Chapter Fifteen Ezra
Chapter Fifteen
Ezra
“Did you find a date for our wedding yet?”
I barely spare Odette a glance, then go right back to my work in front of me.
I’m stationed at the bar today, and I tell myself it’s because I needed a change of scenery, and that it has nothing at all to do with the brown-haired beauty behind the counter.
Nothing she said about us sleeping together made sense, because no matter how we spin it, even if it is a favor for her father, I am still her boss.
But I couldn’t find a single fuck to give about that, especially not when she was sitting on my lap, looking every bit like a goddess.
And especially not after I knew how good being inside her felt.
I would have agreed to almost anything she said just to have her again.
And I did. Have her again, that is. And again and again and again.
Summer’s been spending a lot of time in my bed since I drove her home from Stick Taps last week. We claim it’s because we’re working on the remodel, and it just makes sense for her to come to my place, but that doesn’t explain why our planning sessions always end with us naked.
With the kitchen plans finalized and approved by Summer, construction officially kicked off a few days ago, and the crew is already making significant progress.
I’m hopeful that the project might even be completed sooner than they quoted, but I’m trying not to cling to that idea too tightly, just in case.
I’m trying not to hold on to anything too tightly.
My eyes slide to Summer, and I look away almost instantly.
“Uh, hello? Earth to Ezra?” Odette waves her hand in front of my face, as if I don’t know that she’s there or talking to me.
“Noah, please tell your girlfriend to stop being obnoxious or I’m going to ban her from the cidery.”
“Fiancée,” Odette corrects. “And you won’t ban me. You like me.”
I grunt, only because I can’t tell her that she’s right. It’ll go to her head.
“Not to mention Ezra here forgets he’s not the sole owner of this joint. I get a say in who’s allowed in, too, and Odette always is.”
“See? Noah agrees with me.” She elbows me, and my pen scratches against the page in the wrong direction. “Oops. Sorry.”
But she doesn’t sound sorry at all. She just wants my attention.
I sigh, setting my pen down and turning toward her. “What do you want?”
She smiles sweetly. “I want to know if you found a date for the wedding.”
“No, and if you keep asking me about it, I’ll rescind the yes on my RSVP.”
“Uh, you’re the best man. Don’t think you can.”
Noah laughs. “Don’t put it past him, Odie.”
I point at my partner. “What he said.”
Odette rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Just find a date, okay? We need even numbers for the tables.”
“I highly doubt anyone is going to be counting the number of people seated at each table.”
“Ezra . . .”
The single word is threatening, and I raise my hands. “Fine. I’ll find someone. You happy?”
“Yes. Now we just need to find a date for you, Summer.”
“Um, what?” the woman in question says from down the bar, where she’s been working on the menu. Or at least that’s what she claims she’s doing. She hasn’t actually moved her pencil in over thirty minutes, and I would know, since I’ve been sneaking glances at her all day.
I wish I could keep my eyes off her, especially here at work, but it’s hard to when I know just how beautiful she looks when she comes or just how absolutely fucking stunning she is with my cum dripping down her chin as she stares up at me from her knees.
We did that this morning. She wasn’t supposed to stay over, but I certainly wasn’t mad that she did. And getting my cock sucked in the kitchen this morning didn’t warrant any complaints either.
“Our wedding. You’re still coming, right?”
“Of course I am. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Summer’s gaze catches mine just for a moment, but it’s long enough for me to see the apprehension in it.
The wedding is still six weeks away. Is Summer planning to stay in Port Harbor that long? I know we didn’t talk about a timeline on this . . . thing we’re doing, but I can’t deny that I’m happy about her sticking around, even though I shouldn’t be.
“Great. You need a date.” Odette gasps. “Oh, you can go with Ezra!”
“What?” Summer and I both say it at the same time.
Odette laughs. “See? You’re already in sync. It’s so cute.”
If only she knew just how in sync we were when I had Summer bent over the back of my couch.
“Stop teasing them, Odie,” Noah says.
“Yeah, Odie, knock it off,” I tell her.
“Okay, first of all, you don’t get to call me that.” She points at me. “And secondly, why not? You’re both single. I’m not asking you two to get married. Just go together.”
I flick my gaze to Summer for only a moment, and I can tell just from her posture that she doesn’t know how to respond to her friend.
So I step in and do it for her.
“No. Now drop it.”
My word is firm. Final. Odette doesn’t bring it up again.
And Summer doesn’t look my way the rest of the day.
For the first time in I don’t even know how long, I’m sitting in my office, staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until the cidery is closed.
Until I can talk to Summer without the extra eyes and ears.
Until I can figure out why she’s been avoiding me all day.
I told myself it’s because she was uncomfortable with Odette teasing her about us going to the wedding together, but I’m beginning to wonder if I said something wrong.
Even after they left, she didn’t want to be around me.
Every time I tried to catch her eye, she would turn away.
And when I did try to talk to her, she’d hurry out of the room and put Warner between us.
He hasn’t been flirting with her lately, and I’m grateful for it. It’s not that I think Summer would flirt back at this point—though we haven’t talked about us being exclusive—but because I’m not quite sure I would trust myself not to pummel the guy if I had to witness it.
Twenty minutes until we’re closed, and I’m not even close to getting what I need done tonight.
I try to force myself to focus, but just five minutes later, I’m back to glancing at the clock. I toss my pen down and go in search of Summer.
There are still a few people straggling behind. A family of four is in the arcade, which has been bringing in a lot of new customers, and Micah is closing out his tab now.
“Hey, Ezra,” he says when he spots me. “Been hiding in your office all night again?”
“Someone has to do all the hard work around here,” I tease, shaking his hand. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Can’t complain. Hey, Summer here was just telling me about the kitchen remodel and the new menu.”
I glance at her, and though it looks like she’s not paying us any attention, I can tell by how her body is canted toward us just slightly that she’s hanging on to every word.
“Yep. We figured it was time to expand a bit.”
“Well, I have to say, I’m mighty glad about that. No offense, but your current offerings leave a lot to be desired. Can’t tell you the number of times I’ve stopped by Hank’s for grub, then come out here for a drink.”
I hold back my wince. “I appreciate the honest feedback, Micah.”
“Of course. I always shoot straight with you, which is why I can’t wait to try the brussels sprouts. Summer was telling me about those too.”
I dart my eyes to Summer again. She’s still pretending not to be listening in. “She’s doing the whole menu for us. Used to be a chef in Chicago.”
“Oh, kid.” He laughs heartily. “She was a chef long before that. She used to make food with her momma, and let me tell you, every potluck this town had? Their dish was the first one gone. You’d have to get there at least a half hour early if you wanted even just a nibble.”
She used to cook with her mom? Is that why she loves it so much?
“Man, I miss Rebecca.”
Since I’m still looking at her, I don’t miss how Summer’s shoulders sink at the mention of her mother. It’s the same thing they did when Odette brought her up.
She misses her, and I’m sure being back in her old hometown is bringing up all sorts of memories of her. No wonder she escaped to Chicago. I would have done the same thing.
“I’m sure she was a lovely woman, and that she’d be proud as hell of what her daughter is doing for Stick Taps.”
For the first time since this morning, Summer looks at me.
And fuck me, she’s gorgeous. She’s always pretty, but there’s something about the way she’s staring at me right now that makes me wish we were alone.
“Excuse me, did you pay already?”
We turn to find the family ready and waiting for their turn at the register.
“He did. I can help you over here,” Summer says, turning up her smile and waving them down the counter.
Micah and I say goodbye, and the family isn’t far behind him. I follow them to the door, bid them good night, and flip the sign from Open to Closed.
Finally, we’re alone.
But when I turn back around, Summer’s disappearing out of the taproom again. Instead of racing after her like I want to, I give her space. I think she could use it right now.
I go back to my office and shut everything down for the evening, put my laptop and files into my bag, and then make my way out to my car.
Then I wait.
Ten minutes go by, then twenty, but I don’t dare think of leaving.
I have to see her first.
When she finally comes out thirty minutes after closing, I release the breath I’ve been holding.
She stops when she sees me leaning against my car.
“Another one?”
I glance back at my matte white Audi RS 7. “Another one.”
She sighs, then joins me, resting against the hood. “What are you doing, Ezra?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I upset you earlier, and I want to know what I said and how I can fix it.”
The words tumble free, and it surprises me just how much I mean them. I usually don’t care if I piss someone off. That’s their problem, not mine. But when it comes to Summer, I do care. I care a lot.
“You didn’t upset me. I upset me.”
“What? Why’s that?”
She’s quiet for several moments, and I begin to worry she’s not going to say anything.