From: [email protected]
Date: February 24, 2017 02:39:01 EST
Subject: World-Class Menagerie
I watched Aladdin. You should have always been Jasmine. Everysingle time.
Chapter Six
I clutched the coolglass in my hand and slipped to a corner of the room where I could hide fromthe potential date Steph had introduced me to. Steph was one of Wyatt’s friendsthat I’d gotten to know through hanging out with him. She was sweet andenergetic and had terrible taste in men. She’d sworn up and down that herfriend Trent would be perfect for me.
Trent was abartender from Greenlight, one of the cool, late night venues in the plaza. Onceshe’d introduced us, I realized I knew who he was and didn’t hate looking athim, so I’d spent the first third of the night trying to talk to him.
At first, he seemednice enough, although I never felt the flicker of chemistry or intrigue thatwas usually a good sign. He was taller than me and obviously worked out morethan the occasional spin class. He had a nice smile and sturdy teeth. His laughwasn’t obnoxious and I knew he had a job. My internal checklist would have beencomplete if I’d been able to hold his attention for longer than three secondsat a time.
From my brief timehanging out with people in the food industry, I knew two things aboutbartenders. 1. They got a lot of action. 2. They expected a lot of action.
Bonus point. 3.They enjoyed attention. But it didn’t really matter to them who they got itfrom.
Or at least theones I’d met so far. So I’d put in some time with Trent while he continued toscan the room for potentials just in case I didn’t work out. I’d ducked away atthe first possible opportunity.
I’d already decidedto make it my mission to avoid him for the rest of the night. Plus, the partyseemed to be a success and I wanted to check out my handiwork.
Well, it wasn’ttotally my handiwork.
Actually, barelyany of it was my handiwork.
I’d brought somecenterpieces and recruited part of the team, but really Wyatt and Ezra deservedall the credit.
Also, credit wasdue to Meg, Ezra’s florist, who wasn’t even a florist. Her email signature hadreferenced one of the premier interior design firms in the city. I’d googledher, expecting a middle-aged plastic blonde. Instead, I’d gotten a chic redheadthat couldn’t have been much older than me.
I hated herimmediately.
No, that wasn’ttrue. I’d disliked her immediately. I hadn’t hated her until I’d walked intoLilouthree hours ago and seen what she’d done to theplace.
Lilouwas usually astunning sight, but tonight I’d actually lost my breath when I walked insidethe door. She’d taken my vintage spice racks and filled them with vibrant redpeonies in overflowing bouquets that added magic toLilou’salready enchanting decor.
She’d draped morepeonies over the iron bars on the windows and hung them in glass lanterns fromthe ceiling. She’d tented sheer fabric and layered the ceiling, transformingLiloufrom trendy restaurant to epic event hot spot. Thenshe draped twinkling lights all over because clearly we needed more charm.
She’d strategicallyplaced food stations around the room and grouped Wyatt’s Vera-inspired menufrom back in her short-lived food truck days in perfectly edible harmonies. Andshe’d somehow convinced Ezra to move tables out of the way so she could set upa dance floor that was currently crowded.
This was the partyI hadn’t been brave enough to hope for. GettingLilouas the venue had been a big enough deal. What Meg had accomplished was… nextlevel brilliance. And I had Ezra to thank.
Speaking of Ezra,the man didn’t disappoint. He’d called Killian earlier in the day and asked himto bring Vera by the restaurant to try the tasting menu of a new executive chefhe was considering for Bianca, one of his other restaurants. Killian and Verahad jumped at the chance to check out the new blood.
The surprise wasonly sort of ruined when they walked in the side door to the kitchen instead ofthe front door. The guests hadn’t been expecting Killian and Vera to sneak upon them from behind.
Still, a surprisewas a surprise. Vera had burst into tears and Killian had wrapped his armsaround her and kissed the top of her head. The photographer Meg had enlistedsnapped away, capturing the beautiful moment forever.
Now, well into theparty, I was three champagne cocktails deep and working on my fourth. Veradanced with Killian in the middle of the floor, arms wrapped tightly around hisneck, cheek pressed against his chest.
My heart kicked atthe sight of them and I took another drink of champagne. I scanned the room,noting Ezra smiling at Meg, no doubt congratulating her on a job well done. Myjob well done. I took another drink of champagne.
“Where can I getone of those?” A pretty blonde pointed at the drink in my hand.
She had to be fromEzra’s list of invites since I didn’t recognize her. She was stunning in awhite shift dress that showed off one elegant shoulder and a whole lot of leg.I wondered if Ezra bugged her about wearing a coat.
I took another sip.
