Page 75 of The Wrong Groom

A primal sense of pride rises in my chest. I set her back on the edge of the table, then scour the floor nearby for her scattered clothes. I help her back into her blouse, and she slips on her pants. Once she’s fully clothed again, I gather my own clothes and pull them back on, shrugging my suit jacket back over my shoulders.

“What now?” she says, her voice still a little shaky.

“Now… I’m hungry. You hungry, sunshine?”

She chuckles, then yelps as I scoop her back up into my arms. I carry her bridal style toward the double doors of the kitchen.

“Are we even allowed back here?” she protests weakly.

“It’s my property now,” I remind her. “So it’s my kitchen.” I push the doors open. Liora’s kitchen space is empty and quiet. All of the staff left when I closed the restaurant. I turn on the lights, and they buzz to life, casting a fluorescent glow over the stainless steel counters and gas stovetops.

I set Alexis on one of the gleaming silver prep tables and make my way over to the walk-in fridge. She laughs as I step inside and start to peruse the shelves.

“You think they included all the ingredients in the deal?” she asks playfully.

“I would be very surprised if the old owner wants to come back and lay claim to the produce.” I tap my chin thoughtfully, then select some freshly prepared ingredients from the shelves—a container of sliced avocados, a plastic tub of diced tomatoes, a bundle of cilantro. “Looks like we’ve got a good selection here.”

Alexis swings her legs lightly from the prep table, her eyes sparkling with amusement. As I set my selections on the counter next to one of the cooking surfaces, I find myself sharing in her fun.

It’s been a long time, I realize, since I’ve had this much fun.

“How do we feel about avocado toast?” I ask, glancing over at her.

“I could go for some avocado toast,” she says.

I root around in a nearby pantry for some bread. Since this is Liora, they only have the best. I find a thick loaf of sourdough with a firm, crackling crust. It’s still warm, probably baked this morning.

I carve four slices from the bread and pop them into a toaster. As I do, I can feel her eyes on me, watching me cook.

“So,” I say, glancing over my shoulder. “What’s the verdict?”

“Huh?” She shakes herself a bit. She was staring at me in a daze, I realize.

I can’t resist my smirk. “The sex. How was it?”

“Oh.” A flush creeps over her cheeks, a pink tide that rushes to surround her freckles. “I’m… I’m still processing, to be honest. I mean, um…”

“Do you feel different now that you’re not a virgin anymore?”

She grins. “Well, I feel different right now. Not sure if that has to do with my virginity or⁠—”

“Or the afterglow,” I say.

A laugh bubbles out of her. “Right. That.” She leans forward, her palms pressed against the steel counter. “Wow. I’ll be honest, I never thought my first time would be…”

“What? In a restaurant?” I flash her a sideways glance, still smirking. “On a table? Seven hundred feet above Los Angeles?”

“Any of those,” she admits. “Or that it would be…” She trails off, her gaze falling to the ground as if she’s gathering her thoughts.

I lean against the counter, folding my arms, a quiet smile playing at my lips. “That it would be that good?”

She huffs, her cheeks glowing with an even deeper shade of crimson. “You’re so cocky, you know that?”

I chuckle, feeling the warmth spread through me at the sight of her blush, a mixture of pride and tenderness swelling in my chest. I lean in a little closer, savoring the moment before speaking.

“Yes,” I say with a touch of mock arrogance, my voice low and playful. “I do know that. But I’m still glad you enjoyed it. You did, right?”

She folds her arms, attempting to look disapproving, but there’s a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Yes,” she relents. “It was incredible.”