Page 103 of Horn in My Side
“Called in a favor,” he said.“One of my former clients knows the owners of their sister restaurant in Montreal.So, they got me this last-minute table.”
“Thank you for doing this and taking me here.”Her eyes sparkled as she perused the menu printed on heavy linen stock paper.“Everything looks divine, but ...”She wrinkled her nose.“How come this menu doesn’t have prices?”
“It’s all pre-fixed,” he said.“And that’s the entire ten-course menu.”
Brown doe eyes bulged.“We’re having all of this?”
“Yes.”
She actually let out a little squeak.“You’ll have to roll me out of here.But, Mal, this must cost—”
He held a hand up.“Remember what you told me today?About telling you you’re wrong if you complain about how I spoil you with money?Well, you’re wrong, Jasmine.”
“Fine.”But she said it with an adorable pout.“Spoil away.”
The waiter arrived to drop off an amuse-bouche, then took their orders.
“This really is nice, Mal,” she began, taking a nibble at the edge of the tiny lobster-and-caviar bruschetta.“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.You deserve this treat.”And she really did, with all the hard work she’d been putting in at the shop, for the animals, and for Clawdia.“And you look beautiful.”
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.“Thank you.”Her skin was like gold under the soft glow of the mood lighting around them, her brown eyes soft and inviting.Time slowed and the air around them turned soundless.This felt like the moment to tell her.
“Jasmine—”
A soft buzzing sound made her start.“Sorry.”She reached for her phone inside her purse.“Might be the gnomes.”Glancing at the screen, she went pale.
The tendons in his neck tensed.“What’s wrong?Is it the shop?”
“I ...No.”She put the phone face down on the table.“It’s Housen Hatchery.”
“Housen Hatchery?”
“That’s the place that sent us Clawdia.”Her fingers skittered at the edge of the table.“They’ve actually been calling for a while.”
“How long?”
Guilt flashed across her face.“About a week now?”
“A we—” His voice rang out in the quiet atmosphere of thedining room, so he lowered his volume a couple notches.“A week?Why didn’t you say anything to me?Have they been harassing you all this time?”
“This is only, like, the third call,” she clarified.“And remember what the lawyer said?We’re not obligated to tell them about Clawdia.So, I figured I don’t have to pick up the phone and talk to them.”
“Good.”Still, he did not like that they were bothering Jasmine.“If they insist, tell them you want their demands in writing.”That’s what Nakamoto had advised, to leave a paper trail.“And like I said, I have your back on this.”
“I know, thank you, Mal.And I’m sorry to have to drag you into this fight.Don’t worry, once I get the loan, it won’t be your mess anymore.”
Dread seeped into his chest.
She doesn’t think I’ll be around.
And if he were perfectly honest with himself, he didn’t know if hewouldbe around.
“Here are your drinks.”The waiter placed two glasses of wine in front of them.“Your first course is on the way.”
“Thank you,” Jasmine said.She glanced at the menu, excitement on her face.“Ooh!That’s the caviar spheres with fresh herbs.I can’t wait.”
Despite the distraction of the sumptuous meal, Mal couldn’t stop thinking about why he couldn’t just say “I love you” to her.He’d never felt this way about anyone before and he had no reference or experience to guide him in what to do.It was like doing a renovation job without a contract or a plan and not having the right tools for the job.
