Free His Forbidden Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch (Spicy Version) Book 7) by Merry Farmer Page B

fetched the cookbook while she laid out the rest of the ingredients from the pantry. Once that was done, the two of them stood side-by-side, flipping through the pages to see what their possibilities for supper were.
    “We could actually attempt bacon pies,” he said after they’d gone back and forth between a few recipes that called for few ingredients.
    “Sounds delicious,” Honoria hummed.
    “Let’s do it, then.”
    Bacon pie turned out not to be as simple as Honoria expected, but every minute of the challenge of mixing out pastry dough, chopping vegetables and bacon, and whipping up a broth to fill the pies was pure bliss. After a lifetime of working at odds with her sisters, it was the easiest thing in the world to work with Solomon.
    “Two cups of flour?” he asked as he measured.
    “Two and a half,” she corrected.
    He didn’t scold her, he didn’t blame her for being stupid, he just nodded and poured the correct amount of flour into the bowl.
    As the afternoon and their work progressed, they didn’t chat much. Most of their topics of conversation revolved around what they were doing. There was something so freeing about that, about focusing on the moment without worrying about the past or the future. The only time that they sat still and just talked was when the pies were baking, but even then, they spoke of the kinds of decorations that the house needed, what they could buy in town, and what needed to be ordered.
    It was the most pleasant afternoon Honoria had ever spent, and by the time they were sitting across the small kitchen table from each other, eating their pies with a small glass of wine each, Honoria found an appetite she never knew she had.
    “Between you and me, I think this was the most delightful meal of my life,” she sighed happily, pushing her plate back when she was done.
    “You know, I think you’re right.” Solomon echoed her gesture and her posture, stretching his arm over the back of his chair. He looked every bit the lion stretching in his lair after a satisfying meal. “I bet we enjoyed it far more than any of the guests at your sister’s fancy reception.”
    “Undoubtedly,” Honoria laughed. “I imagine Vivian spent the rest of the party going around demanding that her guests talk about her and nothing but her.”
    Solomon laughed and shook his head. “I’d like to deny that someone could be that vain, but I’ve observed too much of your sister.”
    “I feel sorry for her, really,” Honoria went on. “The only reason she talks about herself is because she isn’t confident with any other topic.”
    Solomon’s brow shot up. “That’s mighty generous of you, all things considered.”
    Honoria sighed. “I don’t hate my sisters. It’s not their fault they’ve been indulged to the point where they don’t know how decent folk should act.”
    Solomon shook his head. “Yep. Far, far too generous of you.” His smile warmed. “Where did you learn to be so kind-hearted?”
    “From my mother,” she answered without even having to think about it. “She was the kindest soul you could imagine, and I made a promise to her that I would be honorable as well.”
    The affection in Solomon’s expression not only made Honoria feel as though she’d said the right thing, it fired her blood, making her wonder what came next. The sun was already setting, and it would be night soon, her wedding night.
    “We should clean up,” she said, rising and taking her plates to the sink. She could feel her cheeks burning with expectation. Would she have to ask Solomon to take her to bed or would it just naturally happen? Bonnie had explained many things, but not how it all got started.
    “I still have one question,” Solomon said as he came to join her by the sink, drying dishes as she washed them.
    “Oh?”
    A wry grin spread across his face. “How did a woman who sounds as wonderful as your mother end up married to Rex Bonneville?”
    Honoria laughed aloud at the question,