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She nodded, distracted by the dark brown squares. “That’s chocolate, isn’t it? I read that it was brown, but that really does it a disservice. I think it should have its own color name.”
“Young lady, do you mean to tell me you’ve never had chocolate before?” Peter asked, looking baffled.
She nodded. “Mother and father were afraid it would stimulate me too much.”
“Peter, we’ll take a half dozen of everything you have. Whatever she doesn’t want to try now can be sent to the warrior villa, and add a note that it’s for her, so the greedy bastards don’t eat it before we get there,” Gage said, looking a bit angry.
“I’m sorry, Gage, I didn’t mean to…” Zoe didn’t mean to upset him. She wasn’t angling for sweets.
He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. “My ire, dear one, is not directed at you. I hate how little you have experienced. I would give you the world if I could.”
Zoe swallowed hard. “It wasn’t so bad, and look at it this way. I get to try so many new things with you because of how I was raised.”
“Lil lady, you just pick which ones you’d like to try now and which will be your gift, and I will personally deliver these to the warrior villa,” Peter promised, already pulling out cardboard boxes designed to look like bricks.
Zoe looked up at her mate. “I’d really like to try those chocolate squares, whatever is your favorite, and a dessert that would go well with a soothing tea.”
“Peter, a half a dozen brownies, two apple fritters, and a box of chamomile shortbread,” Gage ordered.
“Chamomile shortbread?” Peter sighed. “Been selling too much of that one lately.”
“It’s for Dirk Vi’Eirlindol,” Gage admitted.
Peter sucked in his breath, then exhaled. “I’ll add in a packet of Blessed Chamomile to go along with the shortbread.”
“Thank you so much, Peter,” Zoe said, looking back at the huge baker.
He shrugged. “Despite my size, I’m not a warrior. If my baking can help these poor people in any small way, I’ll be more than satisfied.”
“You’re a good man Peter Lindon,” she said, causing his cheeks to flame.
He shook his head. “He’s a great uncle, after all.” He looked at them. “He wasn’t always a mean old bastard. Tell him I’m thinking of him.”
“We will,” she promised.
Peter smiled and handed her the smaller of the three boxes. “Try that and see if it’s to your liking.”
Zoe took the box and opened it quickly. Without wasting a second, she reached in, lifted out one of the brownies, and popped it in her mouth. Within seconds the decadent, rich flavor coated her tongue, and the bittersweetness caused her to tear up. “Gods above,” she managed to say, her mouth still full.
Peter laughed again, deep reverberating chuckles that seemed to echo around his midsection before erupting. “No charge for the brownies. It was worth it to see her reaction.”
Zoe barely heard him. Her world had shrunk to include her and her box of treasures. With no thought of decorum, she simply sat on the floor where she had been standing and popped another brownie in her mouth. “Peter, if I hadn’t already met my mate…” she sighed happily as she chewed.
“I’ve heard that one quite a bit too. Maybe someday I’ll get those espresso machines,” he lamented playfully.
“If I were to introduce you to an exceptional barista who could help you plan your machine purchases using wholesaler and distribution vendors, would you be willing to give my mate a treat whenever she visits?” Gage asked shrewdly.
Peter blinked. “You mean that wonderful woman that set up the coffee bar at Dav’s?”
Gage nodded slowly.
“Deal! I heard she was mated to Prince Oron, so I dare not approach her over such a thing, but you can, as she is mated to a fellow unit warrior,” Peter said, rubbing his hands together.
“Would coffee go with brownies?” she asked, looking up at her mate.
“Gods above, she hasn’t had coffee either?” Peter asked.
She shook her head. “My magic is a bit wonky. I don’t think my parents wanted to give me anything that would overstimulate me or cause me to lose focus.”
