Killian’s attention snapped back to me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to—”
I waved him off. “You didn’t. I get what you meant.”
“So, what do you think?” he asked, his eyebrows raised expectantly.
I glanced at Vera again, hating that she’d put me in this spot and hating even more that Killian had brought it up in front of so many people. Fine, it wasn’t exactly a secret that I liked to paint. But I wasn’t worthy of an offer like this.
If they wanted original pieces, they should hire a professional. I didn’t have the chops for this kind of job.
But instead of telling them that, I said, “I’ll think about it.”
Killian settled back in his chair, more relaxed. “When you decide, we can give you a better idea of what we’re looking for.”
“What’s the timeline?” I asked, abruptly nervous over paintings that hadn’t even been fully decided on yet.
“By the wedding this fall,” Vera answered. “We’re going to have it at the restaurant before the grand opening. So we’d like everything setup by then.”
“I can’t believe you’re considering this,” Vann huffed. “I asked you for two pieces for my shop and you flat-out refused.”
I shook my head at him, embarrassed that he was bringing that up now. “I haven’t agreed yet. I’m just thinking about it.”
“We’ll pay you!” Vera added.
I raised one eyebrow, focusing on Vann just so I wouldn’t break out into a sweat. “Are you going to pay me?”
“Obviously. At least twenty bucks a pop.”
Laughing, I shook my head at him. “Wow, Vann, I had no idea I was worth so much.”
He winked at me. “Plus, I’ll give your bike a free tune up whenever you need it.”
“I don’t own a bike.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Well, hey, I can help you out there too.”
I contemplated reminding him how our cycling class had ruined me for bike riding from here until forever and ever amen. But I didn’t want to totally crush him.
So instead, I shifted the conversation. “You know I have a real job too, right? And some of my clients are really high maintenance.” I nodded toward Ezra who was staring at my Foodie painting that was the focal point of the room. It hung centered in the middle of the wall above a trendy buffet table made with different shades of wood and looked like it weighed approximately three thousand pounds.
“You’re a brave man, Ezra,” Vann laughed. “Hasn’t she driven you crazy yet?”
Ezra seemed to blink back into focus, but he never lost the thoughtful look in his eyes. “Absolutely,” he answered Vann. “More than once.”
“Hey!”
“But I have to admit,” Ezra went on, “she knows what she’s talking about. She’s only accused me of being elderly once a day since we started and dismisses all of my brilliant ideas, but I think I’m starting to trust that she’s not going to tank my entire company and everything I’ve worked so hard for.” He paused thoughtfully, then said, “At least as far as her design goes. She might still try just for fun.”
My cheeks heated while the room burst into laughter at my expense. It wasn’t that I was offended, but I hated all the attention so focused on me. I had been trying to deflect it onto Ezra, but he somehow managed to bounce it right back at me. “Careful,” I warned him. “Hell hath no fury like a woman insulted.”
He pushed his plate to the side and leaned his forearms on the table. “I believe that from you.”
Only I wasn’t insulted. Not even a little bit. Somehow Ezra’s backward declarations felt very much like compliments. It was unnerving to remember his success, all his accomplishments. And he was trusting me with them—well, at least as much as his control freak self would let him. He had asked specifically for me. He had gone out of his way to get me.
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Vera asked, breaking the staring spell that had come over Ezra and me again.
I turned away from him and tried to protest, but Vera had made coconut sorbet and dark chocolate brownies from scratch, so to be fair, I didn’t try very hard. We spent the rest of the night finishing off another two bottles of wine and laughing until my stomach hurt.
We talked about Killian and Vera’s plan for their restaurant and the progress they were making. They were living off savings and a business loan, so things were tight for them. And on top of that, they were also planning a wedding. They were very stressed, but also very much in love. They laughed at a lot of their problems, having to eat cheaper and buy less wine. It was so interesting for me to watch a couple struggle financially without ripping each other’s heads off.
Vann filled us in on his cycle shop and his dysfunctional dating life. At Vera’s suggestion, he’d started trying to date women that weren’t the nice, good girls he usually went for. This had led to a series of high-maintenance crazies that he was positive were now stalking him.
Ezra shared his struggle to find a chef for Bianca. He and Killian spoke in depth about who he could reach out to and who would be right for the job. They also talked about Ezra’s sister Dillon and how she was doing in her final year of culinary school. Apparently, she’d been flakey for the first part of her twenties thanks to a large inheritance from their dad. But now she was serious about growing up and had decided that she wanted to be a chef.
“She knows I’ll give her a job,” Ezra sighed. “That’s why she’s doing it.”
“Seems like a lot of work just to get a steady paycheck,” Vann laughed.
Ezra’s eyebrows scrunched over his nose. “Good point. She knows I won’t fire her then.”
“That’s probably more accurate,” Killian agreed. “How’s she doing, though? Is there any talent there?”
Ezra shrugged. “She really isn’t bad. She needs some experience, but she’s well-traveled so her palate is mature. And she’s brave.”
“Put her in Wyatt’s kitchen,” Killian suggested. “He’ll whip her into shape.”
“You’re sure you don’t want to take her on?” Ezra asked. “She knows you. I’m sure she’d be more comfortable in your kitchen.”
“She wouldn’t make it two days with me,” Killian admitted candidly. “I don’t have patience for green. I’d traumatize her.”
“He would,” Vera agreed. “He regularly traumatizes me in the kitchen.”
“And in the bedroom,” I added.
We’d had enough wine that my joke was hilarious. Which probably meant it was time to go. I didn’t want to spend two Saturdays in a row hungover.
Ezra seemed to read my mind. “Are you about ready?”
I pushed away from the table and stood up, the three glasses of wine rushing to my head. “Yep. But are you okay to drive?”
“I’ve stuck to water,” he explained.
“Thanks for a fabulous dinner,” I told Vera and Killian. “Next time I’ll cook for all of you, then you can really be impressed with yourselves.”