I shrugged. “I didn’t give them as much as I probably should have, but at least they know you’re here to stay.”
This time, she looked at me head-on. “I am?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes. You’re…” I cleared my throat again, suddenly nervous. “You’re my intended.”
She nodded her head but her eyes held suspicion. “Now what?”
I smiled as I remembered her drunken mumbling the night before. “Now we go get you those pancakes you were dying for last night.” Her eyes rounded, and I chuckled softly. “Or maybe you’d rather some beignets?”
She nodded her head quickly. “Really? Oh really?”
I pinched my lips together to keep myself from grinning. Who knew pastries could make a girl so happy? I should have had them delivered for the peace offering earlier. “Yep, it’s just a short walk to the best stop in all of New Orleans.”
She grinned, and I felt that tightness enter my chest again. “Lead the way!”
Several people stoppedto visit and talk with Rune as we walked out of the compound, and even as we ventured farther from the coven, he was still recognized. He was like a local celebrity. Which made sense, I guessed. His face was a marvel, and he had the magic to back up his scowl. He would nod acknowledgment and ask “how’s ya mom and them?”—whatever that meant— he literally asked everyone it, and if he didn’t… they would. It seemed like a term of endearment of some kind.
But I could hardly focus on any of that as I was trying my hardest not to melt in the heat, not to mention the fact that I could hardly keep up with the man who had a stride of a footballfield. A short walk to Rune and a short walk for me were very different. His long legs carried him much farther and faster than my little legs did, so that meant I had to put forth a lot more effort to keep up with him—I was dying.
By the time we got to the little shop, I was covered in sweat and out of breath. It didn’t help that the air was so heavy here with humidity; it felt like I was treading through it, rather than walking down the street. I practically gulped in the air conditioning as Rune opened the door for me.
The smell of coffee and pastries baking smacked me in the face, and it almost made up for the miserable commute. I stopped and looked around, taking it all in—the checkered flooring, vintage signs, and even the stools next to a bar top on the opposite side of the room. It was probably one of the cutest places I’d ever been to. Charm floated in the air around us and wrapped around my body like a warm hug.
“Why don’t you find us somewhere to sit, and I’ll order?” Rune’s eyes skipped over my body, and I justknewhe was judging me and all the sweat. I couldn’t help it.
“If you judge me for one more second, I’m going to throw a beignet in your face.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and his lips turned up for the first time since we’d left the coven. Why did he have to look at me like that? It made me hotter than the heat outside. I looked away from his amused gaze and took a deep breath.
I found a small two-top table near the window and sank into the seat with a groan. The air conditioning kissed my skin, and I tried to discreetly pat down my face with a napkin before anyone else saw me looking like I’d just emerged from the depths of a swamp. Which, to be fair, was kind of what it felt like.
I watched Rune chat with the girl behind the counter—who obviously knew him and smiled like she was one second away from writing her number on a napkin.
He returned with two iced coffees and a small tray that made my soul ascend. Seated in the middle of the tray were a couple of paper bags and a canister with white powder in it. Powered sugar, I hoped.
He picked up one of the bags and then started dumping the white powder into it before he rolled up the top of the bag and shook it. I followed his movements, completely unsure of myself. He opened his bag, and I did the same. We stared at each other as we both took a bite, and my face flamed as a moan escaped my lips. Powdered sugar erupted in the back of my mouth as the warmth of the pastry seemed to coat my soul.
“Marry me,” I whispered down to the puffy beignet. I blinked as I looked up at a very amused Rune and corrected myself, “I was talking to the beignet.”
His grin only continued to stretch across his face, and my stomach bottomed out. “Uh-huh. Sure. I can’t believe you’d propose on the first date.”
I raised a brow. “You’re telling me youwouldn’tpropose to a beignet on a first date? You’re out of your mind.”
He shook his head and chuckled softly before he reached forward for his iced coffee. Then his words registered, and I almost choked. Our first date.This was our first date.
Instead of letting me stew on his words, he changed the subject slightly. “You really do like food. Or rather, baked goods.”
I looked down at the powdered sugar coating my fingers and some of my lap. I was really glad I hadn’t worn black today. “It’s the only thing I’m good at.”
I could practically hear the gears spinning in his head, but he didn’t press, and I didn’t elaborate. We ate our delicious morsels in comfortable silence, and I wondered if I’d revealed too much. Did witches say they were good at their magic? Did they consider that their only hobby? I had no idea. I felt like a fish out of water.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair and said, “Well, if you’re only good at one thing… at least it’s something that makes people happy.”
His voice was casual, but the words landed deeper than I expected. I looked up, surprised, and caught the barest hint of sincerity in his eyes. It wasn’t a compliment thrown out of pity—it was real. And coming from him, it felt almost sacred.
“I like making people happy,” I admitted, a little shyly. “Even if it’s just with muffins.”
I dusted my fingers off with a napkin and reached for my coffee. “So, is this where you tell me what kind of work we’re actually doing today? Because I know you didn’t just bring me here for sugar therapy.”
And it wasn’t just our first date… Yes, it could have been those things, or it could have been to show me off to the coven like he’d suggested, but there was a feeling in my gut that said otherwise.
