Page 2 of Journey to You

Strange guy.

Then again, considering how things had turned out with Richard, she was lousy at reading men. She had no idea what went through Ethan’s head and no interest in finding out.

He straightened and she quickly averted her gaze, surprised to find it had been lingering on a piece of his anatomy she had no right noticing.

She’d never done that, noticed him as a man. He was Richard’s business partner, someone who’d always been distantly polite the few times their paths had crossed.

So why the quick flush of heat, the flicker of guilt?

It had been a year since Richard’s death, two since she’d been touched by a man, which went a long way to explaining her wandering gaze. She may be numb on the inside, emotionally anaesthetised, but any woman with a pulse would’ve checked out Ethan’s rather impressive butt.

“What’s in the bags?” He pointed to the load she’d just dumped on the table.

“I’ll tell you on one condition.” She slipped out of her camel trench coat and hung it on the back of chair. “You have no idea how much I’d kill for a hot chocolate right now, so if you make me one, I won’t just tell you what’s in the bags, I’ll show you.”

She tapped the biggest one, stuffed to overflowing, and smiled. The first smile she’d mustered all day. Pathetic, considering it was after midday.

“You’ve got a deal.”

With a half salute and twinkle in his eyes, he strode towards the bar.Ah-ha, me hearties…the pirate was in top form today,full of swagger, cheek, and suave bravado. She was immune to his charm, of course, but it did her good to laugh every now and then, and Ethan in this mood would guarantee that.

While he headed for the espresso machine behind the bar, she sank onto a chair, stretched her legs, and wiggled her toes. She loved these boots, she really did, but they were nothing but trouble and her back gave a protesting twinge.

Though that could have more to do with the heavy load she’d hefted to the restaurant but she’d had no choice. She held her future in her hands—literally. And despite the gut feeling she was ready for this, she wanted to get Ethan’s opinion. If anyone knew this business inside out, he did.

“Right, here you go. One super duper hot chocolate with a double side of marshmallows.” He placed the towering glass in front of her, a strong espresso in front of him, and sat opposite, fixing her with that half-amused, half-laconic tilt of his lips only he did so well. “What’s going on?”

“A girl can’t think without a sip of hot cocoa first.”

She cradled the mug, inhaling the rich, chocolate-fragrant steam, savouring the warmth seeping into her palms. Closing her eyes, she took a sip, letting the sweet lusciousness glide over her tastebuds and slide down her throat.

Ethan made a strange sound and her eyes flew open, confused by the flicker of something darker, mysterious, in his eyes before he blinked.

“One sip, you said.” He tapped the nearest bag. “Now, let’s see what you’ve got in here.”

“You hotshot businessmen are all the same. Way too impatient.”

She softened her words with a quick smile while placing her mug on the table, unzipping the first bag and hauling out a folder.

He tilted his head on an angle to read the spine. “What’s that?”

“A list of every restaurant in Melbourne. The new list I’ve been compiling over the last six months.”

“You do know it’s easier to compile lists online, right? Ever heard of a spreadsheet?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m an old-fashioned girl, I like a hardcopy too.”

Her hands shook as she glanced at the folder, at what it meant for her future.

She cleared her throat. “I’m ready.”

His eyes sparked with understanding and she wondered how he did that. For the short time she’d been dropping by here, he could read her mind, whereas Richard hadn’t a clue what she’d been thinking after three years of marriage.

Then again, considering what he’d been up to, he probably hadn’t cared.

“You’re going back to work?” His eyebrows rose.

“Uh-huh. Thanks to you letting me come here, getting your chef to whip up those amazing meals, and letting me get my hand back into critiquing, I reckon I’m finally ready.”

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