“I didn’t!” Kris cried, his face and neck red with humiliation.
Rafe stepped forward and gripped Lorraine by the arm. “I’m sorry, miss. You seem to have had too much to drink with your lunch. I’ll have someone escort you to your room where you can sleep it off.” He touched his mic andspoke in a low voice.
Ishmael nodded approvingly. Jealousy was one thing, but insulting him and his pet was another. It looked like she was determined to be a thorn.
“Let go of me!”
Bob strode through the dining room. “I got your message,” he said to Rafe. “I’ll take her from here.” He took her arm from Rafe and began pulling her through the dining room.
“Let go of me! I was just talking to my friend. I can leave by myself!” she shouted. “Everyone, do you see this?”
“She’s fired, isn’t she?” Kris asked.
“Oh, most definitely,” Ishmael said, taking another sip of his wine. “Making a scene like that on top of insulting us both like that? Not happening.”
“They’re all probably thinking that, you know.” Kris fiddled with his napkin. “That I met you and seduced you over lunch or whatever.”
Oh, my sweetling, you seduced me long before that. I was smitten the moment I saw you on my monitor. Then you came within my grasp, so how could I refuse?
“What others think doesn’t matter. We know the truth,” Ishmael said smoothly.
“My folks are going to think I’m gay, too, probably, huh?”
“Does that bother you?”
“They aren’t bigots, but I don’t want them to be disappointed in me.”
So he does not deny it, then. That makes things easier.
“I doubt that could happen.”
Kris met his gaze, hope shining bright. “You think so?”
“I do.”
Their server approached the table. “You risotto, gentlemen. And we fervently apologise, sir, for her managing to reach your table. We had no idea she was going to do that.” He placed a large, shallow bowl before Kris, then a second before Ishmael.
Ishmael waved his hand in unconcern. “It was not to be predicted. I hold no blame towards anyone, but the woman herself and that is being taken care of.”
The server blanched. “Understood.”
“This looks delicious,” Kris said, looking at his dish in naked appreciation. “It smells divine, too.”
The server beamed. “I’ll pass your compliments on to the chef.”
“Oh! Is it Michel?” Kris asked.
“No, it’s Roberto today.”
“Oh.” Kris looked disappointed.
Ishmael smiled and reached over to pat Kris’ hand. “He met Michel yesterday when he came to prepare our dinner.”
“Ah. Lucky man!” the server said, smiling before turning to leave.
Rafe cocked his head to one side, then murmured something into his shoulder mic before stepping forward and bending down towards Ishmael.
“She just bit Bob and is now screaming that she is being kidnapped, sir.”
