Page 60 of That Prince is Mine
Her friend pointed at the plate and gave Emma a big thumbs-up. Gabriel grabbed a fish jeon off her plate while she was distracted and popped it in his mouth. Sophie caught him stealing and punched him in the arm, but he just smiled happily at her.
“She told you that?” Michel’s eyes widened.
“Uh-huh.” Emma gave him a distracted nod and continued spying on the striking couple. “But not much else.”
“Well, that’s more than what she told me,” he said glumly.
“You focus on your cousin.” She patted his thigh with a sympathetic smile. “I’ll talk to Sophie.”
“Do you think it might be better if we minded our own business?” He sipped the last of his sujeonggwa.
“Where’s the fun in that?” She took the cup from him, tucking it into the picnic basket along with the other empty containers. “And who knows? Maybe we can help them, since it’s complicated and all.”
“Are you suggesting we play matchmakers?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Nah.” She bumped her shoulder to his. “You just get me intel from Gabriel. I’ll be the matchmaker.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Auntie Soo claimed she wasn’t much of a cook, but she made the best lasagna. When they were teenagers, Emma and Jeremy would clean out a whole pan between the two of them, so her godmother had to make two pans if the grown-ups wanted to eat, too.
“This is way too much food, Imo,” Emma protested, setting out a teetering pile of thick garlic toast on the table. She paused to inhale the delicious aroma of toasted bread, garlic, and butter before she continued, “Oppa and I are well past our growth spurts.”
“Hey, speak for yourself.” Jeremy placed a giant bowl of Caesar salad next to the bread. “I have at least another inch left to grow.”
When Auntie Soo rolled her eyes at her son, Emma taunted him with a bratty smirk. She switched to an innocent smile as her godmother turned to her. “Old habits die hard, my dear. I’ll freeze the second pan for Jeremy to take with him when he leaves.”
“Yesss.” Jeremy pumped his fist.
“Ugh.” Emma grimaced. “Again, I can’t believe parents actually pay you to care for their children.”
“I’m sure the children love his playful nature,” her dad said as he took his seat.
“Samchon sees me.” Her godbrother placed his hand over his heart. “Unlike you, brat.”
“Silly boy.” Auntie Soo slapped her son none too gently on his back. “Quit insulting our guest.”
“Guest? Who, Emma?” He backed away from his mother when she raised her hand again. “Miss Yoon, please have a seat whilst I serve you some lasagna.”
Emma stuck her tongue out at him but sat down and held out her plate to him. “I want a corner piece.”
Jeremy scoffed but only said, “Anything for our guest.”
“I still can’t believe you won’t share your salad dressing recipe with me,” Emma said around a mouth full of tart and creamy salad.
“I told you it’s nothing special,” her godmother mumbled and quickly stuffed half a slice of toast into her mouth.
“She’s just embarrassed to tell you because it’s actually store-bought.” Jeremy winked, then almost dropped his fork at his mother’s outraged shriek.
“How did you know?” Auntie Soo buried her face in her hands.
“I didn’t know, Umma.” He wrapped his arm around his distraught mother’s shoulders. “I was just kidding.”
“Well, now you all know.” She sat up and said with calm dignity, “I just add some fresh lemon rind and Kewpie mayonnaise to a store-bought brand. You know, the one in the fancy glass bottle?”
Emma couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. She clapped her hand over her mouth, but a snort escaped her nose.
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Imo. I promise I’m not laughing at you. It’s just—” She dissolved into another bout of laughter. “Oppa accidentally revealed your deep, dark secret by being a jackass.”
