Heart sinking like a ship with a canon sized hole in its hull, I slumped against the tree and tried not to cry. Freaking stubborn cinnamon roll.
“Want me to skin him?”
I flipped around to see Rowan propped against the nearest tree, picking at his nails with his dagger. He was still masked and hooded, just having come home from work. And definitely doing what he did best: eavesdropping on people.
“Be nice,” I said.
“Tell that to the rabbit. He’s the one who made you cry.”
“I’m not crying.” I wiped at my eyes. “I’m just frustrated. Knights are so stubborn.”
“He thinks he’ll be betraying Maddox, so he denies himself what he truly wants.” Rowan shook his head. “It’s why villains are much better lovers. I’d let this entire kingdom turn to ash if it meant spending just one more day with you.”
I joined him beneath the tree. “You’re not a villain.”
“I’m certainly no hero.” He pulled me in close and lowered his mask. “I’m a dagger-wielding bad boy with a soft heart, remember?”
I smiled. “The threat to confiscate your daggers still stands.”
“I’d like to see you try.” Smirking, Rowan grabbed my hand and led me toward the back porch. The door opened just as we reached the steps.
Lake stepped outside and nodded to Rowan. “Welcome home. I… I saved you a plate of pancakes. With extra butter. You can eat before bed.”
The unexpected gesture made my chin wobble.
“Look what you’ve done, pup.” Rowan motioned to me. “Turned him into a sad toad.”
Lake smiled. “Yet, he’s our sad toad.”
“I reckon you’re right.” Rowan returned the smile, though his came with a peek of my favorite fang-like tooth. “And we wouldn’t want him any other way.”
***
The sun slowly inched toward the horizon. I sat on the front porch and watched it set. The café had kept my mind distracted, but with the work day over and the cottage cleaned, I had too much time to think.
“I find it beautiful. How the setting sun casts the world in a dark golden hue. With its final breath, it still tries to shine on everything around it.”
Freaking Callum. He loved me but refused to act on it because of his respect for Maddox. A total misunderstanding that could be cleared up as soon as I saw him again.
The air stirred at my back before Lake’s arms came around me. He dropped his face to my nape and softly inhaled. “I feel the ache in your heart.”
“I’m okay.” I swallowed hard. “A certain cinnamon roll just needs to hurry back so we can talk.”
“I understand how Callum feels,” Lake said. “When I first realized my feelings for you, I was in equal parts confused and terrified. You already had two lovers, one of whom drew his sword each time we met.”
“Oh, Maddox. He’s such an overprotective butt.”
Lake gruffly laughed. “Be patient with Callum. He’ll eventually come around.”
“Cinnamon roll dough needs time to rise before it can go in the oven.” I angled my head back against his. “Guess Cal needs to prove for a while.”
“And in time, he’ll be baked, golden, and delicious.”
“Cannibal.”
Another deep laugh.
A distant clomp of hooves came from the path leading to the cottage. Movement showed through the trees before Maddox and the black stallion appeared. He was alone.
