Page 74 of Beauty At Stake
“Well then, maybe they'd pay to have this food. Regardless, everyone loves good food. It may take a little time for people to open up to the idea of a Thai restaurant in Fairy, or it may be instantly popular because of its novelty. Either way, I think it would do well.”
Ravee chuckled. “Maybe I'll open one after I retire. I can use my family recipes.”
“There you go. If you do, let me know. I'll bring Raza.”
She gaped at me.
You see what I mean? Raza always gets a bigger reaction than me. It shouldn't surprise me after all these years. As a Dragon-Djinn or in human guise, Raza always turned heads. I comforted myself with the knowledge that I always turnedhishead.
“Here you go!” Sasi exclaimed as she came back into the office holding a tray full of appetizers and one iced coffee. She set it down on the desk. “Please, help yourselves. I go help cook.” She grinned at me, then Star, and kissed her daughter's cheek before she went back to the kitchen.
“Thank you!” I called after her.
When I turned back toward the tray, Demons surrounded it.
Ravee giggled and headed after her mom. “I'll get some more.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Star sat down beside me with his iced coffee.
I looked at him and blurted, “I need to talk to you.”
He sipped his drink, then nodded. “All right.”
I glanced around the office.
“Outside, perhaps?” he offered.
“Yes. I think so.” I stood up. “Ravee, is there an alley out back or somewhere we can have a private conversation?”
“With me?” Her eyes went wide.
“No, King Astaroth and I need to speak.”
“Oh.” She grinned. “Sure. We've got a vegetable garden out back. This way.”
“Stay here,” Star said to his guards. “We're just going into the garden for a minute.”
The Demons didn't look happy about their king leaving unattended, but they nodded and went back to scarfing down appetizers.
Star and I followed Ravee out of the office and around a corner. She opened a door and waved us past. Outside was asmall garden full of wood-framed beds of herbs and vegetables. There wasn't anywhere to sit. This was a working garden, not one for pleasure. But that didn't matter. I just needed the privacy.
“Thank you, Ravee,” I said.
“No problem. I'm gonna go get some fresh clothes. Wearing that sorceress's clothing is making my skin crawl.” Ravee closed the door behind us.
Then I was alone with Star. That fact hit me first. The privacy. The things we could do with it. I mentally shook myself. This was just another sign that I was doing the right thing. Or was I? Was it wrong to confess to Star before I told my husbands? Oh, well. We were out there. I had to tell him something important, and I couldn't think of anything else.
“What is it, Seren?” Star frowned at my expression.
“I have a confession to make. I was going to wait until after we finished the mission, but I can't do that to you. You need to know now.”
Translation: the guilt is killing me. I once heard someone say that guilt was the lowest vibration on the energy scale. I didn't truly understand that until now. I felt low. The lowest of low.
“What do I need to know?” Star asked.
All right, Seren, just say it!I worked myself up, then said, “Anu didn't deny my request.”
