Page 4 of The Cask

“Ah work.” He nodded knowingly. “Okay, well when you get back to your calendar, check it out and let me know what days you have available this upcoming week.”

“I will. Off the top of your head, what days are you thinking?”

“Whatever day you’re free.” He took a step closer. “I’ll make the time. Whatever day you have available, I’ll make it work.”

The red-hot anger that was coursing through my veins on my way across the street had turned into red-hot lust.

He is physically my type. He’s saying all the right things. He is dressed well. He’s single.I let my eyes skate over him briefly.This is the energy that I’m looking for!

“You are good,” I murmured, swaying closer to him.

“And you are beautiful,” he uttered. “Absolutely beautiful.”

“I’m more than a pretty face,” I told him.

“Oh, I know.” He smirked. “I saw the fire in your eyes when you busted through the door.”

I let my head fall back and I laughed. “I didn’t bust down the door.”

“You did,” he chuckled. “But it’s okay. I liked it.”

“You liked it?”

“Yeah. Because I saw you.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

He nodded. “Iseeyou.”

My heart thumped in my chest. “Yeah… I see you, too.”

“Can I get some help please?” a female voice called out, breaking the moment I was having with the sexiest man alive.

Hearing her voice, Omari turned around. “Kim, I told you I’d get that for you.” He turned back to me. “I’ll be right back.”

He jogged over to the woman with the sleek pixie cut and sharp features. “I’ll take the box. You go see what the beautiful Ebony wants over there,” I heard him tell her. “She asked for you by name.”

Kim turned her sights to me and the anger from before came flooding back. The petite woman looked at me as if I were impeding on her time before crossing the room with long strides. By the time she reached me, my eyes had narrowed.

“Hello,” she greeted me with a sharp tone and a curious smile. “I’m Ms. Lowe.”

“You’re the manager, correct?” I began. “Kim?”

“Yes, I am. And we have a lot to do before we have our soft opening tonight. Our grand opening is tomorrow.” Her thinly veiled impatience was evident.

“As a cigar bar, I would’ve thought your sign would highlight the types of cigars you serve.”

She looked at me blankly for a few seconds. “Do you have a point?” she questioned. “I have a lot of work to do before seven o’clock and the sign is the least of my concerns.”

My eyes narrowed. “My point is that this neighborhood is very…neighborly and the sign—”

“The sign,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “If you have any other suggestions, please direct them to Mr. Fortune. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Without another word, she turned on her heels and walked away.

I glared at her.Rude. Ass. Bitch.

“Is everything okay?” Omari asked her as she stomped toward the back.

“The woman in the tight dress has a question for you,” she replied with snark.

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