Page 84 of Hate It with You

Reaching out, I grab both of their wrists. “That’s enough of that,” I say, as I pull their hands apart, both of them laughing at me as I do. Though I still can’t help it when my arm reaches around Beth’s waist, my hand finding it’s home on her hip.

Leo looks down at our table, clocking the menus. He’s quick to pick them up. “You won’t be needing these.” He tucks them under his arm. “I have everything planned for you tonight. You two sit back and enjoy.”

With that, he’s off to the kitchen again. Not long after, a server is at our table, dropping off two water glasses and pouring each of us a glass of red wine. “Compliments of the chef, Mr. Kane,” he says as he pours the glasses.

When he’s left the table, Beth leans in toward me. “So Mr. Kane, you never told me Leo was the chef of Délicieux.”

I shrug. “He doesn’t talk about it much. He has issues with the owner, though I think he mentioned something in the group chat about them being under new management. And don’t call me Mr. Kane. Not until I can call you Mrs. Kane.” I wink at her, though the way her eyes dart from mine, and the way she avoids eye contact as she reaches for her wineglass has me kicking myself under the table.

Apparently I’m so in love with her, I have no control over my mouth anymore. That’s the only explanation I have for saying such stupid things toward her tonight.

She’ll tell you when she’s ready. Stop pushing.

Looking around the restaurant, I think through what to say, anything to break the silence growing between us. It isn’t until my eyes land on a finely dressed man sitting at the bar toward the front of the restaurant that I find the perfect diversion from my previous fuck up.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, staring at the man sitting at the bar.

Considering I practically grew up with the guy, and just saw him a few weeks ago, I’d recognize Graham anywhere.

“What?” Beth asks, her eyes finally landing on mine again.

I nod in the direction of the bar. “See that man there?” She looks toward his direction, and I continue, “That’s Graham Emerson.”

“Sienna’s boss?” Beth asks.

“Well, I know him as Roman’s best friend, but yeah, he’s that too.”

“What’s he doing here?”

I shrug in response. “I’m not sure, but when the guys stopped by to help with… well, to help clean up the bookstore.” I go quiet, trying my best to push past the mention of the night of the attack. “Leo showed up in Graham’s car. They were dressed up, both in tuxes too.”

“Really?” She asks, her eyes growing wide. I smile, having successfully piqued her interest and diverted the conversation to something more lighthearted.

I nod before she continues, “Is something going on between the two?”

I mull over her question for a minute before responding, “I have no idea. I mean, we’re all pretty sure Leo had a small crush on Graham growing up, but I’ve only ever seen Graham date women. He is known as one of the city's most eligible bachelors after all.”

Beth takes a sip of her wine. “That means nothing. After all, I only ever dated women for the longest time. Now look at me.” She nudges me with her shoulder as she smiles at me.

I kiss the top of her head, breathing in her scent before saying, “That’s true. You may be on to something, baby.”

She places a hand on my thigh, squeezing lightly. “Just don’t pry. Maybe they are friends, maybe they have a business deal, whatever it is, leave them be.”

I side-eye her, as she knows damn well I can’t let this go. Her only response is an eye roll before I pick up my wineglass to take a sip. “Graham has one friend, and it’s Roman. He grew up in the foster care system, so he doesn’t even have a family to turn to. The fact that he keeps showing up in the same place with Leo is notable to say the least,” I explain.

Beth taps my leg a couple of times as Leo walks out the door again, two salads in hand, ready to serve us our first course of the evening.

“I hope you like your wine selection. It should pair perfectly with this Lyonnaise salad. I hope you two like– What?” he asks when he notices me staring at him, my eyes squinting as I watch him carefully.

Picking up my wineglass again, I motion it toward Graham, who sits at the bar, sipping on an old-fashioned as he looks entirely uninterested in the bartender who keeps checking in on him every few seconds.

“Does Roman know about that?” Leo looks toward the direction I’m pointing, a faint blush coloring his cheeks when he looks back at me.

“That Graham is here? I’m not sure. I thought maybe Roman was meeting him here tonight or something.” He plays with the strings on his apron, a bad tell that’s never done him favors in our family poker games.

I stare at him, unmoving as I wait for him to explain more.

“He’s the new owner, alright? Just bought the place. He likes to linger, to make sure everyone is doing their jobs properly or some shit, I don’t know.”