Page 12 of House of Soot

I slip into the kitchen through the back service entrance, the scent of bread baking greeting me. Debbie's already at her station, chopping vegetables for a later meal, but she drops her knife the moment she spots me.

"Hey, girl." Her grin spreads wide across her face. "Got any good gossip about a certain new guard?"

Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The truth is, I haven’t seen too much of Blaise in the last week. Just a few minutes here and there, but he hasn’t asked me out again. I try not to think too much about what that means. He's been working different shifts. Important security stuff. But when we do chat, he seems as interested and flirtatious as usual.

Debbie hip-checks me as she moves past to grab carrots. "I'd settle for knowing if that gorgeous man has any brothers."

“I think he does.” I remember his saying he did, but he hadn’t gone into detail. In fact, in many ways, he’s still a stranger to me. “We haven’t talked much about family.”

"Too busy with other things?" She waggles her eyebrows.

"Debbie!" I throw a dish towel at her head. "It was just a kiss."

“Girl, it’s been a week. Time to step things up.” She shrugs, completely unapologetic. "And take notes so I can live through you vicariously."

I shake my head. “You’re incorrigible.”

I head to the garden. Today, I’m planting new bulbs. The garden is my happy place. There's something peaceful about working with plants. Mom used to say flowers speak their own language. Right now, they whisper promises of spring, of new beginnings.

My thoughts drift back to Blaise. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed at my silly plant jokes. How his hand felt warm against my lower back as he guided me through the restaurant. That kiss… No one's ever kissed me like that before. Like they couldn't get enough.

The crunch of gravel catches my attention, and I look up from the flower bed to see Ronan striding toward his car. His shoulders are tense, jaw tight as he barks orders into his phone. Two guards flank him, scanning the grounds as they escort him to his waiting SUV.

There was a time when the sight of him would make my insides light up, but right now, I feel unsettled. The security detail, the way everyone's on edge, tells me something's wrong.

"Hey." Blaise's voice startles me. He's appeared beside the rose trellis, casual in his suit. "You okay?"

"Just jumpy, I guess." I wipe my hands on my gardening apron. "Everyone seems tense.”

"Don't worry about it." His smile is warm, reassuring. "That's what I’m here for."

I glance back at Ronan's departing car. "But what if?—"

"Trust me. Everything is going to work out as it should.”

The car disappears down the long driveway, and I feel myself relax. It's strange how Ronan's presence affects me now. It’s like the rose-colored glasses are off. The schoolgirl crush that kept me hoping for years has evaporated now that Blaise has arrived and shown me attention that Ronan never would.

"Earth to Jenna," Blaise teases. "Where'd you go?"

I shake my head, smiling. "Nowhere important."

"Speaking of important things…" Blaise squats down next to me. "When do I get to see you again?"

Excitement fills me. Finally, he’s asking for a date. "You're seeing me now."

"You know what I mean." He leans closer, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. "I want more than stolen moments between my shifts."

I bite my lip, trying to focus on anything but how good he smells.

“How about you meet me at lunchtime near the east gate?”

“East gate?”

“We’ll have a picnic.”

It’s the most romantic idea I’ve ever heard. “I’d like that.”

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