Page 43 of Ren: Warlord Brides
“That is sarcasm,” he said with a nod. “I excel at detecting it.”
“Do you now?” She kept her tone dry.
“Yes, the inflection is subtle but… ah, I see what you did.”
“You know, I think this is the most we’ve ever talked.” She squeezed his hand because her next words would be unfair and she did not want to fight. She needed his help. “We could have avoided a lot of hurt feelings if we had actually talked to each other back in that hospital room.”
Emry laced her fingers with his. Combing through all her hurt feelings and their miscommunications wouldn’t find Gemma. She needed Ren on her side and the conversation had turned heavier than she wanted to deal with before coffee. If Ren had coffee or a coffee-like beverage onboard. Food would be good too.
Her stomach rumbled at the thought of breakfast.
“As much fun as pillow talk is, you need to feed me, Ren,” she said.
He climbed to his feet and pulled her from the bed, the sheet wrapped around her. “The supplies have been delivered. I hope the selection meets your approval.”
“Let me get dressed and I’ll make us something.”
In the correct cabin, the one with her luggage, she dressed and found Ren in the small kitchen. Collapsible boxes filled with groceries littered the floor.
“How much did you order?” Emry dug through a box of perishables and stocked the cooling unit. Though small, the unit was clean and nearly empty.
“One of everything.”
“How do you feel about omelets?” Emry set aside peppers and an onion. There just wasn’t enough room for all the veg. Some could get by in a pantry, but it’d be best to start using them.
“I do not know but I am eager to try an omelet.”
“Butter, egg, cheese, peppers, and onions. You can’t go wrong.” Emry found a cutting board and knife. She tested the edge of the blade on the pepper, which sliced through it with ease. She hummed in approval. Of course the alien super soldier kept his stabby tools sharp. Obviously. “Put those away and I’ll start on this.”
They worked in silence for a few minutes until she spotted a coffee bag. Jackpot. With coffee brewing, her mood lifted. Yesterday had been a gamble, but it would pay off. She felt it in her gut.
“So what have you been up to for the last four years?” She cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them.
“I left the clan with Havik. I rebuilt this ship. We earned a place on theJudgment.” His tail swayed behind him, and he shoved packages into cabinets. “I kept myself occupied.”
“Vague and mysterious. Very James Bond.” She set a pan to heat on the cooktop. “You say the warlord who sent me away was dead. Like old age-natural causes or revenge dead?”
“His heart was pierced by a kumakre’s tail, which is venomous. His last moments were agony. I only wish I had been there to witness it.” His voice remained cool and calm.
He meant every word.
Okay then.
“Well, good. Sounds like he had it coming.” She added butter and waited for it to melt before adding the egg mixture. “I tried cooking on one of those fancy star cruises, but customer service is not my forte. When I got back, I opened a bakery with my sister, Gemma.”
“Because a bakery does not have to deal with customers?”
“I’m the baker. Gemma does the peopling.” In went the veggies and cheese. When the egg set, she carefully folded it over and slid it onto a plate. “Bon appétit.”
The table had been set. Coffee, creamer, and cups waited, along with a well-used tablet computer.
Once seated, she waited for Ren to take a bite. He closed his eyes and hummed with appreciation. “I like omelets.”
Better than instant fish-flavored noodles, but most things would be.
“Thank you.” She cut into her own and savored the first bite. She had been heavy-handed with the butter, which only added to the yum. Cholesterol was tomorrow’s problem. “Speaking of my sister, Gemma. You know, she’s my twin, and—”
“Twins are unlucky,” Ren said.
