I snort, keeping my mind out of the gutter. "I have to be almost ten years older than her or thereabouts. What did you order?"
I change the subject because I don't want to hit on our shared history. I don't want to soften more than I already have to him.
The smell of spices and herbs intensifies as I open the boxes and containers, taking a portion as he nods for me to do so.
Enzo grabs some of the red shrimp curry, offering some to me. But I shake my head, not because I don't want it, but because it feels intimate, even though he helps himself to some of the tofu.
I take some of the dumplings, leaving most for him, and a portion of the green papaya salad.
"Whiskey?" He pours some for himself. "I would offer you wine, but fuck if I know where Louie keeps it.Ifhe keeps it here."
We are in his office, and I look around.
It is a man's man place, or it wants to be, with a cigar box and leather.
I swallow the words I want to say and just take a bite of the tofu.
"What?" Enzo asks.
"Nothing."
He pours whiskey for me and sits back after downing some spring rolls and a few shrimp, and he studies me. It is like the most intense first date or a weird job interview.
"You do that, you know." He takes another bite.
"Do what?"
"Don't say what's on your mind."
I frown and scoop up some sauce-soaked rice. "I don't want to get fired."
Enzo lets out a peal of laughter. "See, that's the kid I know. Backhanded sass all the fucking way."
"I'm not a kid, and you have the power."
"Bullshit."
"You're my boss."
He shrugs. "We're off the clock. What were you going to say?"
Backhanded sass, indeed. I direct a narrow-eyed look at him. "Not that I ever came up here, and unless you have a predilection for man cave aesthetics, I think the room is all dude man with money wannabe. So, I don't think Louie keeps wine."
"Maybe this is my thing."
"Maybe it is."
"Maybe when you're home, I like to beat my chest in here and admire my mansplaining awards." His lips twitch, and so do mine.
I so don't want to like him.
"I knew you had a collection."
"Snoop."
"Good judge of character."
He eyes me, and the mood shifts. "What's your take on Louie?"
