The words “yes sir” almost came out of my mouth.
“Good,” then his face softened and he smiled. That sexy sweet smile that I remembered from the days he bought me cupcakes. He walked over to me and his hand cupped my cheek. It seemed intimate and I froze, startled by the touch.
“I like having you here when I arrive. I missed you,” he said, with a tenderness he hadn’t used with me before.
My stomach fluttered and I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Ezra will be here for a few hours. Less, if I’m lucky. We’ll go shopping together if you’d like.”
The idea of shopping with Hale frightened me. I wasn’t going to know what kind of clothing he expected me to buy and the pressure of having him watch and study me didn’t sound fun at all.
“You wear your thoughts so clearly in those eyes,” he chuckled. “It’s okay Sam. I’ll help you shop.”
I simply nodded. His hand fell away and my face still held the warmth of his touch. “I’ll take the wine out. You can go ahead and start on lunch. If I were alone I’d have you join me, but Ezra is a business partner and I’ll need some privacy.”
I frowned. What kind of business partner could he be? “He doesn’t look like you or your world,” I said without thinking.
“He’s from Texas,” Hale replied, as if that explained it all.
“He’s also rude and seems rough.”
Hale laughed as he lifted the two glasses of wine. There was a drip from the bottle and his pour had been off center, though he had found the drop and thumbed it. The kitchen was perfect again. “He is. That’s why he’s good at his job.”
I didn’t say anything else, watching as Hale left the kitchen.
I had to figure out what lunch was. I knew the list of groceries Felicity sent said something about meal preparation. I knew how to cook just fine, but I was concerned that the fancy food Hale would request might be difficult to make. Instead of walking around cleaning all morning I should’ve been going over food and putting a menu together. Lesson learned. Next time I’d know.
Luckily there was a lunch example Felicity sent to prepare me in case of an emergency. Fresh crab with an Asian salad, their cost combined like buying a calf, but of course this was New York City. I fixed a plate with both of these, adding a side plate of hummus with pita chips and a mixture of vegetables. This was one of Hale’s “go to meals.” I felt safe serving them this.
She said to “take out the hummus first.” This was an appetizer.
I wished I didn’t have to see Ezra. I’d have to get over my aversion to him, sooner better than later.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hale and Ezra paused their conversation every time I delivered something. Hale lifted his empty wine glass. His way of telling me they needed refills. Momma would’ve slapped his face. Things in this world were different. More formal, and way less friendly.
Fortunately, Hale didn’t look at me oddly when I served their courses of food. I suppose I was doing it correctly. I had to look at the bright side of this. At least I wasn’t bored. Him being in town gave me something to do. And besides that was my job.
I kept busy in the kitchen cleaning and deciding what dinner would be. I wish Felicity had sent me a cookbook. That would have made things easier. The stuff I knew how to cook wasn’t the food he wanted. Smiling, I thought about frying up some chicken with a pot of mashed potatoes and maybe some collard greens. That would be hilarious.
The kitchen door opened behind me. I put the last dish away and spoke: “I was about to come check and see if you needed anything more.” Then I turned around.
It wasn’t Hale. It was Ezra.
“Do you need something?” I asked. I tried not to sound annoyed.
He seemed amused by my tone, did a little head tilt, his blue eyes assessing intention. “No, but you may, eventually. Call me when that day comes.”
What in the world? I started to ask him what he meant when he turned and left the kitchen. I heard him talking with Hale, followed by their laughter, then the door closing behind him. I considered telling Hale what he’d said, but then decided against it. I was not here for drama. Whatever Ezra meant by that was obviously not important. He hadn’t even left me his number.
I turned off the kitchen lights and walked into the living room. Hale was standing at the window with an inch of wine staring out at the city. The view was spectacular and I hated to interrupt him. He had traveled all morning, went directly to a meeting and had to be nearly frazzled.
“You did well,” he said, glancing back.
“Thank you.”
“We have to get you better clothes. I wish you’d done that already. I expected a few issues to surface.”
A few issues? He was acting like I was a disobedient child. That was unfair, but I kept my mouth shut, being patient and understanding.
“Ezra enjoyed lunch. That’s really all that matters.” His gaze traveled up and down me. “Is that the best outfit you brought?” He asked with the slightest of grimace.
I reminded myself not to take offense. Which was hard because I had a temper and my mouth would lash like a whip. Curbing it wasn’t easy.
“No, I have a blue sundress that momma made me last year.”
He did a slight lift of his shoulders. “I have a meeting at three. We won’t have time to shop for your clothing. You’re a size four, am I right?”
I nodded yes, surprised he guessed so easily, by simply looking at me.
“I’ll have some clothes sent for you. I won’t be home for dinner tonight. Of course, feed yourself. But consider the rest of the day a break. Tomorrow we’ll do something. What is it you want to see most?”