Vera was the biggest cheerleader for our relationship, although I still blamed her pending marital bliss for her over-the-top reaction.
But nobody had been as thrilled for us as Wyatt. Which might have sounded nice of him, but his felicitations were totally selfishly motivated. Apparently, Ezra in a committed relationship was a much easier man to work for.
I liked to take all of the credit for that. You’re welcome, chefs of Durham.
“Jo wants us to come over for dinner tonight,” Ezra said into my hair. “She says she wants to see this for herself.”
“See what for herself?” I asked on a laugh. I had met Jo a couple times through Vera before, but not in this context with Ezra.
“You and me,” he explained. “She doesn’t believe me.”
“My parents want to have us over tomorrow night,” I countered. “They’re having trouble believing this is real too.”
Ezra pulled back, his hands holding my body like I was the most precious thing in the world and I could float away at any second. I loved the way he held me… held onto me. “What don’t they believe?”
“That you’re real. My mom, especially. She definitely thought I was going to marry a homeless man.”
“I like your mom,” he said on a smile. “She’s terrifying.”
He had to be lying. Nobody liked my mom. Not even Vera. Of course, Ezra would be the one person on the planet to appreciate her scariness. “She likes you for the same reason.”
Leaning forward, he murmured, “I like your dad too. And I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m awesome.”
“He doesn’t.” He totally did.
He smiled down at me. “I better win him over with his favorite six-pack then.”
“That would definitely help your case,” I told him. “What doesn’t Jo believe?”
“That I’m in love,” he answered easily like it wasn’t the most profound thing he’d ever said. “She doesn’t think I’m capable.”
My heart hammered against my chest and my fingers went numb. Did he not realize he had never said that before?! That this was the first time ever I was hearing that crazy, beautiful, soul-changing admission. “I’m sorry, wh-what?” I gasped.
“She doesn’t believe that I fell in love.”
I blinked at him, vaguely aware that my mouth was unhinged. “Ezra,” I pleaded.
“Oh, have I not told you that before?” His grin was wide, and cocky, and achingly real. “I’ve been thinking it for a while. It’s hard to believe I haven’t said it. Are you sure I haven’t?”
“Don’t torture me,” I pleaded.
His expression softened and his hands began the slow, steady caress of a man that felt every ounce of truth in his words. “I love you, Molly Maverick.” His lips dropped to mine, kissing as if sealing his confession in me. “I love you.”
Unbidden tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “I love you too, Ezra Felix Baptiste.”
He let out an impatient sigh. “I keep telling you not to use my whole name.”
I smiled, because I knew it drove him bananas. “I like it. No, wait. I love it.”
His head cocked back. “Are you making fun of me for telling you I love you.”
“No, I wouldn’t do that.” I tried to keep a straight face. “That doesn’t sound like me at all.”
“Unbelievable,” he groaned. “You’re completely unbelievable.”
“But you love me anyway. I know because you just told me.”
He didn’t know whether to glare or laugh, so instead of either, he threw me over his shoulder and stomped back to his office. I laughed hysterically when he smacked my butt.
“Ezra Felix!” I shouted since we were the only ones in the restaurant.
“I’m going to make you pay for that, woman,” he threatened.
And he did. In his office, with the door locked. With laughter that never left us and whispered I love yous that we absolutely meant. With kisses that I could never get enough of, and promises of a future together that would never get boring, never lose our push and pull, and never, ever end.
It didn’t matter how different we were or how different we would always be, Ezra was now the driving force in my life that made everything else make sense. He was my anchor when I felt like I was lost and floating away. He was my common sense and reason, and also my relentless drive. And I was his reality check when work became his life and he forgot about everything else. I was the fun and meaningful purpose for why he strove so hard.
Yes, we were different, but only in the way two puzzle pieces are made to fit together exactly right. He was made for me and I was made for him. And we would spend the rest of our lives discovering all the ways we blended together.
Thinking back to when I met Ezra, I couldn’t believe how wrong I’d gotten him. I’d expected arrogance and snobbery and aloof cruelty. Intsead, I’d found a man that was humble and devoted and so full of love I knew I would never get to the end of him. He swept me off my feet and changed my life forever. He’d closed the space between us and showed me just how perfect love can be.
Our story was a complex piece of art that we worked on every day. It wasn’t always beautiful in the traditional sense, but it was captivating, and worthy and endless.
Our happily ever after was so different than what I’d pictured, but it was right. And it was ours.
Thank you for reading The Difference Between Us! I hope you enjoyed reading Ezra and Molly’s story and fell in love with them as hard as I did! The third book in the Opposites Attract Series, The Problem with Him, is coming this November. Each book is a standalone romance following a different couple! Keep reading to find out more about Kaya Swift and Wyatt Shaw.
The Problem with Him coming November, 2017!
I’m over men.
I’m done with them.
Or at least the ones that work in my kitchen. Fine, one man in particular. Wyatt Shaw is cocky and condescending and so far out of his element that he doesn’t know which way is up. Or how to run his brand new kitchen all by himself.
That’s where I come in. Sous chef extraordinaire. Second in command. Bane of his existence. I am the reason Wyatt’s doing so well as the new executive chef of one of our city’s most prestigious restaurants. He has me to thank for his glowing accolades and five-star write-ups. Only if you were to ask him, he’d say I’m his biggest problem.
Despite his discouragement and bullish behavior, I’ve set two goals for myself.
The first? I’m going to fight my way to the top of this male-dominated industry and claim my own award-winning kitchen.
The second? I’m going to do whatever it takes to ignore Wyatt and his rare smiles and the thickening tension that’s started to simmer between us.
Wyatt Shaw might be Durham’s new shining star. He might be up for a James Beard Award. He might be my new boss and key to my future success, but he’s also in my way.
So he can keep his smoldering looks and secret kisses. And he can be the one that figures out how to make it through service without getting distracted by me.
I’m not the problem.
The problem is him.