, but eventually he broke the silence. “Would you be interested in going out with me for a meal? Maybe Friday or Saturday evening?”

Akash smiled brilliantly, but then his stomach dropped when he remembered his promise to his baby sister. Damn. “Funny you should ask.”

Should I? Is it weird to invite him to a family meal? Shit. Is it? Okay. Stop blinking stupidly at him; he’ll think you’ve sniffed too much saffron.

“Akash?”

A cheerful ding signalled a welcome interruption, and the arrival of customers. Akash wandered over, enjoying his temporary reprieve. It didn’t last long.

Hamish had waited patiently until the customer exited the shop, only to prod Akash for an answer. “Well? Can I take you out?”

“Yeeeees—” Akash drew the word out.

“I sense a but.”

Akash rubbed his hands on his apron when his palms suddenly dampened. Spit it out. “My little sister happens to be dating a friend of yours—Nye. She begged me to bring a date to our weekly family supper. How’d you feel about enjoying some authentic curry, invasive parental questions, and a trial by fire for our first date?”

“Sounds brilliant.” Hamish’s hand darted out, to snatch up a pasty this time. “I’ll need my strength to be brave.”

“Supper isn’t until Friday. We have days to prepare.” Akash couldn’t help laughing at the idea of his diminutive mother terrifying the intense former Royal Marine.

Hamish eyed the various trays of baked goods in the store. “This will require careful planning, then.”

Akash grabbed one of the nearby boxes and placed a selection of the pasties in it for the man. “You didn’t ask about the twins?”

“We don’t know each other well enough for me to pry.” Hamish shrugged. “You’re very kind to them—I was impressed. Not sure everyone would be so generous.”

“You could see us through the open office door, couldn’t you?” Akash sealed the box and handed it over to him while Hamish attempted to appear innocent. “They deserve better from the world. I help where I can.”

It never feels like it’s enough either.