“Can you zip this up for me?”
“You’re such a damn tease,” he growled.
“You love it though.”
He sighed. “I do,” he responded at the same time he gathered the lower back of my dress and zipped me up. My dress was a sleeveless, black shimmery number that went all the way down to the floor, but the slit on the left side ran up to mid-thigh. I decided on this one to match Xavier’s black and white tuxedo.
“We look good together,” he said behind me as we stared into the mirror. I agreed. I was almost stunned by how perfectly we seemed to complement one another. Instead of speaking, I reached up to undo a couple of pin curls in the front of my hair, letting them fall to frame my face while the rest of my hair was pinned up at the back. Xavier dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder.
“Ready?” He held out an arm.
I wrapped my arm around his and grabbed my clutch with my free hand. “Ready.”
We stepped off the elevator and were greeted by Isaac. He worked for Xavier and had been the main overseer of the Vegas restaurants while Xavier was out of town.
“Looking good, boss man. Chanel, lovely as usual. Ready for the big event?” He rubbed his hands together.
“We are. After you,” Xavier told me, holding out his hand for me to make my way into the restaurant.
“We’re good, Annie,” Isaac told the hostess who’d begun to approach us.
My nose was hit with the delicious smells throughout the restaurant. The ambiance was the second thing I noticed. The low lighting set the mood for the tan-yellow color of the chairs and booths and wooden tables. In the middle of the dining space were large aquariums extending from the floor to the ceiling, filled with saltwater and all types of tropical fish. Patrons were already filling the dining area as they marveled at the beautiful interior. Xavier and his staff had created a welcoming space that gave off the exotic feel of Vegas but still felt inviting.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I’d skipped lunch in favor of getting in a little alone time with the man of the hour.
“You okay?” Xavier leaned down to ask, seeing me press my hand to my stomach.
“Yeah, I kinda skipped lunch.” I smiled up at him.
A knowing smirk spread over his face, and he winked at me. “I guess you did, huh?”
We arrived at a long table that was in a closed off part of the restaurant. A bevy of family, friends, and business associates greeted us. Xavier’s mother and Todd were the first to greet us. Next, Tori and Jason welcomed us, with Jason clapping Xavier on the back in congratulations. My father and Marjorie were there as well. While there were a few awkward glances between my father and Wanda, everyone else was too happy for Xavier to take notice.
“We’re still stuffed from lunch, but I’ll try and make room for dessert at least. I’ll just have to add a couple of hours to my workouts this week,” Tori laughed. She and Jason had gone to Xavier’s other restaurant, a seafood spot that was just one block over from this restaurant for lunch.
As we settled into our seats to order our food, the laughter and animated conversations kept going, aided by the constant flow of alcohol.
“The Chanel, for you, ma’am,” the waiter stated as he placed my drink in front of me.
“What?”
“The Chanel, that’s the name of the drink,” the waiter answered.
“Thank you,” I took a sip of the drink and smiled at the familiar taste of the amaretto sour. He’d named the drink after me.
I glanced at Xavier who sat to my left but was engaged in conversation with Isaac. I quietly picked up my drink, smiling in the knowledge that, once again, even in the midst of all this craziness and working, he’d thought of me. I became so engaged in a conversation with Tori, seated to my right, that it seemed like no time before our food was being brought out to us. I inhaled as my plate of roasted asparagus, lobster tail, and grilled steak was placed in front of me. I wasn’t sure if I could finish it all, but my growling stomach told me I’d be a fool not to try.
Before we began eating, Xavier stood to make a toast, thanking everyone who came out to join him. He thanked Isaac for his hard work and willingness to uproot his life to move to Las Vegas, after which, in front of everyone, he offered Isaac the role of staying on in Vegas as the general manager of both restaurants. I couldn’t be certain, but I think I saw Isaac blink a couple of times to keep the tears at bay. The rest of the room applauded the announcement and Xavier went on to thank some more key players, including the owners of the hotel, who were also present. He thanked Jason as his best friend since high school, who was one of the first to also lend him money to help open his first restaurant—something I never knew. But my eyes glossed over at his last statement.
“And to my leading lady tonight, thank you for giving me someone to share all of this with, and a vision of my future. Cheers,” he held up his champagne flute, and everyone cheered.
I could barely get the word out because of the huge lump stuck in my throat. It’d been a simple statement but one that held so much meaning. So much anticipation for the future. In the past, that would’ve sent a current of fear through me, but as I sat back in my seat, I realized all I felt was gratitude and love.
***
Xavier
“They look so sweet,” Chanel stated beside me as we watched my mother and her date.
