Page 33 of Night's Fall
But who wasIkidding?
ForCaptainJacques’schicken oars, it was always herbed cream sauce, and for the fries, it was garlic aioli.
I grabbed my packets, split them open, perched them in my schooner and nabbed an oar.
I was munching when the prince queried, “Thefish is greasier than this?”
My gaze flew to his face to see his handsome features fixed in a picture of sheer disbelief.
I wanted to laugh, butIwas horrified.
I mean, he probably frequently ate foie gras (diabolical), which wasn’t that healthy.
But if he had a hankering for strawberries, they’d jet them in supersonic, fresh fromLand’sEnd.
“I could…”
I faltered as my mind mentally scanned the contents of my integratedChill-Cupboard/Cook-Companionas to whatIcould program up for him.
When was the last timeI’dsent in a food supply order?
“Calm,Laura,”PrinceAlekseisaid in a low, soothing voice. “They’revery good, as food like this tends to be.Butthey’re also greasy.”
“Okay,”Iwhispered.
His eyes dropped to my mouth (and yep, more sensation in those regions south).
Fortunately, his attention slid over the seating area, and before he took another bite of his oar, he noted, “You’reworking.”
“Yes,”Isaid, thoughIwasn’t working as such.Iwastryingto work.Buthe’d long since interrupted me before he even showed up.
He chewed, swallowed,Iwatched his corded throat introduce the food into his stomach,Iworried his beast’s sense of smell would share precisely what was happening in my regions south, and he asked, “DidIinterrupt you?”
I shook my head, shaking some sense into it (Ihoped) whileIdid.
This was just a male.
A rich one.Ahandsome one.Andrecent evidence suggested possibly even a sweet and thoughtful one.
But just a male.
“No,I’mkind of stymied.”
“Not thatIcan help, butI’minterested.Howare you stymied?”
I squinted my eyes at him. “Itake it you knowI’ma costume designer.”
He nodded once, his gaze sharp, andIknew he was studying me closely, missing nothing. “Yes.I’vehad a limited brief on you.”
Mm-hmm.
I decided to set that aside, for now.
“Well,I’mdoing a period piece.It’searly days, soIhave time.Alot of pre-production stuff is going on.Butpart of that pre-production stuff is me giving them ideas of whereI’dlike to head with the design so they can sign off, and thenIcan get stuck in designing.AndI’mnot sure where to take it.”
“What’s the period?”
“TheTrollInvasion.”
