He motioned hiswait staff over and a server popped up right away. “I’m going to put in anorder, David.”
“Yes, sir,” Davidreplied.
Ezra began rattlingoff a long list of dishes including the mussels, coq au vin and duck confit.Then he added words I recognized—cordon bleu and steak frites. He looked at me,a subtle smile hidden in his beautiful mouth. “Wine?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
“And we’ll do abottle of the Chateau-Grillet.”
David disappearedand I realized I was alone with Ezra Baptiste. In one of his restaurants. Atone of his tables.
I didn’t even knowhow to feel about it. Or what to think! Just a couple months ago, I had beenunbearably nervous around the man. I had hated him because that seemed like thesafest emotion to feel.
He was Vera’sfamous acquaintance. He was Killian’s successful friend. He was Wyatt’s boss.
But he was nothingto me.
And I was nothingto him. Just a person he would recognize in a police lineup should I rob aliquor store while he happened to be in it.
Except lately itdidn’t feel like we were such strangers. And hating him didn’t feel safeanymore either. In fact none of the emotions I felt for Ezra felt safe.
But they didn’tnecessarily feel wrong either.
Dangerous for sure.But not wrong or safe or comfortable.
“So, be honest, amI asking too much with the mural?”
I tipped my headback and laughed at his question. Was he asking too much? He was always askingtoo much. “Are you serious?”
He scrunched hisguilty face. “I was inspired by that painting you did at Killian’s. I mighthave come on a little strong.”
Shaking my head athim, I ran my finger through the condensation on my water glass. “You came onstrong for the engagement party. Then you came on really strong when you hiredme at STS. By the time we got to the mural, I would have been more surprised ifyou’d have said please and let me say no.”
It was his turn tochuckle. “I’m not used to hearing no.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
“Well, to behonest, that doesn’t paint the whole picture. I have heard no. I’ve heard it somany times that I‘m tired of hearing it. Now I do whatever it takes to get ayes.”
His eyes were sincere,lost in memories I could only guess at. Some of his enigmatic energy hadsettled, gentled. My icy walls continued to melt. The harsh words that alwayssat on the tip of my tongue when he was around dissolved. I wanted to hear moreabout him. I wanted to know more. See more.
I want to know all of you.
Maybe he wasn’talone in that pursuit.
“With yourrestaurants?” I asked, probing.
He tilted his headback and forth. “Yes, absolutely.Lilouwas a massivelearning experience for me. Even after my first venture.” He paused and thenadded, “My ex-wife and I own a restaurant together. Quince. Have you heard ofit?”
Ezra seemed calm,but I was suddenly buzzing with nervous energy. I had always remembered that heowned a fourth restaurant, but it was harder for me to remember that he had anex-wife.
“Yes,” I told him.“I’ve heard of it. Although I haven’t ever been.”
He made a face.“It’s fine. It suits Elena and stays profitable. Nothing I would considergroundbreaking.”
“Elena is yourex-wife?”
He nodded once, butdidn’t elaborate. So I should have let it drop and moved onto something else.With anybody else, I would have been too meek to ask direct questions. But withEzra it was almost like I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to know what hadhappened. I wanted to know everything, not just about his marriage, but abouthis entire life. I wanted to pry and poke and pester until he confessed it all.
