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“This is my fault. You had a whole plan for your time here, you had your system sorted out, and here I am demanding your attention.”
“Oh.” Aisling blinked some more. “No. I mean, yes, but I don’t mind you having my attention. I like it.”
Brook smiled, that genuine, eye-crinkling smile. “I do too, I’m sorry to say. But also not sorry to say. So—can I help you tonight? I’ll get your errands done, you go to Rowan, and then we’ll meet back here and I can be an extra set of hands. I’m good at taking instruction.”
Aisling laughed. “I doubt that very much.”
“Well, I’m very good at taking instruction from pretty elves,” Brook corrected. “And I’ll bet you’re very, very good at giving it.”
“At giving…?” Aisling’s mind went directly to things decidedly unrelated to baking.
“Instructions,” Brook repeated, smile going wicked. “Among other things that I hope to discover very soon. Once we have you sorted out.”
On impulse, Aisling stepped forward, put her arms around Brook’s waist, and hugged.
Brook didn’t hesitate, pulling Aisling closer and resting her cheek on the top of her head. She was just the right size for that, and her chest was perfect for resting on, and…
“So, it’s a plan?” Brook asked.
Aisling made herself pull away, nodding. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
“Shall I walk you up to Rowan’s first?” Brook asked.
Aisling shook her head. “No. No, the eggs are more important.”
“I’ve got them,” Brook promised, making a little bow, then turning on her heel and starting south.
Aisling watched the sway of her hips as she walked away. Then jumped into action herself, heading for Rowan’s booth.
Rowan had a full dress waiting for her, somehow; a lovely, forest green mandisilk skirt and sleeves offset by a shimmery bronze bodice with emerald lacings. Aisling forgot her hurry the moment she stepped into the dress, staring wide-eyed at herself in the mirror. She’d never worn anything this lovely in her life. It wasn’t something she’d enjoy daily; it’d be very much in the way in the bakery, for one thing. But for one night, it would be…
Well. It would be worth all the work she’d have to do tonight, certainly.
When she arrived at her stall again, the sun was almost down, and Brook was standing near the back door with a crate in her arms. “Oh, you’re here! Could you open the door for me?”
Aisling did so quickly, and immediately noticed that, “The ice box is here!”
“Yes, got the levitation magic match, worked like a charm,” Brook reported. “Though, the elf who sold it to me was not Elian. Big fellow, sour face. Handsome, though.”
“And how much did that cost you?”
“Now, Aisling, what’s the point of being engaged to aa noble if you don’t get people to take care of your every whim?” Brook settled the eggs on the counter, brushed off her hands, and then said, “What do we do first?”
Aisling glanced around, tail swishing thoughtfully. Then said: “Pie crusts and cake batter. Lots of it.”
Brook stretched her long arms outward, interlacing her fingers to crack them. “At your service, my lady love.”
And though it was a joke, Aisling couldn’t help the little frisson of excitement it sent up her spine to hear it.
They had a productive evening—in spite of ending up laughing so hard they ended up in tears on the stall floor—so Aisling slept well that night after another inviting kiss goodnight. This time, she had no trouble falling into a deep, dark, dreamful sleep.
Chapter 5: Brook
Nervously, Brook adjusted her jacket in the mirror. She wore a black and green suit with bronze buttons and a magically glowing rose in her buttonhole. The trousers were fitted perfectly, and the jacket parted to reveal a lovely green corset that matched Aisling’s dress. Once again, Rowan had delivered above and beyond.
When Aisling stepped out of the dressing room, all thoughts flew from Brook’s mind like fog burning off in the morning sun. Aisling looked like a true princess; she glittered from her small, delicately slippered feet all the way to her gorgeous, sunset-colored hair. The slashed sleeves revealed the softness of her pale arms, and the bodice pushed everything up and out just so. Not to mention the adorable tail slot in the skirts—they swished prettily when Aisling’s tail lashed back and forth. Brook’s breath quite literally caught in her throat.
