Page 56 of The Cask

“Yeah. Luchi sent me flowers apparently,” I informed him.

“And a bottle ofyour favorite.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s a snob and while I’m sure this is a fine wine, it’s not my favorite.”

“Oh, I know.” He licked his lips. “So, he just sent this out of the blue or…?”

“Yeah.” I touched a petal. “Out of the blue.”

“That was nice of him,” he said in an even tone through gritted teeth.

I smiled. “It was, wasn’t it?”

Omari’s jealousy was alive and well.

How does it feel?I taunted him internally.

He stared at me as if he was trying to read my thoughts. “The ex that you broke up with a couple years ago or a different one?”

“Yes, Luchi is the one from a couple years ago.”

“The dude who tried to get you to choose between him and The Cask?”

I nodded. “That’s the one.”

He was quiet for a minute and I let him sit in it. I wanted him to feel how I felt. I wanted him to let his mind wander. I wanted him to toss and turn all night at the thought of me being with someone else.

“I’m not trying to be in your business,” he clarified. “I just wanted to come by, see if you were okay, and see if you had any time to get together.”

“I’m fine.” With a not-so-subtle glance at my flowers, I sighed. “I think I have everything I need.”

His jaw tightened and his expression changed. “Oh. Okay. Cool.”

When I saw the crushed look on his face, I was satisfied. It was time to stop being petty and time to get into the next phase of my plan. But then his brows furrowed and the crease between them deepened.

He studied my face.

The longer he stared at me the more exposed I felt.

“There’s something wrong,” he observed.

“What could possibly be wrong, Omari?”

“You tell me, beautiful.” He reached out, caressing my cheek. “Talk to me.”

I inhaled sharply. My skin tingled everywhere his fingers went, and the feeling swept my entire body. I blinked slowly before refocusing and gathering myself.

Be strong. This is how he sucked you in to begin with.

I needed to get my shit together. It was time to get out of my feelings and get back in the game.

“I just had a lot on my mind,” I told him, swallowing my pride and flashing him a smile. When he dropped his hand, the knot in my stomach grew. “How was your business dinner?”

He hesitated for just a moment. “It was productive. How was your night?”

I clenched my teeth at the swiftness that he changed the subject. “My night was also productive.”

He glanced at the flowers. “What did you do?”

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