Page 18 of Tarek

Marco drags his hand down his face. “We have a small disturbance on table twenty.”

“I will take care of it, you go back down to the kitchen floor,” I state.

“Yes, Chef,” Marco opens the door and heads down the stairs toward the kitchen.

* * *

PENNY

As I settle deeper into my couch, my eyes widen as the heroine of the book reconnects with the man that left her at the altar.

In a chokehold, that’s how these characters in E. Howard book have me. I can’t believe this man left this girl at the altar, without finding out the truth. My fingers slide across my phone screen, as I enter a new chapter.

Shoving the salty chips into my mouth, with each line, each word this book has captivated my entire being.

“Oh, is he going to kiss her? That mother—” My phone vibrates, the message tab drops over my book.

Zeeta

Safety needed NOW.

The book was just about to get good. Sighing my fingers type quickly.

Me

Be there in five.

Thankfully the Glasshouse is not far away from my home and on a good day I could walk there.

It doesn’t take me long to get ready. I slip into a pair of dark jeans and aGame of ThronesT-shirt. It’s not like I’m going in to eat, there was no need for me to be dressed up. I grab my keys off the table, unhook my grey coat off the wall and I head out.

The lights of my Dodge Charger brightens as the engine roars to life. After a couple of red lights that felt like I was waiting a really long time for them to turn green, I was here at The Glasshouse.

The Glasshouse is the hottest restaurant in Lakeshore. Reservations had to be made months in advance just to get a table. Rumor has it that under the direction of restaurateur, Chef Fairisles, the kitchen is run like a well-oiled engine and the food is unforgettable.

My heart skips a beat as I park beneath the gleaming lights of the Glasshouse. I should have changed into a dress.

A knock on my window breaks my train of thought. I didn’t bother to lower the window; I hopped out of the car and passed the keys to the valet.

“Take care of my baby,” I took out twenty dollars and tipped the valet. Should I have tipped more? I have no idea how much the tip should be. In my excitement I text Zeeta.

I’m outside. The valet took my car. A freaking valet.

I can feel it, the charge in the air. This was about to be a memorable night.

* * *

TAREK

I follow Marco back down into the kitchen. As I reach the metal doors, Janaka, one of my servers stops me before I could step through.

“Chef, I think it’s your friend Mr. Banner, and he looks upset.” Janaka points to the two men standing across the dining room. One of them being my best friend, Rhet Banner. Rhet has never been a person to make a scene. As a matter of fact, he hates being in the spotlight or drawing people’s attention. If he is doing this it has to be serious. I move quickly toward him. A beautiful African American woman in a wine-colored dress is slowly rising from the table. Her fists are clenched, and though her lips are barely parted she is clearly giving Rhet a piece of her mind.

She tries to walk past Rhet, but he grabs her by the arm and pulls her back to him. I don’t know if you should do that buddy.

“You leave with me,” I hear Rhet say as I step behind him. Hold up, this is about a woman, I can’t remember the last time Rhet has been riled up by a woman’s presence. It takes all of me not to take my camera out and record this for the guys to see.

“You better let my arm go. You are acting like a Neanderthal.” Yep, she is breathing fire and Rhet has no intention of backing down.

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