It’s night, but my stomach rumbles loudly enough to remind me that I skipped dinner to finish up another crate. I could lie here and force myself to go back to sleep. It never works, but maybe this time. I pry Roark’s arm from my hip, slowly. Trying not to wake him. The chance of actually not waking him? Less than zero, but a girl’s gotta try. A tiny roll, and I’ve slid off the mattress. A T-shirt and yoga pants later, I’ve slipped into the hall.
The kitchen’s empty, and moonlight from the garden shines on the stainless-steel counters. I open one of the massive fridges.
“Can I help you?”
I jump. “Oh, Leo, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I missed supper, and my stomach is mad enough at me to keep me from sleeping.”
“No need to apologize,” he says and opens the fridge across from the one I was in. “Would you like your dinner, a cheese platter, or”—he smiles at me, his blue eyes twinkling—“a toastie? Grilled cheese, as you call them.”
“Um––”
“Pick what you want, not what you think is the least amount of work,” he says, pulling out two different cheeses from the fridge. Then he retrieves a loaf of homemade sourdough bread from the bread box.
“Toastie, please, since you have the supplies out.” I laugh. Leo knows my affinity for grilled cheese. “Can I help?”
“No, but you can keep me company.”
“My pleasure.” I pull a stool from the other side of the room. “I’ve never seen anyone sit on these before.”
“Neither have I.” Leo’s making quick work of slicing the bread. When the large cast iron griddle is up to temperature, he places four sandwiches on it.
“I’m not sure I could eat two.”
“I know,” Leo says with a smile.
“Your sandwiches are always perfect.”
“It’s the temperature and patience. Start with a warm griddle and turn it down low.”
“True. When I’m making them, I just want food ten minutes ago.”
Leo smiles at me and bustles around. Soon he’s plated my sandwich, cut on the diagonal, with a side of thinly sliced apples, warmed caramel dipping sauce, and a tall glass of lemonade.
He puts a platter of the other sandwiches on the counter next to mine.
“Are you going to join me?”
“No.” Leo washes his hands.
The swinging door creaks. “Duchess, how did you get out of the room?”
“I’m sneaky.”
Leo waves goodbye.
“Thank you, Leo.”
Roark crosses his arms over his chest. “Ohh, toasties,” he says, sounding like a young boy. Which is hard to believe.
I hold the platter up for him to take one. “Do you have grilled cheese in Crest Wing?”
“If we didn’t, do you think it would be worth living there?” He takes a triangle and eats half in one bite.
“Not in my opinion.” I finish off the first half of mine. “Do you miss Crest Wing when you’re here?”
“No. It’s not the same for me as Kieren and Evander.” He points to the bowl of caramel sauce on my plate. “Are you done?”
I hand it to him. “How so?”
