He gave a rueful chuckle. “I suppose you’re right, I don’t like anybody, but still.”
Sophia smiled softly. “I’m sorry that you don’t like him,” she said. “But I think he deserves a fair chance. And I don’t want to discount him entirely because you don’t like him.”
Dietrich grinned. “That’s fair. I just don’t want to see you hurt.” He slung an arm around her shoulders as they approached the front door of the café. “You know that, right?”
He was the older brother she’d never had. The way he acted with her…it felt the way she’d always imagined a sibling relationship would be.
Sophia elbowed him in the ribs. “Yes, I do. Thank you for being like a brother to me and always looking out for me. Just…look out for me with a little less glaring, please?”
Dietrich laughed. “If you say so, little sister. I’ll do my best.”
As they stepped up to the front door, Dietrich let go of her shoulders and opened the door for her. The bell jingled as Sophia’s senses were assailed with the smell of warm spices and the sounds of cheerful people.
The café had a few people scattered around enjoying a meal, and Sophia smiled at Thea, who was bustling around behind the counter.
“You sit,” Dietrich told her, gesturing toward a seat near the fireplace. “I’ll grab our drinks and Thea.”
“I can get my drink,” she protested, reaching into her apron pocket, her hand coming out empty.
Dietrich smirked. “Sure you can.”
Sophia sighed and made her way to her usual seat. Sensing her arrival, Ginger promptly appeared, and Sophia scooped her up. The pretty orange kitty snuggled into her lap and fell asleep after only a moment of purring.
Satisfaction filled her bones as the warm weight of the sleeping cat lulled her.
She hadn’t slept well the night before, tossing and turning with a sense of dread.
It didn’t make sense. Everything was going well, and yet, she was more uneasy than she had been in months.
Sitting here with Ginger always made her feel better.
Dietrich arrived with two drinks and handed one of them to Sophia.
“You didn't need to do that,” she said halfheartedly. “I would have been fine.”
“We’re supporting Thea,” Dietrich said, sitting down next to her and leaning back in his seat.
“Is supporting Thea the only thing you do?” she teased.
“No, it’s not,” he said pointedly. “You know I work for Duke Vaught.”
“And yet it seems like you’re always in town.”
He shook his head. “The Duke is still in Riyel with his new family. There are only a few of us on the estate, and there’s not much to do without the family in residence. Besides, they ran things fine before the Duke sent me here. They don’t need me for much.”
“And it’s more fun to be in town than on the estate?” Sophia asked.
“Especially when you’re here to tease,” Dietrich said.
Sophia took a sip of her cinnamon honey coffee and relaxed further into her seat. “If you must,” she said, “I’ll allow it.”
“I would hope so, given that I did save your life,” he pointed out.
“Are you going to hold that over my head for the rest of my life?”
“The life that you’re able to live because I saved you? Yes. Yes, I am.”
Sophia grinned as he leaned over and shoved her shoulder with his. “I suppose that’s fair.”
