The precious box of tomatoes was set down on the counter without a single second thought, and Chef, in an unprecedented move, stripped his apron off and left it on the counter as he abandoned his work and went to Magnolia.
“You... spoke to him?” Chef asked quietly.
“I wrote,” Magnolia said gravely. “When we were first trying to raise the money for the resort.”
Chef bowed his head, slowly, as if he was fighting a great weight.
Graham was wild with curiosity by now, but trying to hide it. Breck had no such self-restraint. “Who are you talking about?” he demanded. “He, who?”
Chef and Magnolia ignored him. “Now?”
“He’s out in the restaurant,” Magnolia said softly.
“Have you seen him?”
Magnolia shook her head.
Chef rarely touched Magnolia in public, though his adoration was never exactly hidden and nearly everyone knew that they were mates. Now, however, he gathered her into his big arms and held her close. Graham could not have said if it was for his comfort or hers.
Graham could barely hear her fierce whispered words in r
eply, “He can’t separate us now. He can’t.”
Then Chef was marching down the kitchen aisle, Magnolia gliding behind him. He left the kitchen, holding the door for Magnolia’s regal exit, and the two together went out into the restaurant, hands laced together.
“I am mad with curiosity!” Breck admitted, and he dashed after them.
Graham considered staying behind out of respect for their privacy... for about three seconds before following Breck.
By the time they got to the restaurant, there was a small crowd gathered. Magnolia and Chef stood together, facing a strange man in a sharp suit who was flanked by a pair of uniformed bodyguards.
“Your Majesty,” Magnolia said coolly.
“It’s Your Highness again, Cousin,” he replied, his voice equally chilly. “I stepped down from the throne.” He paused, then said, “You look... well fed.”
“I can still put you in a headlock, Einar,” Magnolia said crossly.
“I don’t doubt that you could,” Einar replied, and Graham thought that the corner of his mouth twitched a little in humor.
Breck squeezed Graham’s elbow. “Royalty!” he hissed in delight. “I knew Magnolia wasn’t just anyone...”
“Royalty?” Graham hissed back in amazement.
“Valtyra,” Darla said, appearing beside Breck. “That’s Einar, he was the king of Valtyra. He recently abdicated in favor of his granddaughter and her new husband.”
Einar’s gaze turned to Chef, who was standing ramrod straight at Magnolia’s side, looking grim and determined.
“Guard Chet,” he said mildly.
“Your Highness,” Chef replied, bowing his head stiffly.
“Oh!” Darla exclaimed quietly. “Oh! Chef is Royal Guard! This explains so much.”
“What?” Breck demanded in a whisper. “What does it explain?”
“Royal Guard can’t marry or have relationships. They forsake even their families and renounce their own happiness to serve the royal family.” Darla’s voice was pitched to carry no further than the three of them, and was full of compassion. She slipped her hand into Breck’s.
“You’re out of uniform,” Einar finally said mildly. “To say nothing of delinquent of your post for twenty-five years.”