“Oh, honey. He’s not a bully.”

She shot her mother a look. “Isn’t he? What would happen if I brought a guy over to meet the two of you? Could you imagine how that would go over?”

Her mother tilted her head, giving Aubry a questioning look. “Is there a guy?”

She trusted her mother above anyone else. “There might be. I don’t know yet.”

“If you have a young man you want us to meet, you let me know and I’ll prepare your father for it. I’ll make sure he’s on his best behavior.”

Aubry raised a brow. “And how will you do that? Are you going to drug him?”

Her mother laughed. “No. But trust me, I do wield some influence where your father is concerned. You have nothing to worry about. He might come across as brusque and bullish at times, but, Aubry, he loves you.”

She sighed. “I know he does.”

“So bring your young man over for dinner, and let’s get your father used to the idea that you’re a grown woman who’s handling her own life just fine.”

She’d think about it. In the meantime, she’d push thoughts of her father’s opinions aside and concentrate on her date with Tucker tonight.

AFTER SPENDING THE AFTERNOON WITH HER MOTHER, who decided to go shopping with her, Aubry dashed home just in time to get ready for her date. Tucker had told her he’d pick her up at six and she could dress casual.

She’d bought a new blouse for tonight, so she put on her tight jeans, wedge sandals and the button-down silky red top, with a black tank underneath. She did her makeup, brushed out her hair, and finished off the look with her favorite lip gloss just as the doorbell rang.

She opened the door and couldn’t help the sigh of pleasure as Tucker stood there wearing dark jeans and a navy blue button-down shirt. His hair was getting a little long, which made it curl at the ends, making her want to sift her fingers through its thick softness. Unable to resist, she stepped up to him, slid her hand in his hair and kissed him.

He wrapped an arm around her, tugged her close and deepened the kiss. She moaned against his mouth.

When they broke apart, she read the heated passion in his eyes.

“Keep that up and I’ll never be able to give you your surprise tonight.”

She invited him in and closed the door. “Ooh. There’s a surprise?”

“There is.”

“Now I’m excited.”

His lips curved. “I hope you like it. I thought it might be fun.”

“Are we going bowling again?”

He laughed. “Not bowling.”

“Now I’m curious and excited.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

He drove them into Clayton, to a shopping center where he parked and they got out.

When she saw where they were headed, she turned to him. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

She grinned as they stepped inside, having figured out what was happening. It was a kitchen setup, but definitely industrial, with a long stainless steel island, a stove and lots of tools. Tools she was definitely unfamiliar with.

There was no one else here yet.

“We’ll just sit in the middle,” Tucker said, leading her to a spot in the center of the stainless steel island.

They were going to take a cooking class. She sat on the stool, then pivoted to face him. “What made you come up with this idea?”

“I figured since neither of us knew how to cook, maybe we could get some tips here. And, you know, stay in more often.”

When he waggled his brows, she laughed. “I like where your mind goes, Tucker Cassidy.”

“I figured you might. Plus, you know, we’d also go hungry less often.”

She shook her head. “Always thinking with your stomach.”

He leaned into her. “Either my stomach or my cock. Mostly my cock.”

She laughed.

The instructor came out, a tall, energetic and super friendly woman named Patricia, who informed them that tonight they’d learn how to make an appetizer, main course and dessert.

Aubry looked around. “Where are the rest of the people?”

“I booked us a private couple’s class. More fun that way.”

She smiled at him. “Let’s hope you still think it’s fun when we get to the end of the class.”

He pulled her against him. “Oh, it’ll definitely be fun. I can feel it.”

She liked his confidence.

The first thing they were going to learn was how to make pasta.

“Whoa,” she said. “This sounds daunting.”

Tucker put his arm around her. “You’re a doctor. You do amazing things to help people every day, Aubry. Surely you’re not going to be intimidated by a little pasta, are you?”

She inhaled a deep breath. “I guess not.”

They put on aprons, Aubry rolled up her sleeves and they got to work on the eggs and flour, cutting the eggs into the flour and making the dough for the pasta. Aubry was intrigued by the pasta machine, and she watched with delight as Tucker had fun rolling the dough through the machine. They seemed to ace this part, and she set the pasta on the rack to dry.

She looked at him. “That seemed to actually work.”

“It did, didn’t it?” he said with a grin.

For the appetizer, they sliced the caps off mushrooms and dug out the insides to make stuffed mushrooms, mixing in cheese, garlic and bread crumbs before putting them in the oven to bake.