Kissed By A Demon Spy (8 page)

“A hundred and seventy-two years.” Her tone was flat, her eyes dull.

What. The. Fuck?

Aden’s hand clenched the arm of his chair so tightly that the wicker didn’t have a prayer of holding together.
Snap
.

His vision went black with rage.
Snap.

That fucking long?
Snap.

He cursed every foul word he could think of. This beautiful creature, taken as a child and kept in that shithole? Her innocence destroyed, her life shattered. How in the living hell was she able to carry on like a normal fae?
 
A growl rumbled in his throat. “I’d kill that bastard if he wasn’t already dead.”

Garnet stared at him, wide eyes flicking from the broken spikes of wood, to his face.

Shit. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. “Sorry. What that man and his sons did, or still do, is fucked. They need to be in their slaves’ position. See if they last a goddamn day.” Unable to sit still, he got up and paced the porch.

“They’re dead now.” The corner of her mouth turned up, but the attempt at a smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Two are. Drant has two more sons. I’m damn sure they’ll move in any day, restore Stroehm to its hellish glory.”

She swallowed. “Maybe they’ll think it’s a lost cause.”

A place like that? Not likely. Money spoke volumes, and the gladiator fighting scene had greased Draven’s palms well, turning his operation into an oily, fucked up cesspool of death. “We can hope.” He took a drink of cider to try to cool the rage bubbling in his chest. “You worked in the kitchen?”

“Yes. Dash too. He was always at my side.”

Thank fuck. With that face and that body? He slid a glance to where she sat, silky hair cascading down her back. She was so gorgeous, Aden was surprised she hadn’t been a thrall. Both father and son had reputations of having many sex slaves, and subjecting them to more abuse and perversion than any creature should have to endure. Garnet’s face, even now, exuded a sweetness and kindness. Even after years of hell. Aden could only imagine the radiant beauty she was at fifteen. On the cusp of womanhood, she would’ve been irresistible.

And the boy. It didn’t take a genius to see the tight bond between them. No wonder she’d been lingering within earshot of the school. “Is this the longest you’ve been apart from him?”

“Yes. I bet he’s doing better than I am.”

“You look like you’re holding up okay.”

“I’m just glad Dash and I are here.” She squared her shoulders and sipped her cider.

He sat down again and leaned forward in his chair, dangling his hands on his knees. “How
did
you get out? I mean, yeah, I met the Hunter and the porter. But how do you know them?”

She swallowed. “Some friends sent…other friends.”

Aden studied her. News traveled fast, but fast enough to get people inside? Something was off. No one
walked
out of Stroehm. “You lost me. Friends?”

She sighed, her gaze drifting to a red hanging geranium. “I helped some people escape, and they promised to help me and Dash.”

She may as well have drop kicked him into his newly sanded porch railing. “You
what
?” This tiny sweet female had aided in an escape? And she’d obviously been successful.

“It’s a long story,” she whispered.

He stared into the gold-flecked depths of her eyes, mesmerized by the mix of pain and steely resolve simmering in them. Gods above, he wanted to know everything about her, but he sensed he’d pushed enough for today. “I bet it is.”

She looked back at the geranium. “This is healthy. You take good care of her.”

Aden didn’t mind the abrupt change of subject. Hell, he was happy that his questions hadn’t sent her running. “Didn’t know plants had a gender. And I can’t take credit. Pearl comes over and waters all of my plants.”

“I see.” She smiled. “Dash loved her shop. We stopped in yesterday.”

“Did you get anything for yourself?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Guess I’m not much of a candy person. Although,” a sweet smile danced across her face, “her caramel dipped apples are delicious. She’d make them after supper, when it got too dark to pick strawberries, and she used to let the town kids help. Said there were eight thousand apples and she only had two hands.” A giggle escaped her lush lips. “Pearl. I was glad to see her again.”

“So you already knew a few things about cooking.”

She nodded.

“Like I mentioned, the job’s yours if you want it.”
I want you around here. I’m yours if you want.

What the fuck? Where did that come from? He was a spy. She was a former slave trying to rebuild her life. There would be no mine and yours. Not for him.

Her eyes widened. “You haven’t tasted anything of mine.”

He stifled a groan at her double entendre, probably unintentional. “Consider this discussion your job interview. Final decision will be made pending a meal.”

She picked at a thread on her pants. “I…I still need to think about it…I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”

“Understandable.” He propped one ankle on his opposite knee. “I have a proposal.”

“What?” Dark eyes flicked up to his. Did he detect a note of eagerness? Hmm.

“Tomorrow night I’m expecting to fill some rooms, but the inn won’t be overly crowded. Cook a few things I can serve for the dinner crowd. That way I can ask the patrons, and it won’t just be my opinion. Which may be biased. And you can decide if you might like to do it again.”

She blushed. “What if they don’t like my cooking?”

“Do you think you’re a good cook?”

“Well…”

“Look at me.”

She looked up, wary confidence in her eyes. “Yes.”

“Then I bet they will too.” He shot her a grin. “You’ll be fine.”

L
ATE
AFTERNOON
THE
NEXT
DAY
, Garnet stood in the inn’s big spotless kitchen, feeling alternately nervous and calm.
I can do this
wrestled with
What if they don’t like my food?

For some reason, she didn’t want to disappoint Aden, even if she decided not to take the job. He’d been kind and respectful, and she loved having a choice about her future. Big and powerful, muscle on muscle and so confident. He seemed to track her every movement, and while that could’ve made her skittish, nothing about him seemed malicious or creepy. His gray eyes held an intriguing mix of humor, sensuality, and something else she couldn’t name. Danger? There was more to him than what was on the surface, that was for sure.

The question was, did she want to dig deeper? Or keep things at a cool, polite, stick-to-neutral-topics banter?

Aden strode into the kitchen, stopping her thoughts. “White or blue?” He held up two aprons.

“Blue.” She reached for it and put it on while he pointed out where all the oils and spices were located.

“I have an herb garden out back, but it’s…well, I’ll just show you.” Aden opened the screen door and gestured for her to exit.

Walking out to the back yard, she spotted a six-foot square patch of earth, with signs in neat rows, proclaiming the herbs growing behind them. Or rather, trying to grow. “I guess Pearl has more talent with flowers and candy than with herbs,” Garnet murmured. “Aw, this group just needs a little love.” She knelt and touched the leaves of a basil plant. “I’ll help you guys.”

“Thank the gods.” Aden grinned and held up his hands. “I can fix a roof and lay a floor, but I have black thumbs.”

She smiled. “Looks like I arrived just in time, then.” This herb garden would be thriving in no time. She’d coaxed herbs to grow at Stroehm of all places. Here in Ivydale, she’d be able to do even better.

“I’d say you did.” Aden’s deep voice rumbled and her eyes reflexively snapped up to his. Storm gray, they seemed to see through to her soul. His scrutiny was both unnerving and calming, and she walked a line between wanting to tell him everything she’d been through, and wanting to keep the ugliness buried forever.

“I should…” She couldn’t finish her thought, couldn’t look away. He stood between her and the door. “Tonight’s menu…” She bit her lip.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. Oh God. She released her lip and gulped air. He was staring at her like he wanted to devour her, the same way he had when they’d talked on his porch yesterday. But she wasn’t afraid. For all his muscles and strength, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. She’d been around many dangerous males, males who had no qualms about preying on weaker creatures. Aden wasn’t like that.

But he has secrets.

So do I.

Fine, then. One day at a time. I’m just cooking, remember?
Mental battle over with, she cleared her throat. “The menu?”

“Yes, the menu. Let’s go back inside.” He waited for her to pass him, then reached around to open the screen door for her.

They sat on stools on opposite sides of one island, and settled on five different choices for the night. Three kinds of meat, a noodle dish, and sandwich option.

Garnet washed her hands and retrieved a cutting board and knife. Grabbing a bag of carrots, she started chopping just as Dash came in through the French doors at the rear of the kitchen.

“Hi sweetie!” She set her knife down and knelt to hug him. “How was math today?” She handed him a carrot slice.

“Good.” He crunched noisily. “Guess what, my friend Logan and I played a new game at recess.”

She snuck a glance at Aden over the top of Dash’s head, and found him grinning. “How fun! What was it called?”

“Um, Dragons Ahoy.” He took off his backpack and hung it on a hook by the doors.

Noisy footsteps from the front room had Aden on his feet and heading toward the hallway. “That’s probably a guest. Holler if you guys need anything.”

Garnet spent the next hour chopping, slicing, and simmering, while Dash worked on a homework assignment. When he finished, he helped her rinse freshly-picked green beans and snap the ends off. “I like all these sinks in here. I can use one and so can you.”

“That’s right, we can.” She scooped up the colander of clean beans and added them to a casserole dish, dropping a kiss on his head in the process. Completely in the zone, she moved with ease around the kitchen. It was set up well, and she mentally thanked both Aden and the previous cook. So occupied with making sure her pan-roasted garlic didn’t burn, she jumped at the sound of male voices. Only the sudden impact of Dash wrapping his arms around her legs made her stay in place and not reach for a knife out of habit.

“Damn, this smells like I died and went to heaven!”

“Don’t know what you’re making but I’ll take anything you’re cooking.”

Garnet lifted her sauté pan off the heat and turned as best as she could with Dash clinging to her. Two Deserati demons stood there, arms crossed and wide grins on their faces. With the same dark hair as Aden, they were as tall and muscular as he, and almost as good-looking. One swiped an apple from a fruit bowl near the door and took a huge bite.

Aden strode into the room, glared at the demon with the apple, and smacked the back of his head. “Are you always fucking eating?” He turned to Garnet. “These are my cousins. The ones I told you about, who work at Old Ben’s. Leif and Luke.”

“Oh. Hi,” she said, easing down from her flare of panic at the unfamiliar men. She felt conspicuously small. Was his whole family built like giants?

“Sorry about them barging in. You two. Out. You can order a meal along with everyone else.” Aden jerked his head toward the door and his cousins filed out. He looked at Garnet, then at Dash, who still hadn’t unpeeled himself from her legs. “You doing okay, buddy? I’m sorry about those guys. They’re really funny and friendly. But they should have knocked first.”

“It’s okay, Dash.” She ran a hand along one of his arms. “They’re part of Mr. Aden’s family and they’re our friends. Next time they’ll let us know they’re coming. It’s just that they’re used to walking in here without asking.”

Dash let out a huge breath and loosened his grip on her. “Okay.”

“I’ve got some hungry guests out there. Are you ready to take orders, or do you need a few minutes?” His gaze dipped to Dash and back to her, and she got the feeling he’d tell the whole town to wait if she asked.

“We’re good, right, Dash?”

“Yeah, Mom.”

Bending, she kissed his head and smoothed his blond hair. “Thank you, sweetie. You’re my best helper.” She
was
ready. She really did love the process of growing, harvesting, preserving, cooking—anything to do with preparing good food. And this gorgeous, bright kitchen was a million miles from the dank atmosphere of Stroehm.

“Okay, then. Get ready.” Aden winked and walked through the double doors into the dining room.

The open-and-shut of the kitchen doors allowed some of the noise of the dining room to drift in. Garnet blinked at the variety of voices.
Wow. It sounds crowded.

Five minutes later, Aden returned with a handful of meal tickets. He stuck them on a board. “We have a full house. I’ll send my two maintenance guys in here in a bit to do dishes for you, help you keep up. Feel free to order them around. You’re in charge back here.”

A full house? Had the whole town come? Garnet squared her shoulders. “Sounds good, thank you.” She peered at the first order and retrieved some of her basil-and-wine marinated chicken from the fridge.

An hour later, Garnet was in the throes of the dinner rush. Dishes piled in the farmhouse sink. She pulled two twenty-five pound roasts from the wall ovens and placed them under warming lamps. She had just set the timer for her next entrée when the doors from the hall swung open and two male pixies walked in. Cautiously, she noted. Aden must’ve warned them not to barge in like his cousins. Of course, being pixies, these two were a foot shorter than Leif and Luke, and less intimidating.

“Hi, ma’am. Sorry we’re late.” One took a step closer. “I’m Ty and this is Cole. We do maintenance for Aden. He said you could use a hand.”

“Hi, I’m Garnet, and that’s Dash.” She nodded at Dash, who regarded the men with curiosity but not fear as he scrubbed red potatoes at one of the island sinks. Maybe some would question her putting her child to work, but Dash only wanted to hang out with her. Helping her in the kitchen—any kitchen—was a familiar role he could cling to as they adjusted to their new life. “Can you start on the dishes in the big sink?”