Page 34 of The Broken Elf King
He reached out and threaded his fingers through mine, slowly so that they stroked my palm on their way, which caused heat to flush my chest and cheeks.
“Shall we do lunch now, darling?” he purred, easily dropping into the acting, and my stomach dropped.
I simply nodded, unable to speak for fear of my voice cracking. Being fake married to a troll with warts on his nose would involve superb acting. Pretending I was in love with Raife Lightstone was a little too easy.
* * *
After I made us lunch,Raife offered to do the dishes, insisting that bringing another person into our “safe” kitchen was a risk.
I frowned, setting the plates in the sink. “You’re the king. Have you ever done a dish in your life?” I asked.
He shrugged, picking the dirty plate up and eyeing the scrub brush. “I’m the most educated man in this castle, how hard can it be?” He grabbed the bar of soap and rubbed it over the plate, making small circles and causing the food to mash into the soap. I tried to grab my mouth and to cover the laugh, but a snort came out and Raife glared at me.
“I’m sorry, my love…” I practiced the pet name. Raife and I agreed that even alone we should pretend to be engaged and in love so that we didn’t get too confused with the roles. “The soap goes on the brush, then the brush goes on the plate and makes bubbles.”
He scowled. “There are two ways to do everything.”
I nodded. “But this is the only way that keeps the soap clean and free of crumbs.”
Reaching into the running water, he flicked some at me playfully, causing me to shriek and stumble backwards. “You’re sexy when you’re acting like a know-it-all,” he said.
My chest heaved. This was above and beyond the acting. Right?
Best friend, he called me his best friend,I reminded myself.
“I try.” I shrugged cutely, unsure what else to do. Hearing Raife Lightstone call me sexy had caused all the blood to rush from my head to another place.
Raife looked over at me. “Are you okay with this last-minute engagement party? Sorry I didn’t have time to ask you.”
He was so thoughtful, checking in with me. I nodded. “Yes, but I have no idea what to wear.”
Raife chuckled; he knew how much I loved fashion. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off to go and see Samarah and pick out your design and fabric.”
“Really?” I squealed.
He nodded and I rushed forward, popping onto my tiptoes to brush a quick kiss onto his cheek.
I felt his body stiffen beneath mine, and then I tore out of the kitchen in search of the seamstress. I needed a dress that would blow a kingdom away, or at the very least Raife Lightstone.
* * *
The next day passed quickly.We had meetings and healings up until the very hour before the party. The event was catered by a local company who was delighted to have the honor of doing so in the head chef’s absence. Raife and I both agreed it was too risky to eat at the event and that we would eat before, which we just had.
“I need to go get ready,” I mentioned.
He nodded, looking over some parchments. “See you there, love,” he said offhandedly.
There was a butler in the room taking our plates so I knew this display was for him, but I couldn’t deny hearing him call me “love” did strange things to my stomach.
I rushed back to my room to find that two of Samarah’s assistants were there, waiting to dress me.
“Oh, bless you,” I told them as we all rushed inside.
I quickly stripped to my undergarments as they hoisted the large deep purple dress over my head.
As they began to tighten the corseted back, I peered down at the intricate beadwork and artistry. “You must have been sewing all night,” I murmured in awe.
One of them yawned and nodded. “Samarah is asleep now. We will be right after.”
