Page 10 of Song of the Dawn
Mila
He walked into the room, and his presence was like sunshine breaking through stormy clouds. My unease morphed into pure anticipation. Slowly I returned the fork to my plate of half-eaten food, relishing my second meeting with the handsome man.
His hair was damp as if he’d walked the lush fields to capture the morning dew, and as he neared, tiredness lingered behind his vivid green eyes. His smile was faint, almost shy, and so endearing it made my heart twist.
Under the power of his magnetic gaze, a yearning made me crave his attention. Hope bloomed in my heart like a flower unfolding under the warmth of spring. I was in his court, and he was the sun god, gracing me with his splendor.
“It’s you,” I blurted out, cheeks warm.
“It is, and so we meet again,” he said, voice low and hoarse, as if he hadn’t had enough sleep.
He held something in his hands, and my eyes darted to it as I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “I guessed you might work here after I received the letter…”
His smiled widened. “You guessed right.” Setting the object on the table, he slid it toward me. “I brought you a gift.”
It was a jar of jam. No, not just any jam but fig jam. I sat back in the chair, dazed. Our meeting had been brief, inconsequential, but the fact that he recalled something as insignificant as a broken jar of jam made me appreciate his attention to detail. “You remembered.”
A blush glowed on his cheeks. “Actually, it’s for your mother, since you mentioned her and your sister. There’s also a bushel of oranges. I can drop them off at the next post if you have a letter to send with the gifts.”
My mouth opened and closed. He was both kind and generous, two admirable qualities, and while I’d come for a job, the knowledge that he, too, lived and worked at the inn made staying much more attractive. “Thank you. I don’t even know your name, and you’ve already been so kind to me. I’ll write a letter as soon as I’m done with work.”
“No rush,” he said in his low voice. “I’m in no hurry. Just find me when you’re ready and I’ll set up the delivery.”
I sat there, drinking in his lovely golden hair, his stunning eyes, and the tilt of his exquisite mouth, one side slightly higher than the other. His age was impossible to guess, for he appeared both young and wise at the same time. And then there was that aura I couldn’t place.
“What is your name?” I asked, my breakfast forgotten.
Leaning toward me, he all but whispered, “If I tell you, you must promise not to treat me differently.”
My gaze roved over his tempting features. “Why would I treat you any differently?”
“Because most do once they know who I am.” His lips curled up in a half smile, revealing dimples. “Promise?”
Was he flirting with me? A shiver of anticipation went down my spine. Did I want him to flirt with me? Moving closer, I lowered my tone to match his. “Fine, I promise, but Ginger already told me the names of the staff, so I can guess who you might be.”
“Oh, is that so?” His gaze dared me to continue.
I grinned. “So far I’ve met Moses. This morning I went to collect eggs and met Dusty and Giselle. I already work with Ginger and Rachelle, so that leaves Moses’ assistant, Marley.”
His brows lifted as if he would disagree with my reasoning. “You pay attention.”
“I do. Am I right?”
“Ezra, there you are,” Ginger’s sharp tone interrupted.
The man, whom I’d assumed was Marley, jerked around so quickly the chair almost fell over. His easygoing manner faded, replaced with almost a hardness, an unease.
My mind reeled with the new information. Ezra? As in Ezra, owner of the Dawn? Dreams of attraction and hope of something more crashed and burned. The king in his court, the sun in a room full of shadows—why, of course, he was all those things because this was his domain.
Dipping my head, I distanced myself from him. My chest tightened, and suddenly I wanted to leave the kitchen and hide. I’d been flirting with my employer. Had Ginger seen our brief flirtation? Had he encouraged me, or had I imagined it all?
“Ginger.” His tone was clipped and unfriendly. “Do you need me?”
“Yes. We should discuss a few pressing matters before the day grows busy. Do you have a moment now?”
Ezra pivoted toward me and extended a hand. His eyes grew warm again, but his face remained hard. “Mila, it’s been a pleasure. Welcome to the Dawn.”
And just like that, he was gone.
