Page 85 of Café Diablo

It’s enough to make me believe in everything.

35

Ned

Two Months Later

Iwalk into Flambé at nine thirty on a Friday and the place is hopping. Waitresses whisk by the hostess stand heading into the dining room with flames dancing on their trays. Couples are cuddling in the waiting area and spilling out onto the patio. And, if I peek into the main room, I can see the bar and Connor juggling fire or lighting martinis on fire or swallowing swords, or whatever it is that he does.

This place truly is a late-night circus.

A late-night circus that my brother and Olivia love, so, I’m working onnotbeing the world’s biggest asshole-stick-in-the-mud.

“Hello, stranger,” says a familiar voice and I turn to see the vision-of-a-hostess smiling back at me.

Olivia stands behind the desk wearing a sleek black dress—completely black-tie worthy—with her hair up in a twist. Her red lips smirk as she gives me her ‘you don’t come round here often, do you?’ vibe. She’s classy and sexy, showing off her freckled shoulders and neck. She’s also wearing that tiny gold necklace—the same one she wore when we first met—that dangles between her cleavage. It makes every man within ten feet stare—yes, at her chest! And yes, I want to smack all of them with class A misdemeanors! Not that it will hold up in court, but no one gets to ogle my girl.

“Did you move into the new office this morning?” Olivia asks, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me chastely on the lips. I slide my hands around her waist and some of the other men in the waiting area—yes, the ones that were checking out her tits—are clearly pissed. That’s right assholes, you don’t get to pick up this bombshell, she’smygirlfriend.

“Judy is a miracle worker,” I answer, snugging Olivia closer. “She managed the entire move flawlessly and we should be up and running next week. Back to the old grindstone.”

“That’s wonderful news,” Olivia praises, rubbing my nose before unlacing herself from my clutches. “By the way, my shift isn’t over until two. So, you will have to nurse yourself into drunken oblivion, Connor style.” She nods to the bar. “Or, I can sneak into your condo at three AM and see if you sleep naked!”

“I don’t sleep when you’re around,” I growl in her ear. “And I’m pretty sure you know the answer to the naked part.”

Olivia smiles sweetly like she has no idea what I mean.

“I came to see your art,” I explain, still uncomfortable with the idea of showing up at her work unannounced. Though, I’ve probably come to Flambé more times than I can count in the last two months. My brother may be the headline male attraction at the restaurant, but that’s not the appeal that has me braving Arie and all her flame-broiled insanity.

Frankly, I can’t stay away from this black-haired goddess who’s currently trying to hide behind her hair at the mention of her art, a wicked blush running up her neck.

“You said Simon agreed to put your art up,” I prod, looking around and not seeing any in the hostess area. “So, where did he hang it?”

“It’s just three pieces,” Oliva downplays.

“Your work is on the wall for people to see. That’s important,” I counter, wrapping an arm around her waist again and kissing her right below the ear. “I don’t care if it’s in the women’s bathroom. I want to see what you created on display.”

“That’ll be the day,” Olivia laughs. “Edwin Voss in the ladies’ restroom. Ha! You wouldn’t be caught dead.”

I frown. Okay, she has a point. I don’twantto go into the women’s restroom. “I’ll wait politely until the coast is clear and be a gentleman,” I explain.

Olivia turns and nips me on the lip, giving me a sexy raised eyebrow. “Gentleman you are not.”

“I am in public.”

“Mmmmm,” she moans softly. “Yes, but that’s not what I was talking about.”

“Art?” I ask, trying to get her back on topic. “Location please?”

She once again untangles herself from me, eyeing the single men who are waiting, the gleam in Oliva’s eye saying they’ll never measure up. God, she makes me feel like a prize stallion, and it’s fucking awesome.

“There are two pieces in the main dining room near the bar.” Olivia points. “And the third one is in the back hall. Should I tell Connor you’re here?”

“Nope. I’ll go talk to him myself.”

“How about Arie?”

“Not over my dead body.” I frown. “You tell the red dragon I’m here and—”

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