Page 19 of Baking and Angels

Rafferty nodded but couldn’t offer anything else, not even a thank you for ordering for him.

Éliott didn’t seem to take offense. He clapped an overly friendly hand on Rafferty’s shoulder. “Do not worry,” he said. “This is not your fault.”

“You don’t know that,” Rafferty growled, the truth coming out harsher than he had intended. Yet, he had already thrown himself on the mercy of those in power for these crimes and had been more or less ignored. He had been deemed crazy and pitiable, and thendismissed.

“Oh, I understand how you feel. The woman you love was in danger, and you did not know what you could do to help her. I, too, feel the same. My cousin, he is in a lot of trouble, mostly of his own making. He cannot find his way out when he is like this. There is nothing I can do to help him except sit by his side and wait for him to find hisown way.”

“Your… cousin?” Rafferty repeated, trying to parse what Éliott hadjust said.

“Yes, the chef who was supposed to work the Winter Rose Ball before you came in like a superhero and saved the day.” Éliott shook his head and sighed. “This is not the first time he has ruined an opportunity for himself and run away, leaving me to pick up the pieces. I just did not expect it would lead to demons.”

Rafferty’s bourbon appeared on the bar before them, and he flinched, wary of what the bartender had just overheard. The bartender passed a glance between the two of them, but he said nothing, only turning away to continue with his ownbusiness.

“You shouldn’t talk about such dangerous topics here,” Rafferty chided.

Éliott nodded, noting the faux pas with his eyes as the bartender walked away. “You are right. I apologize. I am just as shaken up as all of us about the whole situation. The need to talk is strong.”

The charcuterie board appeared, and Éliott didn’t hesitate to tuck into it.

Rafferty only watched him eat.

“Please, join me,” Éliott invited, as he spread some jam over a piece of cheese on a cracker. “This has something fiery with the sweet.”

Rafferty wanted to say no, but his fingers moved before he realized it, taking the offered morsel of food and popping it into his mouth. Sweet apricots hit his tongue as fiery steeds trampled right behind it. Taking in a sharp breath through his nose, Rafferty chewed, mixing the creamy cheese and dry, crunchy cracker with the battling storm of the jam’s tastes.

“Exciting, no?” Éliott asked, elbowing Rafferty lightly in the side as he assembled another bite.

While Rafferty could admit that the tastes were exciting, and so potent on his taste-starved tongue, there was something missing.

Helena wasn’t here to share itwith him.

In fact, this was just like their first meal together, when she had offered him the gift of existence, asking for nothing elsein return.

Tears filled up Rafferty’s eyes.Folding over, he hid his face in his hands, surprised by how intense thisfelt, too.

“How about this one, I think it is blueberry, but it might be something—” Éliott’s voice died off, clearly having noticed Rafferty’s show of emotion.

Rafferty didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t the hand that rubbed at the center of his back. “Yeah, yeah,” Éliott’s voice soothed along with it. “I know, man. I know.”

Sniffing hard, Rafferty lowered his shield, regarding the charcuterie board and trying to refocus on the moment.

“What would you like to eat instead?” Éliott asked. “If you could pick anything in the world, right this minute. What would it be?”

He sniffed again, letting his mind wander. “Gruau,” Rafferty said truthfully, which made him chuckle despite his thick throat andwet eyes.

“Oh?” Éliott asked, soundingintrigued.

“” Rafferty replied, letting his old tongue slipfrom him.

“”

“Oui.” Then Rafferty shook his head, switching back to English. “But they would not be able to make it right here, even if they would do such an off-menu thing.”

Éliott nodded, then stood up, shooting back what remained of his bourbon like it was water. Then he slapped Rafferty’s shoulder twice. “Come with me. Bring your drink,” he added, swiping up the charcuterie board himself.

Rafferty didn’t question it. Honestly, he hadn’t questioned anything that had happened during this conversation. His defenses were down, and while a whisper of warning slipped through him that he was being too trusting, too open with this stranger, he needed it at that moment like the desert needed rain.

That is how the devils get you, isn’t it?he thought as he followed Éliott through the small clusters of tables toward where the other waiters of the bar/restaurant were entering and exiting through a set of swinging doors.

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