Page 55 of The Cask

“What’s going on?” I wondered as I rounded the corner.

“They need you to sign for the flowers!” Alexis exclaimed. She damn near bounded over to me as she pointed at the bouquet.

I smiled at the delivery woman with the name Sue emblazoned on her shirt. “Hello, thank you.” I signed her paperwork and handed it back to her.

“There’s one more thing,” Sue told me. “I’ll be right back.”

The moment she left out of the door Alexis started jumping up and down.

“One day you’re married to your business and the next I find you making out with handsome men and getting flowers sent to you. I’m so happy for you! I feel like”—she stopped and put her hand over her heart— “I feel like this guy could be the one.”

“You are blowing this way out of proportion,” I told her as I climbed onto the barstool in front of the bouquet.

“Read the card!” Alexis demanded, standing next to me. “Where’s the card?”

I looked around and in between the flowers and I didn’t see anything. “Doesn’t look like there’s a card or a note or even a receipt.”

“Maybe it fell,” she suggested, looking on the floor.

“Maybe.” I looked under my barstool.

The door to the bar opened and I expected to see Sue walk in, but I sat up quickly when I realized it wasn’t her.

“Ebony Montresor…” Omari’s deep voice carried my name with so much power that it always managed to tighten my gut.

Finding it difficult to make eye contact, I turned my attention to the flowers. “Hello, Omari.”

He approached me tentatively. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine.” I rolled my shoulders back and met his gaze. “Is everything okay with you?”

He looked confused. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. “Can we talk?”

“Here we are,” Sue announced as she walked in with another bouquet and a pretty wine bottle. She sat the second bouquet next to the first one and handed me the bottle. “Luchesi said to say a favorite for his favorite.”

“Thank you,” I replied, staring at the wine bottle.

Amontillado.

It was a decent year from a decent vineyard, but the bottle was gorgeous. I knew Luchi well enough to know that he didn’t take the time to research the wine. He just picked the prettiest bottle.

“These are so gorgeous!” Alexis gushed from behind the bar. She moved her head back and forth as she smelled the floral arrangements. Finally, she took a step back and grinned at Omari. “Did you get her these?”

“No.” He took a seat on the stool next to me. “No, I didn’t.”

I could see the curiosity in his eyes as he watched me. He looked like he was trying not to have a reaction, but he had a very expressive face. I would’ve almost felt sorry for him if I didn’t see him on a date with another woman the night before.

“Oh…okay…” Alexis sounded like she wanted to sink into a hole. “Um, here’s the card, Ebony.”

“What does it say?” I inquired, my eyes still locked with Omari’s.

“It says ‘To Ebony, Love Always Luchi’—your ex, Luchi?!” The astonishment in her gasp spoke volumes. “I mean, here you go.” She slid the card across the bar and then walked to the kitchen. “I’m going to do inventory.”

It wasn’t until the kitchen door closed that Omari spoke.

“So, your ex, huh?”

I quirked an eyebrow.He has some nerve.

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