Page 73 of The Cask

Still in disbelief, he repeated, “Amontillado!”

“And I must satisfy my doubts and get another opinion. So, that’s why I can’t check out the contest.” I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. “My phone is about to die and since you’re busy”—I gestured to Luxe— “I was out here about to call Luchesi. If anyone has a critical eye and a discerning palate, it’s him. He will tell me—”

“Your ex-boyfriend, Luchesi?” he balked. “You said he can’t tell Amontillado from Sherry.”

“He can’t!” I rolled my eyes. “And yet, let him tell it, his taste is a match for my own.”

With a shake of his head, Omari’s expression shifted from skepticism to determination. “Come on, let’s go.”

Blinking up at him, I asked, “Where?”

“To your wine cellar.”

“Omari, no. I don’t want to impose upon you. Not again. You already helped me out last night when I needed a ride. It was pouring down raining and that’s probably why you have that cough now.” I shook my head. “I can’t ask you to do that. Especially since you have your contest going on right now. It’s your grand opening. No, it’s fine. I’ll call Luchi—”

“You didn’t ask. The winner isn’t going to be selected for another”—he checked his watch— “hour.” He reached around me for the door. “Come on.”

“Omari.” I placed my hand on his chest and instantly flashed back to seeing him shirtless in my bedroom. I tried to blink the image away. “The cellar is cold, and you already don’t feel well. I don’t want to make you any sicker. It’s my fault you were in the rain. I don’t want it to be my fault you get worse because it can be cold down there.”

“I don’t get sick so never mind all that, let’s go. This cough is nothing.” He grabbed my hand from his chest and kissed it. “Amontillado! If you’ve been scammed, I don’t like that shit. And if you haven’t, you found one of the rarest bottles there is.” He kissed my hand one more time before holding it securely. “And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado. You don’t need him.” He brought his face closer to mine. “For anything.”

“Omari,” I argued feebly.

He brushed his lips against mine briefly before putting his arm around my shoulder and opening the door to The Cask.

I sighed, allowing him to pull me in the building.

“Wait, I need to lock up, at least,” I told him as I scanned the area to make sure no one was paying attention to us. I locked the door and then turned to face him. “We need something to cleanse our palates before tasting.”

“Do you have crackers?” he asked as he followed me.

“French bread is better,” I informed him. We walked into the kitchen and I washed my hands. I cut two healthy slices from a loaf leftover from earlier. I placed the bread on a plate and covered it with napkins. “And Louis makes the best bread in the world. He doesn’t like to do it, but when he does”—I kissed my fingertips— “delicious!”

Staring at me, he replied, “I can’t wait to taste it.”

His words moved through me and my belly fluttered.

Licking my lips, I cleaned up the crumbs and put the knife in the dishwasher. I told everyone not to return until early afternoon and I didn’t want to leave any evidence that I was in the kitchen or anywhere else. The festival was a highlight for almost everyone in Richmond looking to have a good time, so I knew I ensured their immediate disappearance as soon as I said goodnight.

“I’m not going to turn on the main lights, but you can see, right?” I wondered as I turned off the kitchen lights. The bistro was dimly lit, but there was enough light to move about safely.

“Yeah.” He coughed and I looked over my shoulder at him. “I’m good.”

I pulled open the door that led downstairs. “After you.”

“No, after you.”

“Okay, just make sure it closes all the way, so it doesn’t trigger the alarm,” I warned, making shit up as I took the plate from him.

“What?”

“Hm?”

“The door is going to trigger the alarm?” he questioned, closing it tight. He opened it and then closed it again harder to make sure it was secure. “That’s good?”

“Yeah, that’s good,” I told him as I descended the staircase. “Be careful.”

I went to my office, placed the bread on the desk, and quickly sent a text to Alexis.

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