“Kuya wanted to support Evan.” He forewent the fork and picked the slice up with his hand, taking a bite off the end. Frosting smeared on the edge of his lips. “Prince Sawyer wanted to come too, but he couldn’t get away from the castle.”
“The prince is meeting with a bridal candidate this afternoon,” Noah added. “A baron’s daughter from a neighboring kingdom.”
Kuya bit at his cake with more force, his tail flicking behind him. I’d learned to read his tail-flicks, knowing when it came from happiness or when, like now, it came from annoyance. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, unable to hide his frustration. But he didn’t say a word. He just ate his cake and looked like he wanted to burn the world down, preferably with the baron’s daughter in the center of the fiery carnage.
I should’ve given him a bigger piece of cake.
Eventually, the business rush died down as customers received their orders and sat to enjoy. Some settled into the reading parlor and browsed the shelves of hardbacks before choosing one and curling up in the armchairs. There was a decent selection of books. Non-fiction, like the ones Briar loved to read about types of plants and their uses, and also fictional tales of epic adventures and gallant heroes.
Some were romance novels. Smutty ones too. My eyes had nearly popped out when I flipped to a random page and saw a passage about a knight railing a princess who had disguised herself as a commoner male to flee her palace.
How I knew so much of the plot? Well, I hadn’t read it. Nope. Not at all.
The customer was about to reach a super spicy scene though. I offered her a cookie from the sample platter before continuing on.
As the sun began to drop lower in the sky, the light shifted, filtering through the tall windows in a darker hue. The day was nearing its end, marking my first official day as a café owner.
Little by little, the patrons paid for their orders and left. The dining room cleared, leaving only the people in the parlor who were engrossed in books. I topped off their coffee cups and hummed to myself as I returned to the kitchen to clean up.
“I’d say the grand opening was a success,” a deep voice said from behind me before arms circled my waist. “Looks like you won’t need to live on the street and do questionable things for money after all.”
Smiling, I turned to Maddox. “Fingers crossed it stays this way and wasn’t just a fluke.” No matter how many times I’d stared into his deep blue eyes, he still took my breath away. “I appreciate all you did today. I didn’t expect you to clean.”
“I didn’t mind,” he responded. “While living in the orphanage, prior to starting my training as a knight, I worked in several taverns to make some coin. Cleaning tables and sweeping floors mostly.”
“They let a kid work in a tavern?”
He seemed confused by the question. “Is that strange?”
“A little,” I said. “Kids aren’t even allowed in bars where I’m from. They can’t work until they’re at least sixteen either. Sometimes eighteen or twenty-one, depending on the job.”
“Your home seems like such an odd place.”
“It’s not my home. Not anymore.” I snuggled into his chest. “My home is here with you and Briar.”
He relaxed against me. “And ours is with you.”
“Go sit and relax. I’ll bring you out something delicious.”
“Something delicious?” Maddox dropped his face to my neck and lightly grazed his teeth along my jugular vein. Did he feel the quickening of my pulse? “I already have it right here in my arms. And once the café closes, I plan to drag you upstairs and devour every delicious inch of you.”
“You better share,” Briar said as he walked toward us. He’d removed his jacket earlier and had pushed the sleeves of his undershirt to his elbows.
Why did men look so much sexier when they did that? I wanted to nibble him. And as Briar slipped his arms around me, that’s exactly what I did. He released a low laugh and held me closer. My heart was so full it could burst.
“The dining area is clean, Mister Evan,” Alice said from the doorway, unfazed by the sight of the Evan sandwich taking place beside the kitchen counter. “The customers in the reading parlor have just left as well.”
“Awesome. Thank you. Please help yourself to any of the leftover desserts before you head home.” The pastries I had pre-baked sold, but I’d whipped up a few more batches of cookies and cupcakes throughout the day, in between the busy rushes.
“Many thanks.” She tipped her head before grabbing a few chocolate chip cookies. “I’ve never eaten anything quite as good as these.”
“Careful, Alice,” Maddox said, a smirk on his lips. “You’ll give him a big head.”
“Still smaller than yours,” I told him.
“Everyone is smaller than him,” Briar said.
Maddox’s smirk widened. “In all ways that matter most.”
