I busied myself through the next part of the meeting, gathering my empty trays, stashing them in the warming box. I neatly arranged the leftovers on the table, hoping someone would take them home.
It wasn’t long before Anson stood, his voice breaking through the chatter. “We’ve worked hard! Let’s toast to our success at Towne Tap tonight!”
Cheers and claps followed his proposal. The room echoed with excitement, but amid the noise, my voice was almost a whisper. “I might head home early…”
Before I could even register what was happening, Carson was by my side, his presence as alluring as reassuring. “Come on, Ezra,” he said gently, his voice carrying a warmth and earnestness I hadn’t heard before. “You’re part of this now, whether you like it or not. I’m pretty sure my brother’s not going to let you go.”
I was taken aback. While I understood Anson’s appreciation in a business sense, the undertone in Carson’s voice suggested his own interest was something more personal. Our eyes locked, and for a split second, everything else faded into the background. The weight of his gaze, the intensity of the moment—it was both daunting and exhilarating.
Surprise, doubt, and a budding happiness swirled within me. It took me a moment to find my voice, but when I did, it was with a timid smile. “Alright, just one drink.”
5
CARSON
The buzzinside the community room slowly began to die down. Around me, chairs were being stacked and the scrawled mess of sticky notes on the whiteboard was wiped away. My brother and Kevin basked in a post-meeting glow, their laughter and conversations forming a comforting hum in the background.
I watched them, trying to figure out what in the hell was going on. Anson had been tight-lipped, but the more I watched them interact, the more certain I was there was something between them.
I was debating joining them when my attention was pulled to Ezra. He looked slightly out of place, like a songbird amidst crows. Gone was the outgoing, confident man who’d commanded the attention of everyone in the room. In his place was the Ezra I’d seen glimpses of at the bakery.
It bothered me that he was retreating into himself. Sure, he was packing, but his body language made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want anyone trying to engage with him. Unfortunately for him, at some point between our first meeting and now, I’d decided it was time for him to come out of his shell.
I made my way over, finding a voice I hoped sounded casual. “Hey, Ezra.”
He looked up, surprise flashing across his eyes before they settled into a soft warmth. “Hey, Carson.”
A pause stretched between us, and I scrambled to fill the silence. “Need a hand getting that into your car?” I gestured to the awkwardly bulky warming box I’d seen him struggle with on the way in.
Ezra looked at the box and then back to me, eyebrows raised. “It’s not that heavy, but thanks.”
Not wanting to let the opportunity slip away, I pressed on. “Come on, it’s not like I’m doing anything useful. Please, let me help you before Billy hands me a broom.”
The corner of Ezra’s mouth tipped up in an adorable smirk, alerting me to the fact that he’d seen through my bullshit excuse. He seemed to contemplate for a moment, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I really should head back to the bakery. Lots to clean,” he admitted, a hint of vulnerability peeking through. “I suppose you’d be doing me a favor.”
“Why don’t I help?” I offered, trying not to sound too eager. “We’ll get it done faster. Then we can head down to Towne Tap to meet with the rest of the guys. I love my brothers and my buddies, but sometimes seeing them all coupled up is rough.”
That was, apparently, the wrong thing to say. Ezra tucked his chin to his chest. Eventually, Ezra’s eyes lifted and searched mine, perhaps for some hidden motive. But then, with a nod, he agreed. “Alright, but only if you’re sure.”
We quickly loaded all the stuff in the hatch of his SUV, and I followed him through the alleys behind the buildings on Main Street. When we reached the bakery entrance, I took the initiative, holding the door open for him.
The bakery’s familiar scents enveloped us as we entered. The warm aroma of fresh-baked goods lingered, providing a stark contrast to the cold outside. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as Ezra led me through the pitch-black hallway. I had no idea how he didn’t trip over anything.
With the flick of a switch, the kitchen was flooded with glaringly bright light. Setting the tote down, I began unpacking, stacking the empty containers on the counter.
“Why don’t you get the sinks filling while I bring in the rest,” I offered. There was no point in both of us freezing our asses off.
“You really don’t have to,” he protested. “I know your brothers and friends are waiting. You can take off. I’ll be fine.”
“No, we’re going to get this cleaned up and put away, and then you’re joining me.” Reaching around him, I turned on the hot water. “You already told Anson you’d be there. If you don’t show up, he’ll track you down and drag you out. Shit. That probably sounded worse than I meant.”
Ezra chuckled. It was a melodic sound I wanted to hear often. His hazel eyes shimmered when I spun around. He used his shoulder to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I know what you meant. If he was a creepy kidnapper, he probably wouldn’t be hanging out with one of the cops or running for mayor.”
“True, but it could also be a great cover,” I teased as he slid the empty pans into the soapy water. “As you pointed out, no one would suspect him.”
“Then maybe I need to find a big, muscly guy to keep me safe.”
Was he flirting with me?
