Page 20 of Royal Fling
There was certainly nothing revolting about the notion of being with someone like Luke. None at all, in fact.
“Sorry. It’s just funny.”
Luke rolled his eyes, and I glanced back and forth between them, certain there was a story there, but instead of putting my foot in my mouth again and prying any further, I retreated to the kitchen and prepared everything.
Everyone marveled when I rolled back into the dining room with the serving trolley and started serving the food in the middle.
“Oh my God, it all smells delicious,” Beth said.
“I’m glad you think so,” Fisayo said. “I wanted to cook some food from home for you.”
Luke smiled and looked at the plates across the table as I took my seat at the other end. We had swapped the long dining table for a smaller, more intimate table, so I was only inches within reach of Luke. Something that shouldn’t scare me as much as it did. I never misbehaved around company, but the way his face beamed like a child at a candy store at all the options made my stomach clench with want and need I hadn’t experienced before.
“So this is jollof rice. I tried to keep the spice moderate as I wasn’t sure how much you can handle. I’ve also made plain rice. Then you have fufu.” Fisayo pulled a piece of the pounded cassava and molded it over and over in her fingers, showing both guests how to eat it. “Suya are meat skewers and then Egusi soup. That one is a bit spicier and has some fish paste in it. Chicken drumsticks I’m sure you all know.”
There were also beans and deep-fried plantain as well as other small delicacies all made from scratch.
“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble, Fisayo,” Luke said, and Nonny dismissed him with a tut.
“No trouble at all.”
Everyone helped themselves, and I watched Luke try this and that, getting acquainted with the foods, taking a sip of his wine. There was something about him that made me want to look into his brain and find what made him tick. Find what sort of man he was. What he liked. What he disliked.
The fact that he was so at ease with the woman who gave him up only served to put him higher in my esteem.
“I’ve tried so many things over the years, but I don’t think anything tasted as good as this,” he said finally after a few moments.
Had I been staring for a long time? Where had my manners gone? I knew better than this.
“Nonny is the best cook. Wait until you try her puff-puffs for dessert,” I said.
Fisayo chuckled and rolled her eyes.
“Puff-puffs are Auggie’s favorite. They’re nothing special.”
“I beg to differ,” I said.
“So… if you don’t mind me asking, what is it you do, August?”
The way he said my name, one would think I’d never heard my name before, but I loved the way he pronounced it, the way it rolled off his tongue, and the accompanying look he was giving me.
“I work with charities and political figures to help different causes around the world,” I said.
It wasn’t a lie. That was exactly what I did. The fact that I did it as a figurehead of state was irrelevant to my work. At least when it came to the people around this table. I didn’t want anyone to start treating me different because I was a prince. Especially Luke.
“Wow. Sounds fantastic,” Luke said and smiled at me while taking a bite of rice. Only he missed his mouth and the fork landed on his cheek, making the rice fall off. “Nice job, Luke,” he muttered, withdrawing his eyes from me.
I held in a laugh and watched him clean up his minimal mess, missing the heat of his eyes on me. Had I caused that mishap? Or was it a genuine clumsy accident? If only I could read his mind.
“Tell us about your family. I want to know everything,” Fisayo said.
“Well, let’s see. My oldest brother, Andy, runs a bar in Cedarwood Beach. He was married, had three kids, and then lost his wife to cancer,” he said.
“I’m so sorry,” Fisayo said and reached a hand across. “Were you close?”
“Yes, we all live in the same house. She was a good friend when I was growing up. And after losing mom, losing Lucy as well was a sucker punch to the whole family. But that was a while ago. He now has a wonderful boyfriend, and they run the bar together.”
He seemed to pause and stare at Fisayo for a moment there, but I wasn’t sure what that was about or if Nonny even noticed.
