Free Charming (Exiled Book 3) by Victoria Danann Page A

to be.” She lowered her voice and leaned toward Dandy slightly. “And you of all people know what I mean.”
    Dandy laughed. “Indeed. I do.” Her face took on a wistful expression before she said. “Still, sometimes I miss working for him.”
    The three kids, who were acutely observant, noticed and exchanged glances.
    “I see you’re infected with nostalgia,” River said. “We could kill that real quick. All it would take is one noon to nine shift.”
    Dandy laughed. “Yes. You’re probably right.” She looked at the kids. “So what are you having?”
    Ember looked up at River with her engaging smile and sparkling eyes. “What’s good?”
    “Everything’s good, sweetheart. Special of the day is flank steak in brown gravy with onion rings.”
    Ember scrunched up her nose. “What else have you got?”
    “Onion soup, egg salad sandwiches, lamb stew…”
    Ember stopped her there. “I’ll have just the egg salad. No bread.”
    “Okay,” River said, then looked at the boys.
    “Flank steak. Extra onion rings,” said Dread.
    “Same,” said Raze.
    “Lamb stew,” Dandy said. “But now I’m craving onion rings so I’ll have some of those, too.”
    “Pregnant again?” River said.
    Dandy grinned, “No. I…” Her smile faded as she seemed to contemplate the question seriously. “Shit.”
    River and the three kids laughed.
    “So we may have another sib on the way?” Ember rested her head in her hand and smiled.
    “I don’t think so, but it’s not impossible. It’s not like…”
    “It’s not like Crave isn’t, um, active.” Dread said with a hint of distaste. “We lived in the same house with you guys for a long time.”
    “Yes, but you’re supposed to pretend that you can’t hear everything.”
    “None of us can act that well,” Raze added with a laugh.
    And the kids had a laugh at Dandy’s expense, but she didn’t mind. She and Crave had both been raised to believe that it was healthy and wholesome for kids to grow up knowing the heads of the household were in love and expressed that in all kinds of ways including physical.
    When Ember tired of talking about social work, Dandy asked Raze how his architecture classes were going.
    “I like it except when they tell me my drawings are ridiculous and that nobody would want to live or work in buildings like the ones in my head.”
    Dandelion was a little shocked that there were adults who would be so critical and dismissive of young talent.
    “Let me remind you that humans made fun of Crave’s electrical car designs and now he can’t make them fast enough to keep up with orders. They’re even trying to figure out a way to build a, I forgot what you call it…”
    “Factory?” Raze asked.
    “Yes. A factory so that they can make more quicker.” She looked up suddenly. “Raze, you should talk to Crave about his ideas. Who would he rather have as his architect?”
    “I’m not qualified yet,” Raze said.
    “Yeah. The place would probably fall down,” Dread teased. Ember smacked him on the shoulder. “Ow.” He smiled. It didn’t hurt, but he adored his sister and saw no harm in giving her the satisfaction of thinking she’d landed a righteous slap.
    “So,” Dandy said. “You draw it up and then let somebody more experienced look at it and make sure it won’t fall down.”
    Raze couldn’t help but smile. “That would be…” He paused and they waited for him to supply the word that would finish that sentence and give it meaning. “Wonderful.”
    Dandelion beamed. “It’s decided then. Crave will be so proud.”
    “It doesn’t take much to make Crave proud.” Dread chuckled and Dandy punched him in the same spot Ember had attacked moments before.
    Only that time when he said, “Ow,” he meant it.
    When the food arrived, the first thing Ember did was to reach over and grab one of Dread’s onion rings.
    “Hey,” he said. “You had a chance to get your own. But no. You just wanted egg salad.”
    “Don’t be