A sudden knock came at the front door.
Lake snarled under his breath and flipped around to the archway, panic in his eyes.
“It’s okay.” I gently squeezed his hand. He didn’t lash out at me from the touch, even in his current state. Instead, he visibly calmed. “It’s probably Miles.”
It was.
Miles stood on the other side of the front door, a nervous, but eager, smile on his lips. The sun gleamed off his chestnut colored hair and brought out the lighter shades of brown in his eyes. “Good morning, mister Evan. I’ve come about the job?”
“Come in.” I opened the door wider for him. “Cupcakes are almost ready to come out of the oven, and I was about to make a pie.”
“Oh, I love pie.” Miles stepped into the cottage, keeping his hands clasped in front of him, fidgeting with them. He looked around, smiling at the shelves of books.
“It will be your assessment for the job,” I said as I led him toward the kitchen. Assessment, my ass. I was, like, ninety-nine percent sure he had it already. “I want to see what you can do.”
“I appreciate the opportunity, sir.”
“You don’t have to call me sir. Calling me Evan is more than okay.”
“All right. Evan.”
“Hello, again,” Briar greeted Miles as we reached the kitchen. He stood beside the counter. Alone.
Lake was gone. Had he dashed toward the woods like last time? Without saying goodbye? I glanced at the trees through the window. Maybe he had gone home, back to his own cottage nestled in the woods.
“Hello.” Miles nodded to Briar. He was so tall he’d nearly had to lower his head to fit through the archway. “Briar, the court physician.”
“Good memory.” Briar smiled before approaching me and placing a soft kiss to my lips. “Lake didn’t leave. He’s upstairs.”
Relief prickled at my chest. “You always seem to know what I’m thinking.”
“Because I know you.” He glided his fingertips along my jaw, and his hazel eyes twinkled with the affection I felt in his every touch. “I need to leave for the clinic, but I’ll return at nightfall with our captain.”
Our captain.It still gave me butterflies.
“Wait!” I bounced over to the counter and grabbed a basket. “Take this with you. It’s your lunch. I also threw in some goodies for you and Thane to share.”
“What would I do without you, love?” Briar accepted the basket but tugged me to him with his other arm.
“Forget to eat, as usual. You’d have a lighter work load though. Me faceplanting on the bedroom floor and scuffing my knee this morning is a good example.”
“Each time you fall, I’ll be here to make it better,” Briar said before kissing me. He then left the kitchen.
Miles’ cheeks darkened with a blush. “The two of you make for a sweet couple.”
“Thanks. There are four of us, actually,” I said before breathing out a laugh. “My other two men aren’t here right now.”
“The knight captain.” Miles nodded. “I don’t believe I’ve met the other.”
A small creak came from the floor above me, and I smiled at the sign of Lake. Even if he wasn’t in sight, knowing he was still in the cottage made me happy.
“Are you ready to get started?” I asked Miles.
Turned out, Miles was more than qualified for the job.
“That looks amazing,” I said, watching as he braided dough in a lattice-style for the top of an apple pie. His fingers were like big sausages but were so delicate.
“I’m glad you approve,” Miles said, the rounded ears jutting from his dark hair wiggling. “It’s always been my dream to work in a kitchen like this. Thank you for giving me the chance.”
