Page 74 of The Cask

Ebony Montresor:Will you please go back to The Cask and lock the door that leads to my office and the cellar? If you can’t do it in the next fifteen minutes, let me know.

Alexis Smith:I can go over and do it right now. Is everything okay?

Omari walked in and I ducked down behind my desk and opened a drawer.

“You okay?” he asked.

Ebony Montresor:Yes, I’ll explain tomorrow. Just lock it and go back to having fun.

“Yeah, I’m just looking for my favorite corkscrew,” I answered before powering off my phone.

I stood. “It must be in the cellar because it’s not where I usually keep it.” Placing my phone on my desk and picking up the bread, I headed toward him. “Are you okay? You look unsteady.”

“Ebony…” He took the plate from my hand. “I’m fine.”

I grabbed a sweater from my coatrack and slipped it on. Walking to my cozy corner, I picked up a blanket. “I don’t have another sweater, but I have this if you want to wrap up.

His laughed turned into a cough. “No, I’m good.”

“Okay, well let’s eat up. The Amontillado is back here.”

We left my office and continued down the hall into the cellar. We were quiet while we chomped and cleansed our palates. When we got to the door, he coughed.

“I’m fine,” he said before I could even finish turning to look at him. “I’m excited because you’re finally letting me see what’s in your lair.”

I snickered lightly as I opened the door, causing the motion sensor lights to power on. “It’s not a lair.”

He whistled. “It most certainly is not.”

I swiped my hands together to remove any crumb remnants before I turned to face him. “Welcome…” I started, realizing how close he was to me. There was a sound, and I knew it was Alexis. Not knowing what else to do, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled his face down for a kiss.

It only took him a second to react, and when he did, his hands wrapped around me and pulled me close. I was listening as our mouths moved over one another, but soon, I forgot all about trying to keep him from hearing her, from trying to keep her from hearing us, and the plan altogether. All I could think about was the way his tongue touched mine and lit my entire body on fire.

He broke the kiss, leaving a slither of space between us. “How do you always manage to do this?” he asked quietly.

I let my eyes flutter open. “What?” I whispered.

“You make me want you more and more each time I’m with you.”

I smiled. “I’m luring you in.”

“Just like you lured me into your lair.”

Laughing, I pushed out of his arms and led him to the back of the cellar.

He coughed several times in a row.

I stopped and eyed him suspiciously. “How long have you had that cough?”

After his coughing spell, he cleared his throat. “Just since I woke up.” He waved his hand. “It’s nothing.”

I shook my head. “Come on,” I said decisively, grabbing his arm and attempting to pull him out of the wine cellar. “We’re turning back and leaving. Your health is a priority, and you can’t be sick during your opening weekend.”

“I don’t get sick,” he argued, not allowing me to move him. “This is just a cough.”

I put my hands on my hips and stood in front of him. “I can see the headlines now. Rich, respected, admired, beloved businessman falls ill in The Cask cellar.” I tilted my head. “Do you know how bad that’ll be for business?”

“Oh wow!” He coughed into his elbow and then chuckled. “In this scenario, your main takeaway is that it’ll be bad for business?”

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