Chapter Four
Back in Business, Zombie Style
I loved early mornings. Just not when I’d been fucked to within an inch of my life the night before. After waking at fuck-this-o’clock, I’d cooked breakfast for the house of ravenous men and then sent them all to work.
Pastries covered the kitchen island, sorted by type and flavor, and the burr mills along the wall freshly ground coffee beans. Clinks of silverware and the murmur of voices came from the main dining room as customers piled into the café.
“Do you need to take a break, Mister Evan?” Miles set an order on the counter for pickup. Alice fluttered in, grabbed the tray, and winked at us before rushing back into the busy dining room. “You look tired.”
“Nah, I’m okay. Thanks though.” I smiled, touched by his concern. Embarrassed too. If he only knew the reason why. “It’s nothing some coffee won’t fix.”
Zombie Evan needed more caffeine.
“Let me know if that changes.” He checked the lemon macarons in the oven. The daily special included them with our new raspberry tea. Perfect flavors to welcome spring.
I wiped my hands on my apron and searched for my mug. “Where did I put you?” I’d poured one not long ago and had taken two sips before losing it somewhere between making banana muffins and strawberry cupcakes.
Cookies cooled on a tray between glazed donuts and blueberry scones. Machines whirred and filled the room with the intoxicating smell of brewed coffee, adding to the sweet aroma of pastries fresh from the oven.
But no mug in sight.
I scurried around the kitchen, finishing the last batch of frosting and searching for my coffee in between. When the timer for the macarons sounded, I bounced over and pulled them from the oven. But then there was a rushing in my head, and my balance went wonky.
I caught myself on the edge of the stove, nearly dropping the platter.
“Mister Evan?” Miles flipped around.
“I… I’m okay.” Slowly exhaling, I carefully set the platter down. Time to admit defeat. “You know, I think I’ll take that break after all.”
“Of course. Let me help you.” Miles guided me over to the table in front of the bay windows. He then poured a fresh mug of coffee and brought it over, along with a donut. “Sit and rest for a while. Take as long as you need.”
“Thank you.” I sipped the coffee, sighing in comfort as the familiar brew hit my taste buds.
In truth? Sleep deprivation wasn’t the main reason behind my exhaustion. I’d probably pushed myself too hard, too soon. The mercenary’s fire attack had been powerful, causing severe injuries. Ones I needed to take more seriously.
Not that I’d admit it to my men.
Miles cast worried glances my way before scooping sweet breakfast rice into a bowl for another customer’s order.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m okay. Really.”
The demi-bear offered me another smile. It came easier now. “Have you chosen your attire for the ball?”
“Briar had a suit tailored for me,” I said, amazed that my handsome physician had found the time to do so. If I didn’t wake up beside him every morning, I would’ve sworn he’d never slept. “He hasn’t let me see it yet though. Just took my measurements and shooed me away.”
Miles chuckled. “I’m sure it’s lovely. Ellie helped me with my suit. It’s a dark shade of blue.”
Ellie was his girlfriend. And soon-to-be fiancée, by the sound of it. Miles lit up like a Christmas tree when talking about her.
“You look good in blue,” I told him.
A blush touched his cheeks. “It’s my favorite color.”
“Are you still going to make truffles for the ball?” I asked after taking a bite of my donut. His talents in the chocolate department far exceeded mine. He could temper and sculpt with it like nobody’s business.
“Yes, if that’s all right with you. Dark chocolate truffles with salted caramel filling.” A warm smile crossed his face. “I made a small batch to test the recipe, and Ellie ate every single one.”
“She and Rowan are like two peas in a pod,” I said, laughing. “When I make spicy rum truffles, he doesn’t let anyone else eat them. He snatches the tray and runs off with it.”
Miles echoed my laugh.
“Telling lies in here, I see.” Rowan shuffled into the kitchen, eyes barely open. His dark auburn hair was pulled back from his face, but one strand fell forward. Rebellious, just like him. “You damn well know I don’t like sweets.”
“Mhm. Tell that to the spicy truffles.”
He smirked, showing a peek of my favorite tooth. It hung lower than the others and had a slight point, like a vampire’s fang.
“Morning, Mister Rowan.” Miles slathered butter on a croissant and plated it with an assortment of fruit, then carried it to the table. “For your breakfast.”
“Thanks,” Rowan said before his smirk grew. Turned mischievous. “You’re so nice, Miles. I wouldn’t mind having you around more. Why couldn’t you be part of the harem?”
I almost choked on my donut. “Ro!”
“Oh.” A deep flush crept up the demi-bear’s neck. “I… well, I do love Mister Evan. Very much. Only, not in a romantic sense. You see, my heart belongs to Ellie and—”
“Ignore him, Miles,” I said, shooting my red-haired spy a look. “He’s a butthead.”
Said butthead looked awfully pleased with himself as he tore into the buttery croissant. Carbs were his weakness. He’d live off buttermilk biscuits and bread if he could. Roasted almonds too. And rum. Lots of rum.
Sometimes I felt he should’ve been a pirate instead of a spy. Drinking barrels of rum and sailing the high seas. Plundering booty.
“Did you see Lake before you came downstairs?” I asked and took another bite.
Rowan nodded. “He was in bed, playing with his wood.”
Again, I nearly choked. Death by donut. It wouldn’t be the worst way to go, but it’d certainly be the most embarrassing.
“Don’t die on me, little treasure.” Rowan chuckled and leaned forward, patting my back.
“He’s whittling?” I asked between short coughs. It was Lake’s favorite hobby. He made all sorts of things—wooden charms, figurines, and chess pieces for when he and Duke played together.
“Uh-huh.” The humor fled Rowan’s eyes as something more serious came over him. “How’re the lungs?”
“Working well enough,” I said, forcing a smile. Miles looked over at me from his place at the stove, brow raised. I cleared my throat. “So. How was work last night? Catch any bad guys?”
“That’s spy business,” he responded, smirk returning. Pretty sure it’d become a permanent fixture on his face someday. “You should be more concerned about yourself.”
“I’m fine.” I waved my hand. “Never felt better.”
Another glance from Miles.
Rowan caught it. He then narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ll be watching you, little treasure. One cough or wince, and I’m strapping you to a chair until closing time.”
Not long ago, I’d had a fantasy of him doing exactly that—strapping me down and straddling me. Masked and delicious with his dagger out and a devilish gleam in his topaz eyes. Him joining the Secret Order had unlocked a kink I never knew I had.
Did that make me a dark romance slut?
“That won’t be necessary,” I said with an elevated heart rate. “I’ll take breaks as needed.”
“You better.”
Miles tried to stifle a laugh.
The lemon macarons sold out before lunch, and we rushed around to bake more. Lake had joined us downstairs and made more raspberry tea, then sat beside Rowan at the table. They both watched me, often beating me to the oven to pull out pastries and carry platters to the counter.
“Um. Mister Evan?” Miles called from the pantry.
“Yeah?” I went over to him. And instantly started laughing. My coffee mug from earlier, the one I’d lost, sat on a shelf near a bag of flour. “Well, that solves that mystery.”
Clearly, my body wasn’t the only thing not back to its usual function. My mind was scattered too. With a laugh, I exited the pantry and got back to work.
A light thump came from the back porch. The door opened, and the unique scent that wafted in told me exactly who it was before even seeing him.
“Cal!” I padded over and met him beneath the archway. “Home early again, huh? When will you and Maddox stop being so silly? I’m safe here at the cottage.”
He softly smiled. “Although my worry over you is partly why I’m here… I’ve also brought someone.”
“Who?”
That’s when the door was pushed open wider, and I was attacked by a pretty brunette. She threw her arms around me and swayed me from side to side.
“Penny?” I returned her hold, both shocked and excited. She was Callum’s sister. The two of us had vibed from the second we met. Her high spirit and bubbly personality complemented mine. “I thought you were away on a quest.”
She was a member of the Adventurers’ Guild and regularly accepted bounties and quests, traveling with her party. Made a decent living doing it too.
“It was delayed due to the storm,” she said, drawing back. Her wide, toothy smile told me she was excited to see me too. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning instead. But I wanted to come see you first. The offer still stands for you to join me.”
“Absolutely not,” both Callum and Rowan said at the same time. They then looked at each other, a scowl not far behind.
I hugged her again. “I’m glad you came over. Are you hungry?”
“Oh, a muffin would be great.”
“You really are Cal’s sister.” I grabbed her hand and led her into the kitchen, shaking my head.
“The blueberry ones are mine,” he said, walking behind us. “Touch them and meet a grisly fate.”
Penny scoffed. “I fight boars for a living. You think I fear a weakling like you?”
“Weakling?” Callum flashed a lopsided grin. “I’ll make you regret those words.”
The two of them started wrestling. Lightheartedly, of course, putting each other in headlocks and jabbing the other’s sides.
Rowan stole another croissant from the counter and watched them as he chewed. “Come on. You can hit him harder than that.”
Laughing, I poured each of them a cup of coffee and plated some snacks. Blueberry muffins and sliced strawberries. It ended the fight in an instant, luring them over to the table. Miles scooped rice into bowls and handed them out too.