Page 87 of The Witness

A breathtaking wide-angle photo of the dining room with me seated alone at a table covered most of the page above the fold. The story that accompanied the image retold my adventures in opening a restaurant from Food Truck Fabulous to the vandalism to last night’s star-studded opening party. This wasn’t a tiny mention, it was a full exposé.

I tackled Michael into the mattress and peppered morning breath kisses all over his face. This kind of press was priceless. It got a chef TV spots and invites to food festivals.

“Shit. Now we just need to keep booking reservations until the insurance money comes in.”

“About that…” Michael wouldn’t look at me. My stomach rolled, and I thought I might puke.

“What?” I grabbed his big giant forearm and dug my fingertips into the muscles. “Tell me now.” Had he been keeping bad news from me?

“I know I’m only supposed to give unsolicited hugs and back rubs, but I might have stepped out of my box last night. I called in a favor to get the insurance company to pay faster.”

“I hear what you’re saying, but don’t understand.” I shook my aching head. It was too early for riddles.

“Have you ever looked at the people on the board of directors for your insurance company?”

“No.” The company was an anonymous beast I sent giant checks too. There weren’t faces or names attached to it.

“I did. Alexander Mills is on the board.” He sat down on the bedside.

“They were there last night, him and Gigi. I saw them.” I’d sent the invite as a long shot. When they accepted, I’d never thought they would honestly show up.

“Gigi declared Viande was her new favorite place in town. She told Alexander they would need a regular table. I overheard and mentioned to Alexander that for you to stay open, you need your insurance policy to pay up sooner than later.”

The color drained from my face. That was a massive ask. “You have that kind of pull with Alexander Mills?”

“I saved his life once.” Michael tossed out the comment with a shrug that saidjust doing my job.

“You need to explain.” Saving the life of an uber-connected billionaire wasn’t the type of thing you kept quiet about, was it?

“It was dumb luck. I was working for him on a business trip to El Salvador. A rival tried to sneak a gun into a meeting. I intercepted it.”

There was so much detail left out of that story. It was like a slice of Swiss cheese. Holes everywhere.

“And…”

“That’s it. But Mills said he owed me. And men like Mills and Smith, they take that shit seriously. I cashed in my debt last night. He’s going to pressure the insurance company to pay up. He said to expect the money to start flowing end of the week.”

I fell back in the pillows, clasping the Miami Herald story to my chest. A tightly coiled spring that had been ready to blow apart like an overwound watch deep in my gut relaxed. We wouldn’t run out of money before the insurance paid.

“Oh, and Gigi loves Parker, loves you, and is thinking about coloring her hair to match your look.” He twirled a lock of my red hair around his fingertips.

“Now you’re just making stuff up so I’ll get out of bed.” I rolled over and looked up at him.

“Am I in trouble for overstepping?” He looked so earnest.

“In this case, no. A thousand times no. What you did, asking Mills for help like that? I couldn’t do that, no matter how much I wanted to. He doesn’t owe me anything. That wasn’t you overstepping. That was a gift. I love you for that and all the rest of the help you’ve given getting Viande open. No woman has it better. You’re an amazing partner. I love you.”

“No man has it better than me. Siren, I think I’ve loved you since we met.”

He leaned over and brushed a delicate kiss on my lips.

“Have I told you how sexy I find your accomplishments?” He cupped my face. His fingers tangled in my auburn hair.

I pulled back the sheets and crooked a finger at him. “Get in here and show me. We have to be quiet. Can’t wake Minerva.”

“Oh, I already took care of that. She and Katie are waiting in line at Tropical Bagels. I figure we have at least an hour.” He did that super sexy thing where he ripped his shirt off over his head with one hand behind his back.

I melted.

If you’re ever given the option of really excellent sex with a man you love, followed by really excellent bagels, don’t miss out. It’s an epic way to start the day.

The End

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