Page 19 of Undone By The Mountain Daddies

I return to slicing the bread, making a mental note to bake a gluten-free version tomorrow to please the princess.

She really does look like a princess. She got caught out in a blizzard and her hair is still shiny, cascading down her shoulders in loose curls. It’s like silk.

“If you can’t eat the bread, perhaps you’ll try some venison?”

Sienna eyes me suspiciously. “How can I be sure you’re not trying to poison me?”

“Because you just drank our water and you’re still alive.” I lean in and accidentally catch a whiff of her perfume, which immediately makes me forget my train of thought. “Take it or leave it, but I would hate to see you go to bed hungry.”

Sienna jumps off the stool and enters the kitchen, her slender frame brushing past me. She eyes the meat on the stove.

“Is it up to your standards?” I ask mockingly.

“I’ll guess we’ll have to see,” she says, heading back to her seat.

“I’ll have it with a glass of red. Harlan Estate, if you have it.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for a Merlot from the grocery store.” I grab the bottle and twist open the cap, serving the venison and a side of vegetables, all of which Sienna turns her nose up at.

“That’s way too much food for me.”

I glance down at the cut of venison. Pretty average to me, but of course, women like her are used to being served appetizers as mains—a way to keep the weight off. Not like she would ever have to worry about that.

“Eat as much as you’d like and leave the rest. You must be starving.”

Sienna puts her nose closer to the plate. “It smells… okay.” It takes forever, but she finally cuts a small piece, places it gingerly in her mouth and chews.

Lines appear between her brows, and I’m getting nervous.

“Wow!” she says. “Where did you get this venison?”

“Approximately four hundred feet west of here,” chimes Knox.

“Is that where I’ll find the nearest grocery store?”

“That’s where you’ll find deer.”

Sienna’s eyes open wide. She whips around to face Knox. “You killed a deer?”

He nods slowly and looks like he’s trying not to laugh.

“Poor thing.”

“You’re eating it now.”

“I assumed.” Sienna grimaces and holds the fork mid-air before taking her next bite. “What else do you kill?”

“People.”

“Is that your idea of a joke?”

“Yes,” I answer for Knox, shooting him a look. “He’s joking. Eat the venison and have some more water.” I pour her another glass of water. “You’ll feel better soon.”

She moves onto the broccoli, cutting it into small pieces. Table manners, of course. Her kind applies etiquette to everything, even broccoli. I know this from working as a chef in LA.

“Yum,” she says. “Did you get these from Erewhon? There has to be one around here. I would die for one of their cold-pressed juices.”

“There’s nothing but snow outside of this cabin, sweetheart.” A smug smile plays on my lip. Even the princess herself is impressed with my cooking.