AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I take his coat to hang it in the closet. “The food there wasn’t that bad.”
Curiosity lights Zane’s eyes. “You’ve been to the mess hall?”
I nod. “Ros dared me to try the gravy there.”
Zane shudders. “Oh, you brave soul. I can’t believe Ambros let you eat that.”
Footsteps on the stairs precede Ros joining us in the foyer, the scent of soap from his shower clinging to his skin. “What did I do now?”
Zane snaps to attention. “Hello, sir.”
Ros clasps him on the shoulder. “None of that in my home. Just relax.” His amused gaze shifts between us. “So, what were you guys talking about before I arrived?”
Drake gives him a disapproving look. “You took your mate to eat at the mess hall.”
Ros’s eyes drop to me. “I seem to remember you demanding we eat out, and the mess hall was the only option. I tried to warn you what you should stay away from, but you wanted to play food roulette.”
Ros looks back at the other men. “She tried everything on the menu and ate it all.”
Drake lets out a low whistle. “Damn, you must have a cast iron belly.”
I pat my flat stomach. “Nothing escapes this puppy.”
Ros leans down to nuzzle my throat. “Your food baby was adorable.”
“It was out to here.” I hold my hand a few inches from my stomach. “Ros could have rolled me out of there.”
“Reminisce while putting your hands to work, or no one is eating tonight!” Haut barks, making Zane and Drake jump.
“Come on, I’ll show you the way.” Ros plucks the bottle of wine from the crook of my arms. “And we can crack this open.”
As I move to close the front door, I catch sight of Owen stepping out of his car.
Quickly, I grab my phone and type out a text.
He pauses to pull his phone out of his pocket, and the light from his screen illuminates his face. After a second, his head lifts, and he stares at where I hover in the doorway before he slips back into his car to fetch Haut’s to-go containers.
Waving, I close the door and stop at the closet to hang up Drake’s jacket before joining the others in the kitchen.
Haut and Ambros stand on one side of the island, while Zane and Drake stand across from them, wearing aprons, with cutting boards in front of them. Jesse stands at the counter near the fridge, pulling a pie from the bag he brought, while Tris and Barron sit at the table, sipping wine.
Tris’s eyes brighten. “Oh, is that the famous apple pie?”
Barron sips from the glass of wine he holds. “Yes, it is. Should still be warm, too.”
Zane looks up from the carrot he’s peeling. “What makes it famous?”
“The fact that it beat Mrs. Smith’s in the pie contest.” I walk over to the island and reach for a large knife.
“No.” Haut slaps my knuckles with his spatula.
I snatch my hand back. “You said I needed to help.”
He sets a cutting board and a head of romaine lettuce in front of me. “Peel leaves.”
I purse my lips. “I’d rather cut things.”
Haut moves the knife farther away. “I’d rather not have blood in our spaghetti.”
