“But we’re getting down to the wire. I know.” I exhale heavily, doubt creeping its way in. I had felt so confident about the menu when I first agreed to make it, but now I’m fretting over every item because I don’t want to fail Ezra or myself. “I don’t know. Is it silly that I’msweating it a bit? This is the first time I’ve made a menu all on my own. Before, I just made whatever people told me to. I’ve never had the chance to make it my own. I thought it was what I always wanted, but now that I’m getting the opportunity, I’m feeling the pressure.”
“Well, don’t. It’s nothing serious. It’s just a cidery.”
I level him with a look. “It’s notjusta cidery, Ezra. It’s your business. It’s your baby. I don’t want to mess that up for you.”
“And the kitchen isyourbaby. It’s okay if you mess it up. That’s part of being a business owner. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don’t.”
“I don’t own the kitchen, though.”
He rolls his lips together. “No, I guess you don’t, but you understand the point I’m trying to make.”
I nod because I do. He’s telling me this is my project and that I should make it my own. I love how much he trusts me, but it doesn’t make me any less nervous that I’m going to screw this up completely.
“Hey,” he says, his hand cupping the back of my neck and rubbing at the tension I hadn’t even realized I was holding there. “You’re going to do great. I know you will.”
“Thanks.” I lean into his touch. “That feels good. I like having your hands on me.”
“Yeah? I like having my hands on you.”
I’m not quite sure who makes the first move, but we’re no longer sitting side by side. I’m between his legs, my arms around his neck, and my lips on his. His big hands hold me steady on my skates, and I relish the way they feel wrapped around me, making me feel safe and cared for. Ezra seems to have a way of doing that, and though I’m trying my best not to get used to it, I am anyway.
When I finally pull away, we’re both out of breath, and his pupils are dilated so much that the green is almost nonexistent.
“We should probably go,” he says. “Before I do something reckless and fuck you on this bench.”
“That doesn’t sound reckless to me.”
“There’s another class in ten minutes.”
I wince. “Okay, so maybe a little reckless.”
“Just a bit.” He kisses me again, this time just a quick peck, then pats my ass. “All right. Let’s go. We still need to close the cidery, and apparently I have a cooking lesson to get to.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ezra
The skating might have been a bad idea.
I admit that I pushed myself out there to impress Summer, and I’m paying for it now.
I pull a bottle of Advil from my pocket and pop two more for the third time today. It’s more than I’m supposed to be taking, but I need it. I’ve been more active in the last three weeks than I’ve been in a long time. Between the skating last week, my regular lessons with the kids, and all the incredible sex, I’m pushing my limits.
Not that I’m complaining about the sex. How could I? It’s never felt like this before. And even when I am in pain, Summer realizes it, and she takes over. I’ve never had someone understand what I’ve needed so well before. It’s kind of scary, but not so frightening that I want to stop what we’re doing.
I should, though.Weshould. My feelings about relationships haven’t changed, and even if they did, it wouldn’t matter. Summer is going back to Chicago at some point. This could never work long term. I guess it doesn’t matter if I stop it, then. I should just enjoy the fun while it lasts, right?
And fun is exactly what it’s been. In more ways than one too. Even when my first official cooking lesson went so badly off the rails that we had to air out the kitchen from all the smoke, it was still a good time.
Can I really be at fault, though? If Summer hadn’t worn that apron that had no business being so fucking hot, I wouldn’t have burned dinner. I don’t even know where she got it from, but it gave me all sorts of ideas and images that I couldn’t help but kiss her.
Though she distracted me, it was nice to see her in her element. It makes me feel even more confident in her ability to run the Stick Taps kitchen. She’s so savvy and innovative that there’s no way she’s not going to make something amazing that our customers will love. Just sitting here today, I’ve already had three people stop by and tell me they can’t wait to try whatever we’re cooking up.
Luckily for us, the remodel is still on schedule, so they may get their wish before too long.
“Hey, boss.” I look up from my laptop, which is sitting on one of the many pub-style tables in the taproom, to find Warner staring at me.
“Yes?” I’ve been slightly less cold to him since Summer reassured me there’s nothing going on between them, but it still annoys me that he flirted with her so openly.
