Page 73 of The Heart of the King

“I’m glad I could be there.” Jasmine sipped her wine. “But as for what happened later...” She set her glass back down and sighed. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet.”

“Agreed.”

She leaned back in her seat and smiled at him. “I’m glad we agree. I think we’ll both know when it’s time, when we’re ready for this to move to more.”

David breathed a sigh of relief that they were on the same page. He stood. “Now, how about dessert?”

Giggles rangout as David watched Jasmine and Hazel attempt to climb out of the hammock they’d been snuggled together in as they read a book.

The enclosed porch was chillier than the cabin, but not nearly as cold as the outdoors.

“Would it be better if I just brought dinner out to you?” he asked as they tried again. “You seem to be having a bit of trouble.”

“It’s cozy until you try to stand up.” Jasmine’s voice was laced with laughter.

He chuckled and went over to stabilize the hammock for them. “We should have them put padding underneath in case you fall out.”

“It wouldn’t be the worst idea. At least outside the ground might not be quite as hard as concrete.” Jasmine managed to escape without making it swing too badly.

Hazel still giggled as she climbed out. “That was fun.”

“What book were you reading?” he asked as Hazel took his hand and swung it.

She shrugged. “I don’t remember the name.”

“It’sLand of the Moons, the first book in The Trilunium Chronicles series.” Jasmine held Hazel’s other hand. “We’re going to read the series together.”

“That sounds like fun. I don’t think I’ve ever read them.”

“They discovered the almost completed sixth manuscript about two years ago and released it a little over a year ago. One of the New Sargassian princes is married to the heiress of the estate.” Jasmine glanced over at him. “I know you might not be able to sit and read with us, but maybe you can read them, too, then we can all talk about them.”

David nodded slowly. “I’m sure they’re much better than the reports I normally read. I think I would like that.”

“Yay!” Hazel started to skip as they neared the dining room where their dinner waited.

He’d spent several hours with her in the morning while Jasmine slept on.

In their shared bed.

She’d admitted to him that she was a sleeper who loved to sleep in and adored nap time, even if she didn’t get to take one as often as she’d like.

Hazel had been extremely excited to help him put his plan into action. She’d helped him make snickerdoodles. He didn’t want to admit how many times they had to rewatch a section of the YouTube video to get it right - or how many had ended up in the trash.

But eventually they got it. It pained him to admit Hazel knew more than he did about how to work in the kitchen, but her nanny had shown her a few things.

When Mrs. Sneedly caught them working in the kitchen, she’d pulled him aside and confessed that her daughter had been Hazel’s nanny for the last few years. She’d been working with the authorities for most of that time - since she first heard rumors of the financial improprieties and couldn’t sit idly by. Her arrest had only been for appearanece's sake, so Hazel’s mother wasn’t suspicious that she was working with the authorities.

Mrs. Sneedly then offered to clean up so they could go play a game.

Now he was going to have dinner with Jasmine and Hazel. He had something important to share with Jasmine before the big finale to the evening.

Dinner was casual, and they talked and laughed the whole time. Hazel seemed to be bouncing back from the trauma fairly quickly. For that, David was grateful.

Hazel ran off after they finished the main course and returned a moment later with a tray of cookies.

“Snickerdoodles?” Jasmine asked, looking at David.

“We made ‘em!” Hazel told her. “Davey and I made ‘em this morning.”

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