Chapter 5
Kiki
All day I’ve thought of nothing but my dinner date with Ezra. I’m not sure a man has ever affected me so much, which is silly. He’s a stranger. I know nothing about him. Still, there’s something irresistible about Ezra.
By the time I get back to the shop after showering and changing twelve times, Ezra is already there, waiting.
I stand on the sidewalk and watch him through the window for a few minutes as he chats with Oliver.
When Bull first asked me to allow his stepson to be my apprentice, I almost didn’t agree.
The guy is quiet and standoffish. Now that I know him, I realize it’s because he’s neurodivergent and takes a while to adjust to new people and surroundings.
The fact that Ezra is able to get Oliver to talk to him tells me this man is special.
I take a deep breath and then step inside the shop.
Ezra turns to look at me, and I swear time slows to a standstill.
Our eyes lock as the world around us disappears.
He’s wearing a dark gray button-down with jeans.
His rolled-up sleeves show the ink on his muscular forearms. I have to reach up and wipe my mouth for fear I’m drooling.
“You look beautiful,” he says, stepping toward me.
I look down at my black dress, glad I chose this one. It’s nothing exceptional, but the ruching under the bust camouflages my doughy midsection while highlighting my cleavage. “Thank you.”
Oliver clears his throat. “You do not dress like this at work.”
“Ezra and I are going to dinner,” I explain, unable to look away from my date.
Oliver nods. “I will be in tomorrow afternoon.” He turns and leaves.
His abrupt departure does not seem to faze Ezra. In fact, I’m not sure he even heard, since he is studying me so intensely.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Do you feel comfortable riding with me?” he asks. “If not, we can take separate cars.”
I know I should probably drive myself. In this day and age, you can’t be too trusting. But something tells me I can trust Ezra. “I’m fine riding with you.”
He smiles and holds out his hand. “Then, let’s go.”
I slip my hand in his, and my heart picks up speed. His palm is soft despite the calluses. I can’t help but think of what they would feel like rubbing all over my body.
We make small talk as he drives. I’m surprised there are no awkward silences since this is our first date, and we know next to nothing about each other. I can’t help but think that’s a good sign.
“Old West Steakhouse?” I ask, surprised he brought me here.
“Shit. Please don’t tell me you’re a vegetarian.” Ezra’s panicked look makes me laugh.
“No. I gave the owner a tattoo when I was an apprentice, and then he hired me as a ‘swing girl’ afterward since I didn’t earn much money back in those days.”
“You’re telling me you used to dress like a can-can girl and swing across the bar here? Please tell me you’re going to ask to swing for me tonight,” he says as if I’ve just gifted him his ultimate fantasy.
I giggle. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll see if they’ll let me do one song.” I still remember the routine I did, even though it’s been almost a decade since I worked here.
I move to open the door, but he stops me. “Wait. This is a date, so let me get your door.” He rushes around to my side of the truck and opens my door for me.
I take his hand as he helps me down from the cab. “Wow. You’re a gentleman.” No guy has ever done this for me before.
“I try.” His cheeks turn red with a blush.
Unable to resist, I tug on his neck and pull him down so our lips meet. Even with my high heels, he’s still quite a bit taller, but we make it work. His lips are soft as they cover mine. I open my mouth to allow his tongue entrance.
Hot damn. Ezra can kiss.
He presses me against the truck, lifting me off my feet. I wrap my legs around him, not caring that I’m in a dress, allowing my wet panties to press against his bulging jeans. The zing of pleasure he sends throughout my body has me wanting to impale myself on him in this parking lot.
Soon he’s vibrating.
“Ezra,” I moan.
He sets me on my feet. “Sorry. I need to take this.”
I’m confused until he pulls his phone out of his pocket. So that’s where the buzzing came from. I smile as I fix my skirt.
“He what! Is he okay?” Ezra scrapes a hand down his face with a sigh. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
Sorry, he mouths to me, pointing to the truck for me to get inside.
“Hey, bud. I’m on my way to see you right now.” His softer voice tells me he’s on the phone with Theo.
I can’t hear what else he says because he shuts the door behind me as soon as I’ve crawled up inside the cab of the truck and is already walking around the front to get inside the driver’s seat.
“Love you, bud,” he says before ending the call as he climbs inside the truck.
“Is Theo okay?” I ask, worried.
“He was running in the house and slid on the hardwood floors. Carla thinks he broke his arm. We’re meeting them at the emergency room in Greenville.” He looks upset as he says this.
I reach over and take his hand in mine, squeezing it. “He’ll be okay.”
Ezra sighs. “I know. I broke bones all the time as a kid, but I feel bad that Carla is the one with him and not me. She sounded frantic on the phone.”
“How far away is the hospital?”
“Probably 45 minutes from here, so maybe an hour or so from the shop,” he says.
I wave my hand. “Then, I’ll come with you so you can leave right now. You need to get to Theo as soon as you can. He needs you.”
“Thanks,” he says with a grateful smile.
Ezra stays quiet on the ride to the hospital. He’s worried, and I don’t know how to help ease his concern, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I spend the next 50 minutes studying Ezra’s profile as we ride in silence.