Page 40 of Reluctantly Rogue

“Like the kitchen staff in here. The first time we ever met down here at night, you told me facts about the people who work here. And not just their names or what they do here, but facts about their families. What they're good at. Things they do outside of the palace.”

I swallow and grip the edge of the counter. I don't know why, but I feel warmth swirling through me. “So?” I ask. “I know things about them. That’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is. Because you see them. You pay attention. You talk to them. Everyone you meet is just a person. There are no separations or classes or levels.”

I frown. “Of course not.”

He laughs slightly. “You’re a fucking duchess, Linnea. But you don't act like one. I mean, you do,” he says, shaking his head as if that isn't coming out quite right. “You carry yourself like royalty. You speak and dress and eat and fucking get in and out of cars like royalty. But you still know that your driver takes his coffee with two creamers and two sugars, the butler at the front of the palace has a nephew who loves hockey—and you got him a puck signed by your brother—and that Frieda, the woman who takes care of your room when you’re here, is allergic to cranberries, so you never have her bring you anything with cranberries to your room, not even the cranberry scones or the cranberry tea you really love for breakfast.”

I’m staring at him. How does heknowall of this?

“Ren actually likes his coffee with two creamers andonesugar,” I finally say.

Jonah laughs softly and shakes his head. “Exactly. You see people. You get to know them. You care about them.”

I look at him, taking in what he's saying. I accept it. He's right. I love to learn about other people. “I guess my own life feels very simple. Kind of boring.”

He scoffs. “You're a duchess. You're related to a hockey star and an almost Olympic gold medalist. Your grandfather's best friend is a king. You're engaged to a prince.”

I shake my head. “Well, first, all of that is about other people. The people around me. And my life feels like a blank white sheet of paper. Everything that's interesting has been written by somebody else. Everything that you just talked about are circumstances that came into my life because of someone else's decisions. I helped Alex and Astrid, but it's their talent that’s taken them to where they are. My family's heritage has nothing to do with me. Even my engagement is because of my grandfather.”

He doesn't say anything for a moment. Then he asks, “If that's how you see it, that's what makes you interested in other people?”

“Other people have had experiences that I haven't. That I never will. They know trades that I know nothing about. They have hobbies I’ve never tried. They’ve been places I’ve never been. Some of them have children. I haven't done that.”

“Yet,” he says. His voice is low, and it's almost as if he said it to himself.

I don't comment on that. “People also have different relationships. Some people are extremely close to their parents in a way that I'm not. Some people have six older brothers. Some have been in love a dozen times. Some have fallen in love only once and have been with that person for fifty years.” I smile. “Everyone has a different experience, and yes, I do find that interesting. I love to hear their stories.” I prop my hip against the island. “Did you know that Anna was raised in Ireland?”

“The head of this kitchen?” he asks.

I’m not surprised he knows the names of everyone in the palace.

I nod. “She divorced her first husband after only three years of marriage and decided she was never going to get married again. But then one day, she literally bumped into a man on a sidewalk, spilled her coffee down the front of him, they fell madly in love in a weekend, and he whisked her off to Cara. She fell in love with the country and wanted to stay, but wanted to work. She's an extraordinary baker. So one day, she made her best cakes and cookies at home, came to the palace, and insisted shehadto see the queen. Of course, they weren’t going to let her in, but Princess Fiona was home and was in the front of the house. She came running to see what the commotion was about, and when she saw the cookies, she saidshewould take Anna to the queen. Of course, they had to be sure nothing was poisoned or anything like that, but Anna ended up having tea with Princess Fiona and Queen Roisin. Roisin hired her personally on the spot, and she’s been here ever since. Her job seems so simple on the surface, but if you talk to her, you find out that every time there are guests, someone offers her a new job intheirpalace or home. Anna is madly in love, has beautiful children, and has a job that allows her to be something she's incredibly passionate about. And she’s got amazing stories.”

He's watching me with a huge smile.

“What?”

“And you're fascinated by her,” he says. It's not a question.

I nod. “That experience, everything that she's done in her life, is something I will never experience.”

“Getting divorced and spilling coffee on someone?”

“Taking a huge chance on my passion. And crashing into my soulmate out of the blue and falling head over heels like that.”

The smile falls away from his face, and he takes in a sharp breath.

I want to ask so badly what he's thinking. But decide not to.

Something about it feels dangerous.

“These cookies are not as pretty as when they decorate them in the store, but you have to try one. I followed their directions perfectly, so they should at least taste good.”

He also seems to shake the moment off. He looks down at the tray in front of him. “How many different kinds did you make?”

“Well, I know the store has six new cookies every week, and they rotate what's on the menu.”

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