The naughty chocolatier, p.8
The Naughty Chocolatier, page 8
“I know you won’t send me to the poor house.”
“Of course not. Where would I live?”
We shared a laugh, two old friends reliving times long past, and we both felt it. “So...”
She released me and I eyed her suspiciously. “Uh oh. Here we go again. I knew you wanted something.”
Yaddi crossed her arms awkwardly, like she couldn’t decide whether her arms should rest above, at, or below her ample bosom. “I have a business proposition for you.”
“My hands are already full.”
“They aren’t that full if you have time to go to a class.”
“Am I not allowed free time?”
“At least hear me out.” I sighed heavily before agreeing. “Fine. What you got for me?”
Yaddi swiped a bottle of Cherry wine from the counter. “Cake?”
“Hmm. For the party?”
“Yes and no.” Yaddi opened the last cabinet. Her height giving her a greater advantage than me. She plucked a glass jar from the top corner of the cabinet and placed it on the counter next to me.
I frowned. “Fifty dollars a pop. And you supplying the good liquor.”
“I always do.”
I sighed again knowing there was no way to escape this surprise development, “How many?”
“That my friend,” Yaddi’s grin widened as I took the bait, “Is always negotiable.”
Chapter Thirteen
To my surprise, Ellis beat me to the restaurant the next morning. We hadn’t seen each other in a couple of days, the timing off just enough that he arrived after my departure, or it was his day off. While Yusef greeted me at the back door, I heard Ellis’s voice booming around the restaurant. Good thing it was early. The language was far from appropriate for customers.
“I see someone is having a bad day,” I bemused, sliding past Yusef into the office where I dropped my bag into the dinette chair. The office lay in a state of disarray: papers tossed around, a shattered coffee mug, the executive chair toppled in the corner. Whatever had triggered Ellis’s current tirade probably originated here.
“What happened?” I asked, feeling Yusef at my back though he hadn’t entered the office.
“Wish I knew. He’s been on a warpath since I arrived. No one else is here yet.”
“Probably a good thing.”
“I concur.” With a curt lift of the chin, he turned to exit. “I’ll leave you to get this place in order.”
“Um. Excuse me?” I glared at him; hands placed firmly on hips. “I’m no one’s maid.”
Yusef stopped in his tracks. I waited for a response. Instead, the man turned his head ever so slowly, an approving smirk on his lips. He moved to the side, allowing me to precede him down the hall.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” He finally asked as we stopped in front of the swinging kitchen door marked ‘in’.
His question gave me pause. “You sound like I’m a rabbit about to intrude upon a lion’s den.”
“Ellis can be, shall I say, brash when he’s like this.”
I rounded on Yusef, “and how often does he get like this?”
For the first time I felt like I was seeing the real Ellis. Not the one I found charming. The Ellis working to stay in my good graces. I wasn’t entirely blind. I felt the attraction we shared but like I’d told Charity, the last thing I wanted was a rebound, or to step on the toes of another suitor. And I had definitely seen the competition for his favor. Not that it mattered, I reminded myself. Ellis was a married man, and I don’t do married men.
“Let’s just say, it’s been a few good weeks.”
So, Ellis had anger issues.
“Let me qualify this. He isn’t usually on a tirade. At least not to the point of ransacking the office or kitchen. But there are things you don’t know about him.”
“Like?”
Yusef pinched the bridge of his nose his eyes shut tight like he struggled to decide how much to share. The tension in his shoulders releasing when he sighed. “Not for me to say. Or at least that part. I will say this, and he’s probably going to kill me for it but he’s really into you. I haven’t seen this light in him in a long time. He’s been through some shit.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there. I don’t do married men.”
Yusef’s brows crashed together as he took me in. “What gave you the impression he’s married?”
I crossed my arms glowering at him. “That smiling family picture in the office.”
Yusef stifled a laugh, “The woman in that picture is a former employee and longtime family friend. And I don’t think her wife would appreciate your assumption.”
The revelation caught me off guard making me hesitate even more. Did I really want to try to pursue something more than this working relationship with the man on the other side of the door?
“Fuck!”
We raced into the kitchen just as a knife clanked to the floor. Neither of us turned at the sight of blood dripping from the side of Ellis’s hand. Yusef met Ellis at the hand-washing station steading his friend’s bleeding appendage to get a closer look at the damage.
“That’s gonna need stitches,” Yusef said.
“Is it bad? Do I need to call an ambulance?”
Ellis stared at me as Yusef checked the hand further. He didn’t say a word he just watched as my worry escalated.
“No,” Yusef responded after careful consideration. “Bring me the first aid kit.”
I retrieved it from the shelf on the counter by the door, placing it on the cart next to where the two men stood. I flipped it open tearing the corner of an antibiotic swab before handing it to Yusef while I gathered gauze and tape.
“I have to apply pressure,” Yusef said. Ellis didn’t respond. We worked together to patch the hand as best we could with the supplies available. “You need to go to the hospital.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” were the first words Ellis had spoken since we’d entered the room. He admired Yusef’s handy work. The binding secure but leaving his fingers free. “I have work to do.”
“Seriously,” I said in that mother bear tone. “At least get it looked at.”
“I don’t have hours to spend in an emergency room.”
“What if I can get you seen quickly. And I promise it won’t cost an arm and a leg.”
“I’d take the lady up on her offer,” Yusef commented as Ellis eyed me suspiciously.
“Can’t drive like this. I’m in the car.” Ellis moved each finger and his thumb. At least he hadn’t cut off a digit. When he finally looked up, he added, “it’s a stick,” for my sake.
I shot him an intentionally over-dramatic eye roll with a side of neck swing. “Let me get my purse.”
We met in the hallway, Yusef trailed behind as Ellis pouted. The shift in mood implied the pair had had an intense conversation in my absence and Ellis lost. After assuring Yusef I could handle Ellis’s car, and Ellis, I backed out the parking spot and headed for the highway.
“I do have a license you know,” I said to break the ice. Ellis stared out the window until I hit the highway. I ignored his occasional glance my way as I effortlessly shifted gears to merge and keep up with the flow of traffic.
“Then why use a car service?”
“Why not?” I retorted. I exited at Lenox and followed the other drivers to make a left turn.
“Most people prefer public transportation or their own vehicles.”
How condescending. I thought. “Well up until I started volunteering at Angelo’s,” I hoped he heard the emphasis on volunteering, “I had little need for a vehicle. And in the grand scheme of things, I still don’t. I’ve been trying to connect with you to discuss my hours. Things are in order now,” or at least they were until he ransacked the office, but I wasn’t going there. “I don’t need to be there every day. And I was going to talk to you about finding a permanent replacement.”
“You’re leaving?” He sat at attention, his words coming out quickly as if my decision worried him.
Interesting. I turned into the lot of an office park pressing the button on the parking machine. When I removed the slip, the arm on the gate rose and I pulled through. I lucked up on a spot in a sparsely used row pulling in next to a Honda and the wall.
“Come on,” I said reaching for the car door prepared to exit. His fingers catching my arm stopped me.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as my heart beat a thousand beats per minute. His light brown eye drew me in, the fear and concern readily apparent. Eyes that told a story. Eyes screaming for me not to leave him. He looked lost, like a wounded puppy and I hated it.
“Come on. We’ll talk about it after your hand is taken care of.”
Chapter Fourteen
She was leaving. Ellis thought. Just like that she’d walked back into his life, and she was about to walk right back out without so much as a thought. He’d forgotten about his hand. The sharp pain was minute compared to the knife twisting in his heart.
“Mrs. Brodie,” the woman at the desk dressed in a green blouse and wearing at least six layers of make-up exclaimed. Ellis wondered why women felt the need to paint a face on. He didn’t get it. He preferred his women natural. Soliel’s natural beauty drew him in the moment he’d laid eyes on her in the club. The giant afro. The tinge of lip gloss. The row of freckles dotted across her nose and forehead.
“Hi Helen. How have you been?” Soliel said a little sheepishly, “And its Boudreaux now.”
The woman’s eyes flicked to Ellis. He’d stayed a few steps behind allowing Soliel to make the necessary introductions. Her scrutiny meant nothing. He was there to get his hand stitched. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Is Fatimah in? My friend has a nasty cut that probably needs stitches.”
Helen again gave Ellis the once over, whispering, “friend huh.”
Soliel only shook her head, “My boss actually. Now, about Fatimah.”
“Yes, she’s in. You’re lucky you got here when you did. I think she was about to head over to the hospital to make rounds.” Helen shooed them away as she grabbed the phone.
Ellis sat in the seat next to Soliel the hand throbbing again.
“How is it?” She asked.
“Hurts like hell. My own damn fault.”
“What upset you so?”
He just shook his head. The last thing he wanted to do was burden her with his problems. She’d been so kind helping out now that Linda was gone. He didn’t have the heart to drag her further into is drama filled business world.
Soliel busied her hands scrolling through the emails on her phone. “You’re worrying your staff,” she muttered, eyes strategically locked on the screen, “You might actually feel better if you talk about it.”
“No need to concern yourself with my problems.”
“And what if I want to?”
Now that gave him pause. Not that she could do anything to help. The entire situation with Angelo’s sons was hopeless. Or at least he thought it was. And then there was the anniversary coming up. Ellis pushed the thoughts from his mind before the rage returned. He was embarrassed enough Soliel had seen him losing his cool. He didn’t want a repeat of the situation.
“Well look what the cat dragged in.”
The pair looked up in unison as Fatimah stood in the doorway waving them over.
“Come on,” Soliel said to him. “My girl will have you patched up in no time.”
She was right. They were in and out in forty minutes. The cut had been clean. Fatimah had commented that it must have been made by a well-crafted knife, not like some flesh torn jagged cuts she was accustomed to repairing.
Ellis tested his fingers again reveling in the new freedom. The side of the hand was still numb, but he could still feel his fingers. The bandage only covered the side giving him just about the full range of motion though he dared not try to close the fingers into a fist. Busting stitches didn’t bode well.
“I can drive if you like,” Ellis said as they exited the building. “I at least owe you lunch.”
Soliel handed him the keys. “We can eat at the restaurant.”
“Come on. Let me do something nice for you. Besides, I’m over Italian food and once I get back, I have sixteen pans of chocolate truffles to make. I’m probably gonna be there all night.”
They climbed in. “Any preference?”
“You’re gonna laugh,” Soliel said sheepishly.
“Try me.”
“Varsity?”
He didn’t laugh, “Gut full of grease it is.”
They passed through the line at The Varsity, collecting their food and ascending to the upper deck where the couple perched in the back of Ellis’s Subaru. It was a beautiful day in Atlanta. The calendar read October, but this was the south and while some years this was sweater weather, today’s sun warmed the city to a comfortable eighty degrees.
“My knees are going to be screaming at me when I finally try to stand,” Soliel said as she gathered fingers full of grease dripping onion rings.
Ellis moved to allow her to stretch out if she so chose. He’d perched on the end of the half a piece of bumper the hatchback sported. “We can grab a table if you’d be more comfortable.”
“Nope. All part of the nostalgia. We used to come here after exams and football games and eat till our heart’s content. It was tradition.”
“We?”
“Me and my girls. College days when I could scarf this stuff down without a thought of the pounds it would add to my stomach and thighs.”
“I think you’re beautiful. Every form fitting curve.” He’d watched as she’d walked up the stairs ahead of him admiring the view but trying to remain discrete. She’d caught him ogling and insisted they walk side by side to the car. It didn’t matter he’d already committed her curves to memory.
She blushed, her shiny lips wrapping around the straw to take a sip. He imagined those same lips wrapping around each finger...
“Are you listening to me?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry. I spaced out for a second. Must be the blood loss.” He waved the stitched hand quickly digging into the red and white stripped boat of flimsy French fries he’d slathered in ketchup. “What were you saying?”
“I was asking about earlier. About the...you know...”
“It’s nothing to concern yourself with. I was just having a bad day.”
“Oh, is that what bad days look like.”
He turned away. Embarrassed. “I don’t make a habit of almost severing a digit if that’s what you mean.”
Her hand came to rest on his shoulder, drawing his attention back her way. “Talking about it helps.”
“This can’t be helped. I just...”
“Need to let someone in.”
Ellis’s gaze narrowed. Soliel inched away at the scrutiny. “Someone’s been telling my business.”
“I didn’t say that. I did, however, see the letter, and before you again jump to conclusions, I didn’t read it. But letters from attorney offices are usually bad news.”
Why did he want to spill his guts to her? To catch her up on all the drama and trauma preceding her arrival in his life. Yusef had dragged him to the club that night hoping to get thoughts of Angelo’s sons out of his head before he crossed a line and screwed them all. And there she was, a beacon of light shining through the dark only to slip through his fingers. And now she’d returned drawing him back into her warmth.
“I don’t want to burden you.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m just offering to be a sounding board. No judgement. Maybe you just need to speak your truth. Get it off your chest so you can approach the matter with a clearer head and open heart.”
He took a bite of his chili cheese slaw dog, catching the escaping onions in the wax paper before they stained his shirt with chili grease. “You sound like Charity.”
“She gives good advice.”
He was glad when she allowed him time to consider her offer. They enjoyed their food as a bus full of teenagers unloaded and raced inside vying to be the first in line. A few of the young girls giggled and whispered as they stole glances at Ellis and his car until they notice Soliel inside.
“Looks like you’ve attracted their attention,” Soliel said.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’m old enough to be their daddy.”
“Speaking of. The little boy in the picture in your office.”
“My son.”
“Hmm. Well, I don’t see a ring. And according to my sources you aren’t married.”
“Divorced.”
“Ah.”
He nodded at her now empty ring finger, “You?”
“It’s only been final a few months. But it was a long time coming. We’d been separated over a year. I suppose he was waiting on me. He made no move to file and when I did, he gave me what I asked for and sent me on my way.”
“So, you’re starting over.”
“Yes and no.” Soliel gathered her trash securing her used napkins and now empty cup in the box before passing it to Ellis.
He shoved their discards into the bag and offered a hand which Soliel took. She gave him a half dip and he almost dropped the bag in his attempt to keep her from falling if her legs gave way.
“Got ya,” she chided giving him a little shimmy as she rounded the passenger side.
“Touché. Let me toss this and we can finish our conversation on the way back.”
Chapter Fifteen
I enjoyed our conversation because neither of us vied for attention. The banter and sharing flowed naturally, like old friends instead of new acquaintances getting to know each other. Unfortunately, I still allowed Ellis to do exactly what I’d wanted to avoid, which was dance around the subject of the trigger event of the day.
Refusing to allow him to continue to avoid the situation, I cornered him so to speak when we reached Angelo’s. “I’m going to tell you like I told Yusef, I’m nobody’s maid.” His brow furrowed as if he was trying to figure out what I was talking about. “The office?” Still, he just stared at me like a deer in semi headlights.
