To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(23)

Jiandra came down the stairs, holding on to Yajna’s arm. “Good evening, Gracie, Yavi,” she called out.

“Good evening,” Graciella returned.

Yajna seated Jiandra on the opposite side of the table from Graciella, then took a seat next to his wife. Yavi sat down at the head of the table and motioned to the serving girl, who disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of wine, followed by Wilten and Kitran, who were carrying dishes laden with leeks and carrots, the lentil pie, and a basket with a loaf of currant bread wrapped in a towel.

“Everything looks wonderful, Graciella,” Jiandra observed happily.

“Unbelievable.” Yajna gave Graciella a proud smile. “I’ve been working in that kitchen for the past few days and I would never guess you could make all this with what we had in there.”

Yavi handed her a glass of wine. “Thank you for preparing this meal for us and for my staff, Graciella.”

It was hard to stare directly at his piercingly gorgeous eyes, so she dropped her gaze to the smooth olive skin of his neck. “You’re welcome,” she murmured. “My pleasure.”

Yavi poured three more goblets of wine while Jiandra cut into the lentil pie. She served Yajna and herself each a portion, and then passed it across the table to Graciella. Around came the platter of braised carrots, the grilled leeks, and the basket of bread. Graciella watched Yavi from under her lashes as they began to eat, hoping to see some reaction to the food.

His face was an unreadable mask as he sampled a bite of the lentil pie, but Yajna’s was pure joy. “This is the best shepherd’s pie I’ve ever eaten. The best.” He dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin and took a sip of wine. “Outstanding.”

“Gods, Gracie,” Jiandra exclaimed, her mouth full. “Your leeks!”

Graciella beamed at their praise. The best part of making delicious meals was seeing other people enjoy eating them. She stole another glance at Yavi.

“Everything is very good, Graciella,” Yavi finally said, but without looking up. Was the brief smile she got out of him in the kitchen earlier the only one to be had tonight?

She tried to draw him into conversation. “What is your favorite dish, Yavi?”

“This pie,” Yajna answered for him, eating another forkful. “Hands down.”

Yavi leaned his forearms on the edge of the table and sipped his wine. “Roasted pheasant.”

“Yes, brother. We should go hunting soon.”

“What about yours, Graciella?” Yavi asked her, slicing off a bite of leek.

“I have too many to list. I love cooking because I love food.”

“When I was a boy, my mother grew thyme in pots in her kitchen,” he said. “She used to make a lentil loaf with it called Talún.”

Graciella took a bite of carrot. “What’s in it besides lentils?”

“Garlic and onions, sage, thyme, oregano.”

“Sounds wonderful. I’ll make it for you sometime.”

He looked up from his plate, surprise in his silver irises. “That would… I would like that, very much.”

“So does that mean I get free rein of the kitchen while I’m here?”

He locked gazes with her, and she gave him a sly grin.

“You’ll get no further argument from me,” he conceded. “Again, I apologize for my outburst earlier.”

“I’m sure you were just trying to protect me.”

“Yes. I would always protect you to the best of my ability.” His expression went hard, and he looked down at his plate. “I want only comfort and happiness for you, Graciella.”

“Thank you.”

Yajna raised his goblet. “Here’s to Graciella’s fine cooking ability, and to the best meal we’ve had in this palace since my wedding six years ago, I would venture to say.”

Jiandra raised her goblet, smiling warmly at Graciella. “Here, here!”

“My brother speaks the truth,” Yavi agreed, raising his goblet of wine as well. “Our cook might have been an excellent spy, but he was a mediocre cook compared to you.”

Graciella raised her goblet to them. “Here’s to spending time with my wonderful friends and family. I love you all.” She avoided Yavi’s gaze when she said the word love, but clinked her goblet only with his when they all met in the middle of the table.

After dinner, Yavi asked two guards to haul in water so the serving girls could clean everything up, then turned to Graciella, Yajna, and Jiandra. “Would you three care to join me in my study for a glass of katsuri?”

Graciella cocked an eyebrow. “What’s katsuri?”

“Come and see,” he teased, offering a hint of a smile. He turned to lead the way, and Yajna caught up with his brother and punched his shoulder. They scuffled a bit, then bounded up the stairs ahead of the women.

Jiandra looped her arm through Graciella’s to hold her back a bit. When the men were out of earshot, she leaned close to whisper, “Yavi’s in a better mood than I’ve seen in years.”

“Really? Because I could barely get a decent smile out of him tonight.”

“He never smiles anymore. A half-smile is practically a miracle.”

They entered the hallway that led through Yavi’s wing on the southern end of the palace. The twins were waiting for them at the door to Yavi’s study. Yavi opened it for the women and Yajna to enter, then followed them inside. “Brother, make a fire while I pour the women a drink.”