“Yeah.” I placed the last bowl on the rack to dry and stepped over to the counter to devour the last slice of fig bread. “I’m just sad this bread is almost gone.”
“I’ll make another loaf for you,” he said. “I know a wonderful lemon bread recipe as well. I learned it from my father.”
“Was he a baker?”
Briar nodded. “He was. My mother was a seamstress.”
“I bet they’re proud of you,” I said between bites. “You grew up to be a damn good physician.”
The quill moved across the page as he continued working. His brow crinkled in the center. “Unfortunately, sickness took them before they could see me become one.”
I stopped chewing. “Oh, fuck. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He offered me a weak smile. “That was many years ago. It’s also the reason why I chose this profession. I felt powerless when they were sick, wanting to help them but not knowing how. So I learned.”
“With tragedy came a new beginning,” I said. “You found your purpose.”
His hand stilled on the paper, and our eyes met. “There you go again, saying such profound things.” His gaze then returned to the paper.
“What’cha working on?” I asked.
“A budget request.”
“Oh.” I shoved the last of the bread into my mouth. “What’s it for?”
“I buy most of the supplies from the local marketplace, but some of the items used in stronger tonics have to be purchased from a higher-grade merchant and are more costly.” Briar signed the bottom of a document and folded it. “The royal accounting department gives the clinic a set amount of funds each month, but because of the attack, I’m running low on a few important ingredients. I’ll drop it off when I’m finished here.”
“I can take it for you,” I said. “Thane is busy studying, and you’re busy too. I have the time.”
“You don’t have to. You’ve done enough already.”
“I know I don’t have to. Iwantto. Gimme.” I stuck out a hand and wiggled my fingers. Amused, he handed over the document. “Very important question incoming. Where’s the accounting department?”
Briar rattled off the location and how to get there. “I can ask Thane to do it instead if you prefer,” he said after a short pause, cocking his head to the side. Had something in my expression made him change his mind? “I don’t want you getting lost.”
“Nope. I can do it.” I tapped the paper against my hand and stepped toward the door. “Be back in a bit.”
“Thank you. I’ll await your return.”
“I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long.” I tried to be cute and toss him a wink before spinning toward the door and exiting in a cool way, but I misjudged the distance between my face and the door and smacked right into it.
“Are you all right?” he asked, alarmed. That alarm just horrified me even further.
“I’m okay. I meant to do that.” I pushed the door open and got out of there as fast as possible, my cheeks on fire.
Sigh.He was probably laughing at me. Thane too. Hell, I laughed at myself as I strolled through the courtyard. I was just thankful Briar had been the one to see it. Maddox would never have let me live it down.
After leaving the square, I headed toward another set of buildings. The spring morning held a slight chill, but the sun warmed the top of my head as my feet padded down the path. Flowers sprang from the soil, the blooms freshly opened. Tree leaves danced with a light breeze. A light breeze that nearly stole the paper from my hand. I held it tighter and laughed under my breath.
How hard could it be to deliver a simple document?
The answer? Not so simple. It took all of five minutes for me to get lost.
I came to a fork in the path and stopped. “Did he say to take a right or a left here?” I could always just cross my fingers and pick one, hoping it was right.
A rustle came from the bushes.
“Hello?” I asked, voice veering on a squeak.
