Page 48 of Bartered Innocence

Isabelle

I returnedto the kitchen after leaving Rian a panting mess in the hallway. I’m sure if I stayed he would have returned the favor, but his intense stare twisted something in my belly and scared me. My anger is lessening every day, and each morning in his bed has my body aching for more of his touch.

Deirdre helped me prepare an early dinner, a hearty roast and a ton of potatoes and vegetables. She’d also shown me how to make soda bread, which left me longing for the restaurant and the pasta I haven’t eaten in days. I love learning about any kind of food, but she assures me that the men usually devour whatever she puts on the table. So with that in mind, I decide tomorrow I’ll show her a recipe of my own.

“Fucking hell, it smells good,” Cillian groans as we set the dishes on the table.

I smile widely. There’s nothing better than someone loving the food you made, but I can’t pass up the opportunity. “It’s to hide the poison.”

My gaze flickers to Rian, who watches everything with eager eyes.

He smirks before serving himself a plate and shoving a bite into his mouth. “Hmm. Poison, my second favorite flavor after your pussy.”

Sliding into my chair, I jerk at his crude words. My knee bangs against the table, and I grab the wineglass to save it from falling.

My eyes raise to his, and my cheeks blush as his lips twitch in the corner.

Cillian chuckles and the rest of them move to eat.

I frown down at the food, suddenly thinking about the empty chair all the way at the end. “Do you want to save a plate for your father?”

There’s a small silence and I see a few of the men shift in their seats.

Deirdre makes a soft noise from the back of her throat. “He’d love that, but let me. I’ll need to reduce the sizes of the meat and vegetables.”

Rian looks up at her in relief and nods once. He waves for me to eat before he grabs his drink and raises it. I glance down the table as the rest of the men grab their cup and raise it as well.

“To my wife, and the wonderful meal she made us.”

I flush with heat as they echo his sentiment with a cheer.

Rian laughs softly before he leans over. “Was this your choice or Deirdre’s?”

“Both? She offered, and I was eager to learn. You might have to get used to more pasta soon, though.”

“I love pasta.”

“It will be a nice change to have more pasta,” Cillian interjects. “While I’m a man who loves meat and potatoes, I enjoy the occasionalcarbonara.” He heavily accents the last word and I roll my eyes, though I am impressed by the attempt.

Aodhan swats his chest. “Just say spaghetti like the rest of us.”

“There’s a difference, isn’t there, Isabelle?”

I look at them incredulously. “Yes, considering carbonara is a type of sauce and spaghetti is a pasta.”

“There’s spaghetti sauce,” Cormac says. It’s half-muffled as he chews, and I’m not sure if I’m more disgusted at him talking with his mouth full or his insinuation.

“Oh my god,” I mutter, not having the mental strength for this conversation.

Rian chuckles. “You’ll just have to school us.”

I give him a tight smile. “Perhaps, but I’m no expert. That’s why I can’t wait to continue learning at my father’s restaurant.”

The good natured banter we’ve been enjoying the past few minutes disappears.

Rian’s face hardens. “I said I would be open to discussing it later.”

“Why not now?” I swallow down my nerves as soon as the question leaves my mouth. A part of me knows I shouldn’t be questioning him like this in front of his men, but Aodhan told me the brotherhood was safe.

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