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“Here you are, Ma’am.” The waiter set the elegant plate in front of Connie. “Kalamata Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary.”
She sniffed the food. “Hm, thanks.”
“For you, sir.” The waiter graced Grayson with a plate of turkey tetrazzini and sautéed mushrooms.
“Thank you very much.” Grayson scooted closer to the table, his white nylon dress shirt remaining wrinkle free. “It looks delicious.” His eyes flashed when he smiled at the waiter.
Another server brought a bottle of Chardonnay and filled two gold-rimmed glasses.
“Will there be anything else?” The first waiter smiled.
“No, thank you.” Grayson laid the napkin in his lap.
“Enjoy your meals.” The waiter smiled, leaving the table.
“This smells great.” Connie tasted the tenderloin. “Mm.” The succulent pork melted on her tongue, rounded out by the rosemary and garlic. “It’s even better than it looks. How’s the turkey?”
Grayson munched, nodding.
She laughed, covering her mouth. “Guess that means it’s good, huh?”
He moaned, his eyes rolling back in his head. “Fantastic.”
“I love it here.” Connie sampled the vegetable medley, spying at the well-dressed couples sitting in the Victorian-inspired room of dark woods and gold accents. “You know Jake Jensen used to be the executive chef here before he had his car accident.”
“Yeah, Dee told me.” Grayson chewed. “He’s one hell of a cook.”
“Thanks for bringing me,” Connie said, the aroma of roasted meats and fruity wine capturing her. “I needed this.”
“What are you thanking me for?” A tiny drop of wine settled on Grayson’s mustache after he sipped. “I’m the one reaping the reward of being in your company. I love your hair.”
“I’m glad.” She’d had a tizzy settling on the perfect hairstyle and finally picked the graceful updo.
“That dress.” Grayson’s eyes glued to her spaghetti-strapped black dress with floral trim and large flowers decorating the skirt. “You going to a modeling shoot after this?”
“Please.” She flicked her hand at him, hoping he’d notice her jasmine perfume. “Doesn’t matter what I wear. You make me feel beautiful whenever we’re together.”
“I can’t stop looking at you.”
She wasn’t sure what got her more in the mood, Grayson’s gaze or the seductive hum of the saxophone music that played loud enough to enjoy but didn’t overpower the guests’ conversations.
“Ooh.” Connie fanned, waves of heat sweeping through her buttocks. “It’s getting hot in here.”
He laughed.
“Once again everything is perfect. Every time we’re together I’m reminded how lucky I am to have met someone like you. I’ve never been this happy with anyone.” Her eyes tingled from the start of tears. “I thought I’d be alone forever.”
“That’s silly.” He chewed. “You’re too wonderful to be alone.”
“I don’t wanna lose this magic.” She took his hand. “I can’t see my life without you in it.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Connie.” He stroked the top of her hand with his thumb. “I’m here as long as you want me to be.”
She closed her eyes and held her breath at the awkward words she was about to say. “I love you.”
Please say it back. Oh, God please.
His eyebrows rose, mouth widening.
God.
Just when she thought she’d made a huge mistake he whispered, “I love you too, Connie.”
Her breathing quickened, and she nearly flipped out of her dress.
“I love you,” he spoke again with glassy eyes.
“Oh.” The overwhelming moment forced tears, and she dabbed her eyes careful not to damage her makeup.
Grayson stood and leaned over the table, prepping for a kiss. “I love you.” He pulled her from her chair and into a tender kiss.
“Mr. Paul,” a woman beckoned.
Grayson and Connie dropped their heads in annoyed sighs.
Rosalie Kachel rushed toward their table with CeCe in tow.
“I don’t believe this.” Connie plopped in her chair.
“Hi!” Rosalie stopped at the table, her screeching stinging Connie’s ears. “It’s so nice to see you again, Mr. Paul. What a lovely surprise.”
“Hello there.” He waved at CeCe who Connie hated to admit looked very handsome in his slim fit black dress shirt. “You doing okay, CeCe?”
“Fine, Mr. Paul.” He slapped the sides of his gray slacks. “Small world, huh?”
“You got that right,” Connie muttered, sipping wine.
“Imagine seeing you two here,” CeCe said. “It’s my aunt’s birthday.”
“Happy Birthday,” Grayson said. “How old are you?”
“Mr. Paul.” Rosalie tapped his shoulder with coyness. “You’re not supposed to ask a woman her age.”
“She’s sixty.” CeCe snickered.
“CeCe.” Rosalie swatted his arm.
Grayson winked at her. “Well, you don’t look a day over twenty-five.”
“Ooh.” She gushed, turning red. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“How are you doing tonight, Connie?” CeCe asked.
She ignored him. “Happy Birthday, Ms. Kachel.”
“Thank you, Detective.” She held her purse low in front of her. “We don’t want to interrupt so we’ll grab a table over there and leave you to your evening.”
“Nonsense.” Grayson raised his napkin. “Join us.”
Connie gaped at him.
CeCe beamed. “Are you sure?”
“This is your aunt’s birthday.” Grayson kissed her hand. “I’d be honored to have dinner with a fan on her birthday.”
“Oh, Mr. Paul.” Rosalie giggled. “We’d love to. We’ll get them to bring over some chairs.” She and CeCe went to the front of the restaurant.
“Are you out of your mind? How could you do that, Grayson?”
He dabbed the corner of his mouth, shrugging. “It’s her birthday.”
“I don’t give a damn. I don’t want CeCe Babbitt anywhere near me.”
“What can I do?” He sipped wine. “I already said they could join us.”
“Why is what I don’t get.” Connie pushed her plate away.
“Don’t be like that. It’s her birthday, Connie.”
A waiter set up Rosalie and CeCe at Grayson and Connie’s table and took their orders.
“What Connie’s having looks good.” CeCe ogled her pork. “I’ll have that.”
“I’ll take that too.” Rosalie closed her menu and handed it to the waiter. “Love a good pork tenderloin.” She finished with an order of Pinot Noir.
“Hold it,” Grayson told the waiter before he left the table. “Put everything on my tab.”
Connie grimaced at him.
“What?” Rosalie touched her chest.
“It’s your birthday.” Grayson winked. “The least I could do.”
“That’s very gracious of you, Mr. Paul.” The waiter turned to CeCe and Rosalie. “Your meals will be out soon.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Paul.” Rosalie giggled in her hands. “Wow. I didn’t think I could become a bigger fan of yours than I already was.”
Connie scoffed, catching CeCe’s gaze across from her.
“This is a lovely restaurant, isn’t it?” Rosalie put her hands together. “CeCe wanted to take me for a night on the town. He’s such a good boy.”
“Anything for you, Auntie.” He smiled at Connie. “She’s all I got. It’s important to show the women in your life how much you care about them.”
Grayson rubbed his foot against Connie’s leg. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“You guys are so close,” Connie said. “I bet it’s been a change not having CeCe at the boarding house anymore.”
“I miss him.” Rosalie stroked the fancy place mat in front of her. “But, he’s a grown man; and he needs his space. I wish he wouldn’t bar me from his apartment though. Keeps making excuses for why I can’t come see him.”
Connie squinted.
“I’m not making excuses.” The face of CeCe’s leather watch sparkled under the light. “They’ve been renovating the place; so it’s been a mess over there. I want you to come when the time’s right.” He kissed Rosalie’s cheek.
“Renovating?” Connie took another bite of her meal.
“Yes.” CeCe smiled again. “Who knows how long that will take.”
Connie nodded and took a slurp of wine. “May I speak to you for a second?”
CeCe jerked upright. “Sure.”
Connie stood and pushed her chair under the table. “Let’s go outside.”
He scoffed with a lusty grin. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
They exited the restaurant and stopped in front of the bench at the entryway.
“Now you listen and listen good.” Connie got in CeCe’s face. “Cut this shit right now.”
“I love your hair that way. It gives me a chance to see your beautiful neck.”
“CeCe—”
“That perfume’s been driving me crazy since I got here.” He leaned into her, taking a loud sniff. “What is it again?”
“Cut the crap, CeCe.” She shoved him. “Just cut it!”
A couple passed them on the walkway, exchanging curious looks.
“I’m an officer of the law and you can’t intimidate me like you do other women. I’m not tolerating this shit from you anymore.”
“Talk about being confused.” He tilted his head to one side. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“You’ve been stalking me but it ends tonight.”
“Stalking?” He released a slow, sexual smile. “You have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?”
“What would you call it? You follow me around at work, you leave me gifts even though I’ve told you not to, and you stare at me constantly.”
He hummed. “That’s called paying attention not stalking.”
“You showed up at the book signing.”
“My aunt wanted to meet your lover.” The playfulness left his tone. “I’m sorry. Didn’t realize you owned the bookstore and we couldn’t come.”
“What about now? You show up here too when I’m with Grayson?”
“You must love yellow roses.” He licked his lips, swaying his shoulders. “Because out of all the gifts I’ve given you, the rose was the only one you didn’t give back.”
She shuddered.
“You gave back the hairpin and perfume but kept the rose.”
She inhaled, swallowing her rage. “CeCe—”
“I can send you gifts if I want. There’s nothing against the law about me being friendly.”
“Oh yes there is. When a woman tells you she’s not interested and you keep on, that’s against the law. When you keep popping up everywhere she goes you are infringing on her personal space and that’s harassment. And you can stop pretending you didn’t flatten the tire of my car.”
“Your imagination is amazing. Sure you’re not the writer instead of Grayson? I did nothing to your car and as for tonight, how the hell did I know you’d be here?”
“All you do is lurk in corners.” She held her waist. “You probably heard me talking about it at the station. Then you got the bright idea to bring your aunt here for her birthday.”
He studied his fingernails. “So everything in my life revolves around you?”
“Are you denying you got the job at the station because of me?”
He laughed. “God you’re arrogant.”
“You’re the one who’s arrogant if you think people don’t know what you’re doing.”
“What people?” He lifted his chin. “All I see is you inventing things to fit this narrative. Why can’t it be like in the old days when women enjoyed when a man did nice things for them?”
“I don’t want you being nice. I want you to leave me alone.”
“Let’s get something straight.” His jaws tightened. “I’m not the old CeCe that let women push him around. No woman is treating me like a fool again.”
“I don’t want you and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
“I could make you happy, Connie.” The inside corners of his eyebrows rose. “I’d devote my life to you. Would Grayson?”
“Stay out of my life and my relationship or you’ll pay.”
“You’re even sexier when you get angry.” His cheeks raised. “I bet you’re wild in the sack.”
She slammed her eyes shut on her way back inside the restaurant.