“Not in the least,” I cut in. “How can we help, Raina?”
“Um…” She pauses for another moment, biting her lower lip while I follow the path of a loose brown curl from her temple all the way down to the name tag pinned to her shirt. I’d love to tuck it behind her ear before I bend her over again. Claiming Raina has been the single most intense experience of my more recent existence.
“I have the Valentine’s Dinner menu here.” She finally resumes her stride toward my chair. “I figured you might want to take a look at it and approve it?”
“I certainly wouldn’t mind a peek at whatever wonders you’re cooking, Miss Redford!” John exclaims. “You’ve done nothing but dazzle our palates from the minute we set foot in Haus of Sin.”
“You’re too kind,” Raina replies.
“Raina!” Alex exclaims as he joins us in the lounge. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I just brought the menu for the Valentine’s Day Dinner for you to green-light— or not,” she says with a tight shrug.Everything isn’t alright, that much I can tell. And it stems from Deanna’s initial seating arrangement.
Valentine’s Day Dinner marks the end of our weeklong contract. Starting the day after tomorrow, we’re supposed to go back to the way it was before we claimed her, and I doubt any of us is able to do that.
“Sure, we can all have a look,” Alex replies.
He scans the room. I don’t need to tell him what happened. He can read us all without any effort. And Deanna’s satisfied smirk speaks volumes, along with the hard look on Vincent’s face. Alex, however, is not one for drama, so he takes the menu proposal from Raina and gives her a subtle, reassuring smile.
“It’s fantastic,” he says as he reads over it, then lets me have a peek as well.
Just as I had expected, Raina came up with some fantastic taste combinations, combining molecular gastronomy with the eclectic traditions of Portland in winter. Every single dish is a love letter to our Haus, to the forest from where our hosts’ personas stem, and to the concept of spoiling oneself in the lap of luxury.
“Loving the lightness of some of these dishes,” I say with an appreciative nod. Raina takes the menu back from me and gives it to Vincent. “Some of our weight-concerned guests will certainly appreciate it.”
John laughs wholeheartedly. “Yeah, Genevieve is gonna swoon, I’ll tell ya!”
“Raina could use a few light dishes, too,” Deanna giggles.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Raina promptly replies.
My blood boils. Vincent looks like he’s about to toss Deanna out the window. And I’m pretty sure Alex is all but done with the woman. It’s one thing to be a cocktease and a persistent brownnose, who can’t take no for an answer, but taking potshots at our women?
“I’m just saying, you’d look amazing, if you cut back on your calories and for your health, too,” Deanna says, her nonchalance downright infuriating,
“Maybe mind your own fucking plate,” Vincent mutters.
Deanna gasps. “Excuse me?”
“Raina looks wonderful. Sheiswonderful,” I cut in. “In more ways than one. You may have different beauty standards, Deanna, but they’re yours, not hers. And certainly not ours.”
Alex tucks the lock of hair I was eyeing earlier behind Raina’s ear. “She’s precisely the way she’s supposed to be.” He mouths the word “perfect” when she shudders slightly under his touch. “Now, as far as I’m concerned, I’m happy with the menu proposal.”
“Me, too,” I reply.
“Make that three,” Vincent says. “Deanna, don’t you have something more important to do?”
The Fox walks over to John, who’s been quietly watching this remarkably tense exchange, and rests a hand on his shoulder. “John, my darling pet, shall we go to the playroom?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Raina retrieves her menu proposal and heads for the door. “I’ve got some work to do in the kitchen.”
“You can stay for a little while, if you’d like,” Alex rushes to suggest while Deanna takes John’s hand, both of them getting up. “Rest by the fire. Enjoy a splash of whiskey.”
“No, I’m good, thanks,” Raina says and walks out.
John is dazed, and Deanna smirks. The Fox gives Vincent one last wink before she takes her guest away. Alex, Vincent, and I are left with the crackling blaze in the fireplace and a sour taste in our mouths.
