Forged in Stone - Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,56
on, you are going to cook for me?”
“With everything else going on, we were enjoying each other this morning.” He helped himself to more fruit.
“True.” I could feel the blood rushing to my face. “We shouldn’t have been.”
“We should have.” He reached over and took my hand. “There is nothing wrong with what we did. And what we will do.”
“I’m not talking morally. I’m not particularly concerned with that, it’s more that we should be focusing on the bigger issue. I can’t focus around you.”
“We have established that. And you believed we could get it out of our system.”
“And you proved me wrong.”
“Either way, I am making dinner for you tonight.”
“I’ll agree, because it means you will have to be back in time.”
“I will be.”
“Good. Otherwise I’ll have to ask someone else to cook for me.”
“Oh, will you?”
“Yes, since I know so many people in Bellgard.”
“Are you implying you are with me because I am your only option?”
“No.” With him? I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. “Not at all.”
“Good.” His eyes locked with mine. “Because then I would have to lock you away so you never met anyone else.”
“That had better be a joke.”
He laughed. “Of course it is. So much for gaining your trust.”
“I trust you.”
“You trust me in bed. You do not trust me outside of it.”
“Yes I do.”
He shook his head. “You want to think you do. That is different. Either way, we need to finish up.”
“Is it time for that meeting?”
“Yes. You ready for it?”
“Does it matter?”
“It matters, although you have to go either way.”
“All right.” I started cleaning up our plates and the extra food.
“I can take care of our mess.”
“I’ll get this. You are the one making dinner tonight.”
He smiled. “How about we do this together?”
“Sure. That works too.” We piled up the plates and put them back onto the tray. James picked it up. “They will clean up the room while we are out.” He set the tray down.
“They meaning?”
“Household staff, and before you get all upset, they are treated well. Working in the castle is considered an honor, and can you imagine Charlotte treating anyone without respect?”
“No.” Although we had just met, I already felt like I knew her. Charlotte definitely wasn’t the rude, treat her underlings differently kind of person.
We walked out into the hall, and I let out a deep breath. Hanging out in my room was one thing, now we were going back to reality. I had no idea what to expect from these other guys. I only hoped they didn’t somehow blame me for whatever trouble was afoot.
James put a hand on my back and led me toward the grand staircase. I held onto the banister and tried to hold up my dress so I wouldn’t trip and fall all the way down the stairs. At least no one could see my dirty old shoes that definitely didn’t go with the dress.
The murmur of voices pushed my thoughts away from the shoes. Clearly we weren’t the first ones to arrive. We reached the first floor, and James led us toward an open set of double doors.
Inside was a long table filled with people. Everyone looked toward the door as James and I walked in.
Liam raised his hand and everyone stood up.
Charlotte smiled. “Nice of you two to join us.”
“We are right on time.” James led me over to the two vacant chairs in the middle of the long table. We stood in front of them like everyone else was doing.
Charlotte ignored James’ comment and turned to me. “Ainsley, I would like for you to meet the rest of my Guard and Samantha.”
My eyes went right to the girl. She had long blond hair tied in a braid. She was wearing pants and a tunic that accentuated her slim figure.
She smiled. “Nice to meet you Ainsley. I hope your stay in Energo has been pleasant so far.”
“It has, thank you.”
James nudged his shoulder into mine. I ignored him.
Charlotte smiled at us as though to say she thought we were cute. “The goofy looking one next to Samantha is Kevin.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Ignore my sister. Nice to meet you.”
“You are the Tar Heel?” I studied the tall and muscular guy sitting beside the girl. His hair was dark brown, and nearly matched his sister’s. His physique definitely was that of a college basketball player.
He grinned. “You’ve heard of me?”
“Well, I looked you up. I’m a big fan of Carolina.”
“Oh, cool. Yeah, I played about half a season. My