Page 41 of Reluctantly Rogue

He nods. “That’s part of the fun. You're never sure what you're going to get or when your favorite might come back up.”

“So, when I explained the situation, I was able to talk her into sending us all the cookies they’re going to have this month.”

His eyes round. “Who did you talk to?”

“The CEO.”

He freezes. He blinks. Then he asks, “You talked to the CEO ofWell, Frost Me?”

I nod. “Yes.”

Slowly he nods. “Of course you did.”

I put a hand on my hip. “Who should I have talked to?”

“I just…I guess I assumed you called a store and talked to the manager.”

“I didn’t know if a store manager would be able to do what I was asking. I knew the CEO would.”

“And of course you were able to sweet talk the CEO.”

I don’t know why he’s acting like this is some great feat. “When you need a question answered or something done, it’s efficient, for everyone involved, to go to the people best able to answer the question or do the thing.”

He smiles. “Of course, you’re right, Duchess.”

I frown, but say, “Besides, I wasn't sure what your favorite was. I know you really love chocolate, though.”

There's something in his eyes as he looks at me now that makes a swirl of heat ripple through my stomach. I press my hand to my stomach, as if trying to quell it. Though I'm not sure I want to. I like it.

But again, there's a sense of danger, something hanging in the air around us.

“You know I like chocolate.”

“Of course. It's pretty obvious.”

“Every meal we have eaten together, except for the few where we’ve been traveling, Queen Roisin has been there,” he says.

I'm not following. “Yes?”

“I don't think the queen knows that I prefer chocolate desserts.”

Yes, well, the queen probably doesn’t have a crush on her grandson’s bodyguard.Nor does she love to watch him drag the tines of his fork between his lips or lick extra sauces from his spoon.

I clear my throat. “Well, I know Queen Roisin prefers lemon desserts,” I say, trying to downplay the fact that I know details about him.

He nods. “Yes, she does.”

I'm guessing he knows that because of reading something about her rather than because he just noticed.

He reaches out and plucks probably the ugliest cookie from the tray.

“That one?” I say with a laugh. “That was one of the first I did. I got better.”

“Duchess,” he says. “The fact that you did this at all makes me want to eat the ugly ones first. They might be the most delicious.”

“Why would that be?”

“Because I can imagine you standing here, frowning, your lips pursed, concentrating so hard as you try to get it perfect. You always do everything right. I love the fact that this was a little outside of your comfort zone, and yet you did it for me.”

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