Page 113 of My Pleasure

“No one gets to you unless through me,” Meryn responded.

There was still some hesitation.

“I’ll get my squire to fire up the espresso machine with special order, expensive coffee beans from Prince Magnus himself and brownies King Darian ordered for me from Éire Danu,” Meryn cajoled.

“Deal!” Daia said. “I’ll be there soon.” Then she hung up.

Both Kendrick and Caiden were frowning.

Zev tilted his head. “She sounded…”

Meryn smiled. “Nice, right? I told you they weren’t bad.”

“They have to be,” Caiden grumbled.

“Dude,” Meryn said, in a flat voice.

Caiden took a deep breath. “My apologies.” He leaned against the deck railing. “What is wrong with this city?”

“I told you it sucked,” Meryn answered.

Konstantine leaned down. “I think that was meant to be rhetorical,” he said.

Meryn shrugged. “I ignore the rules implied with those.” She turned to Pip. “Can you watch for the door? I think she’ll be less afraid if you greet her.”

“Because I’m small?” Pip asked.

“Because you’re freaking adorable and you’re the kind of nice that shows in your eyeballs,” Meryn explained.

Pip stared. “It’s in my eyeballs?”

“Yup.”

Aiden shook his head. “Don’t tell him that.” He smiled at Pip. “What she means is that you are kind with a sincerity that is impossible to deny.”

“That is clearly what I said,” Meryn fussed.

“Should I take her to the dining room?” Pip asked, standing.

“Bring her out here,” Meryn said.

Anne placed a hand on her arm. “Meryn there’s no seating out here.”

Meryn didn’t say anything.

Kiera burst out laughing when she realized why the tiny woman wanted to stay out here. “Hunter, help her up.”

Hunter immediately stepped forward and easily lifted Meryn and placed her on her feet.

Blushing, Meryn mumbled her thanks.

Hunter steered her to Aiden so her mate could escort inside. “Meryn, you’re young, human, tiny, ginormously pregnant, the mate to our commander and little sister to our unit leader, if anyone gets free passes all day long on assistance, it’s you.”

“No matter what?” Meryn asked.

“No matter what,” Aedan reassured her.

“Can I get carried around all day?”