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“What can I do that no one has done before? How can I make my restaurant the must-eat at place?”
“Have my artwork hanging?” I laughed at my own question.
“Touché. What about exclusivity?”
“As in your place being the only place I can display my artwork?” He wasn’t serious, was he? Chloe had her piece hanging at her clinic, and there was no way I was going to tell her to take it down.
“Why not?”
“That’s so limiting. Imagine if I said you couldn’t sell burgers because the diner sold them? And you couldn’t sell wine because the Chophouse does?” My feathers were starting to ruffle.
A broad grin spread like wildfire from cheek to cheek. “I was kidding and would never do that to you.”
“Oh, okay.” I inhaled slowly and eyed him cautiously.
“But I must say I love your passion.”
I cut off a sliver of my steak and had a taste. It was so good, and almost took away from the sudden awkwardness of the situation. “Sorry, I just tend to get—”
“Never apologise for being passionate about your work. It’s missing in a lot of people these days.”
“Really? I don’t think so.”
“Sure, it is. Most people hate their jobs.”
“Do you?” Maybe he threw it out as a line, but I was grabbing onto it.
He set his fork down and the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbed. “I didn’t use to, but then for a long time, I really did. I hated everything about my job. Eventually though, that feeling went away.”
“What changed?”
“I divorced my wife.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” And deep down I was. However, my heartbeat also kicked up a notch at the thought of him being single. Even if he wasn’t the nicest of people.
“There was a time… a time where I felt I was on top of the world.” He paused and looked around. We were alone on the patio, so no one would hear whatever it was he wanted to tell me. “Nothing could bother me, and I was on top of my game. Voted #1 best restaurant in the area, beating out this place. Truly, I was on the best winning streak of my life. Then it all came crashing down, and I had to rebuild my life from the inside out. But from the ashes rose the phoenix.”
Something I could totally relate to, and I lifted my beer to clank against his. “To rising from the ashes.”
Maybe things weren’t what they seemed. Maybe his crashing down coincided with my own and we were more alike than I realized. And maybe, my heart needed a swift kick because there was no way I was supposed to be remotely interested in this guy.
Chapter Seven
Deep into another custom piece, this one of a bear, I hardly heard my phone ringing. Until I happened to move my head to admire a sweet carving, and I saw the screen flashing.
I hit the speaker button. “Hello.”
“Erin, it’s David.”
“Oh, hi.” I straightened to my full height of five foot three and set down my tools. Oh shit, today was Friday. At least he’d kept his word. I leaned against the table and held my breath.
“I’ve reviewed your estimate, and I’d like to go ahead.”
Yes.I fist-bumped the air. Finally, lady luck was on my side. Taking a sharp but silent breath to control my emotions, I breathed out. “Thank you. I appreciate your business and look forward to constructing your mural.”
“I have the deposit all ready for you. Can I swing by your workshop and drop off the contract shortly?”
My workshop was in the garage behind my house, and I wasn’t comfortable having customers pop by. “Umm, can I meet you somewhere in an hour?”
