CHAPTER SEVEN
The chef’s smile grew as I scarfed down another pancake. He asked, “So you like?”
“I do,” I answered. I took a big gulp of my apple juice. “These are amazing. Secret recipe?”
“Yep.” Cass snorted, eating a piece of bacon. “Straight from the box.”
Alaric rolled his eyes. “Don’t let him fool you. He has a secret recipe for everything. He’s just like his dad, Theron. He loves to cook.”
Silver eyes narrowed. “Okay, okay. I might put a pinch of cinnamon in the batter. But, I swear, that’s it.”
I piled one more pancake on my plate, trying not to blush at my appetite. Normally, I ate so much at New City Orphanage it was distressing. It was no less humiliating at this table. But I was going to eat no matter what. Embarrassment, be damned.
Alaric merely smiled as I poured syrup all over it. “Faith, excuse my memory loss about last night, but can you remind me how you came to be at my house?”
I placed my fork down and gave him my full attention, my—hopefully—last pancake could wait. “Actually, that may be an issue.”
“Such as?” Cass cocked his head.
“Well, I think there was a glitch at Marriage Match. I believe I went to the wrong house. So, I’m at the wrong house with the wrong man. Someone did bid and paid a lot for the match.”
Alaric sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
His jaws ground together, not speaking.
Cass cleared his throat. “We’ve read your file, so you don’t need to explain that to us. New City Hall keeps many records on the children brought to New City Orphanage. So you went to Marriage Match because you need to be married soon. You arrived at the wrong address, and some man is still out there waiting for you?”
I nodded once…very slowly.
Alaric’s eyes were flicking back and forth between red and brown, red and brown. He shook his head hard and groused, “We’ll call them today. I’ll pay double what the other person paid to get them off your back. Does that sound all right to you?”
I glanced at Cass, and then back to Alaric. “Um, that’s fine. But I still need to be married in a week. I’ll be twenty-five then.”
Cass snorted. “My dad is the law. If you don’t want to marry anyone, then I’m sure it can be handled—”
I held up a stopping hand. “No. No one is above the law. If the individuals that created the law can’t abide by it themselves, then they should rethink their principles.”
Alaric’s brows rose, his words extremely calm—and measured. “You do realize by saying that, it means you will marry me. Within a week. You know what you are to me.”
I took another drink of my apple juice. My hand didn’t even shake under his direct scrutiny. I lifted my chin up, and stated evenly, “Yes, I’ll marry you in a week. Thank you for the best proposal any man has ever made.”
Cass choked on his bacon and began banging on his chest. His eyes darted back and forth between us, unsure whether to leave or to stay.
Alaric simply grinned. It was a tiny bit feral, enough for me to push back against my seat while he stared. He lifted his hands into the air, palms up, and stated, “As you wish.”
Cass snickered, eyeing his friend. “Congrats.”
My fiancé flipped him off.
* * *
“Why are we at the Corporate Army headquarters? I thought we were going dress shopping?” I asked, standing a little closer to my future husband. I stood up on tiptoe, and whispered, “These people are scary.”
Alaric snorted and glanced down at me. “You don’t find Cass and me this frightening, and we’re a hundred times worse than they are.”
Yeah, but even when he went berserk, he hadn’t hurt me. And Cass had been nothing but kind to me. These people clad in their black CA uniforms were studying me with curiosity—and distrust. Lots and lots of distrust as I stood next to one of the leaders of New City.
And they kept staring at Cass’s bare feet.
