Page 57 of The Cask

“I went to a restaurant and grabbed a bite to eat. I got some information that I needed, and now I am ready to take on festival weekend.” I gave him a cold, hard stare. “What about you? Did you get everything you needed?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” A look of perplexity narrowed his eyes. “Why did you phrase it like that?”

“Well Kim said that I kept you from doing what needed to be done for your business. I just wanted to make sure you got everything you needed from your meetings.”

He eyed me like he didn’t believe me. “Everything has been taken care of.” He paused. “And Kim won’t be a problem anymore.”

I studied his face. “Wait… What do you mean Kim won’t be a problem anymore?”

“What happened yesterday was disrespectful to you, to me, and to the neighborhood. Not to mention it was unprofessional. So, I let her know that if it doesn’t have anything directly to do with the business, it’s none of her business. I told her that you were none of her business and to leave you and your employees alone.”

“What did she say?”

“She was a little upset but at the end of the day, it is what it is. I didn’t like walking up and seeing her talking to you like that. I’ve never really heard her talk to anyone like that so she needs to get her shit together. I told her to go home and think about what she wanted to do, and we’d talk about it today. That’s why I’m here. I’m meeting with her in”—he looked at his watch— “twenty minutes. If she can’t stay out of my personal life and do her job, I’ll have to let her go or send her back to the DC bar.”

Holy shit.I tried to keep a straight face, but I was stunned.It worked. My plan is actually coming together!

I cleared my throat to mask the glee that was surely going to spring from my voice. “I’m not going to pretend that I’m sorry to hear that she might be leaving. But”—I leaned forward and placed my hand on his forearm— “I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this right before opening weekend.”

“Tell me about it.” He let out a deep breath. “But at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best.” He covered my hand with his. “Are we good?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why do you ask?”

His brown eyes bore into mine. “I can tell something is up with you.”

“You don’t really know me.”

Still holding my hand, he stood up and leaned down so his lips were on the shell of my ear. “I know you well enough to know that something is wrong.”

I shivered. “What makes you say that?” I whispered, my face getting warm from his closeness.

“Because I see you.”

The way my entire lower body clenched was unsettling. With his words in my ears, his cologne in my lungs, and body so close to mine, I was defenseless.

“And what do you see?” I breathed.

He moved so that his forehead was pressed against mine. “Everything.”

My head tipped backward a little, forcing my lips to be a fraction of an inch from his.

He took that as an invitation and kissed me tenderly. His mouth moved over mine worshipfully before he pulled away. “I have to run. But if you change your mind about tonight, let me know. I’ll make the time for you.”

The sincerity I saw in his eyes was too much for me, so I closed mine. “Okay.”

His lips brushed against mine again. “I’ll wait for your call.”

I opened my eyes and nodded. “Okay.”

He walked to the door and stopped. “Oh, and Ebony?”

“Yes?”

Turning around, he stared at me. “He ain’t it.”

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