Free Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2) by Kate Hardy

finishing touches which he explained to Ella how to use, and a box of cupcakes.
    “Aw, Ry, I was only teasing you,” Ella said.
    “OK.” He shrugged. “I can take them over to Grey’s if you don’t want them.”
    “Not on your –” She stopped and rolled her eyes. “You were teasing, right?”
    He grinned. “Just a little.”
    She cuffed his arm. “Go on. And I’ll sort out your – what’s this amazing cake called again?”
    “ Croquembouche . It’s a French celebration cake, made from vanilla cream puffs, caramel and spun sugar,” he said.
    “Got you.” She smiled. “I didn’t even know you could do this kind of thing. They’re going to love this.”
    “They deserve it.”
    From Rocco’s, Ryan went next door to the churchyard to put flowers on his grandfather’s grave. He lingered awhile, crouched down by the headstone. “I’m worried about Gram. She’s getting frailer and more forgetful. She doesn’t walk very far and she’s not too steady on her feet – she needs me at her side so she doesn’t fall.” She’d always said she never wanted to use a walking frame and see people give her pitying looks. “I wish I could do more to help her.” He bit his lip. “Maybe I should cut my hours at Grey’s back again and do three days a week instead of four, so I can spend more time with her.” He swallowed hard. “I miss you, Grandpa. I miss your common sense, and you were so right about my ex. Lucille was totally wrong for me.” She’d always put her own needs first. The complete opposite of Rachel. He paused. “You’d like Rachel, but I just can’t start dating her. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us. Apart from the fact that I don’t have the time to spend on her, she had an ex who really hurt her.”
    So had he, but he’d had a few months to bounce back from that.
    “I’m not saying Gram’s a burden – of course she’s not, and I’d never think that way about her – but I can’t ask someone to share my responsibilities. Especially as Rachel’s a doctor. I don’t want her thinking I’m only interested in her because I want free medical advice.” He’d already worked out that Rachel’s ex had trashed her confidence when he’d cheated on her, so it was a fair bet that Rachel would think his motives might not be entirely pure if he asked her out properly. Particularly given his circumstances.
    He sighed again. “Ah, ignore me. I’m just whining. But I miss you, Grandpa. We all do.”
    If things were different…
    But they weren’t, and he had to deal with them as best he could. He straightened up. Time to go home.
    *
    Rachel was sitting at the table in Rocco’s Italian with her sister and her friends, having ordered her favorite lasagna and a side salad.
    “You know we’re going to ask, so you might as well spill the beans now,” Lizzy said. “All of them.”
    Spill the beans about her evening with Ryan. Rachel spread her hands. “There’s really nothing much to tell.”
    “No? What about the food?” Hannah suggested. “What did he cook for you?”
    Rachel knew she’d have to tell them all something. But she certainly wasn’t planning to tell them everything about last night – and she really hoped that she wouldn’t betray herself by blushing when she talked about Ryan. They’d all known her long enough to be able to add two and two and come up with exactly the right answer. “He cooked me the best crab cakes I’ve ever had in my life, griddled lamb with rosemary potatoes and buttered spinach, and a trio of desserts to die for.”
    “What’s a trio of desserts?” Dayna asked.
    “It’s the way they do things in Paris, apparently – three little portions of things that go well together. Chocolate macarons  – French ones, of course – home made coffee ice cream, and crème brûlée. And would you believe he blowtorched the top of the crème brûlée at the table to caramelize the sugar? I’ve never seen anything so pretty – or so