Page 39 of Moonlight Hearts

“He was.Having vanilla milkshakes and nothing else.”

Elias nodded.“Certainly no chocolate sprinkles.I’d never, Mr.Bennet.”

Soyer folded his hands in front of him.“Lie to your keepers, not me.”He turned to me.“Could I get a slice of cherry pie, please, Amory?”

“You don’t even have to ask.”I turned and walked over to the pie display.Our cherry pie had become famous.Or perhaps the correct word was notorious.I knew Rae had posted reels and short videos about it to the Moonlight’s accounts, and I knew Elias had put something about the best cherry pie in town on the website.On top of that, people had seen Soyer come in here just to get his cherry pie.Well, they were probably aware he was also in here to watch me, his eyes following me like a watchful guardian’s as I went about my work.It helped that our cherry pie really was good, whether Soyer had shared a slice of his reputation with it or not—pun fully intended.

I plated some for him, filled a coffee cup as well, and walked both over.Thaeros had come back out from depositing the dishes in the dishwasher, and they exchanged a few quiet words with Soyer before shaking Rae’s hand.

“I’m surprised the boss let you serve anyone without the uniform,” Rae said to him as I put down the pie in front of Soyer.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, Amory.”

Elias leaned toward Soyer, getting close enough that it had Soyer narrowing his eyes at him.

“I’d not steal those cherries from you, Mr.Bennet.”He puppy-eyed me again.“But I was thinking, Amory, could you maybe make me another vanilla milkshake and serve me like you did your lover?With the same blushing smile and all of that?”

I put a hand on my hip.“Fiancé.And I don’t know what you mean.”

“He can’t,” Soyer told Elias.“And you don’t need another milkshake.You need to get your behind to where you’re supposed to be.”

Elias pouted.“Don’t I get to have any fun at all?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elias’s Ben get up and approach our corner of the counter.Rae, meanwhile, went to help one of my tables, which made me feel slightly bad, but I didn’t want to just walk away from Soyer.

Ambrose came to a stop at the corner of the counter, close to Soyer.Elias was behind Soyer and making big, innocent eyes at Ambrose.

“Turns out my phone’s on silent, and it’s never on silent,” Ambrose said.

“Ohhhh.”Elias twisted in his seat while Soyer took a sip of coffee.“Technology is ever so fickle.It’s terrible when modern machinery breaks down on you.Tell him, Mr.Bennet.Tell him how annoying modern devices can be.”

Soyer picked up the dessert fork I’d put next to his plate, his eyes trained on the tines as if he were examining each one.“I told you before that I have no interest in being a cog in your machinations.”

“A cog?Acog.You’re selling yourself short, Mr.Bennet.”

“Hmm.”Soyer looked from the tines to me.

I took that as an invitation and said, “Elias, you realize I can’t serve you if you upset my boss?”

Ambrose, arms still crossed, grinned like a man who’d bet on a winning horse.

“Amory!Amoryyyy!Are you threatening me?Did I not design your menus?”

I shrugged.“That’s right.And I’d never threaten you.I’m just pointing out that I have to do what my boss tells me, and if he thinks you can’t have milkshakes…”

“Now there’s an idea,” Soyer said dryly.

Elias gasped and slid off the chair.“Very well.The lot of you are as Shakespeare’s witches, conspiring under moonlight and evoking dark familiars.I’ll go, but I’ll return.Amory, text me.”

He walked out of the Moonlight, his head held high as he returned my wave goodbye.Ambrose didn’t move, his hard eyes finding mine.

“Thanks for that.Have a good night.”

“Right.You too.”

But the tall man was already heading after Elias on silent feet.