"Good evening, Mr. Adams. It's a pleasure to see you again tonight. Markie said you would like to speak with me?" Kane's voice had changed just like his face. He was quieter than he had been on the phone earlier today. Avery watched as Kane linked his fingers together and stood before him, waiting for his answer.
Seconds passed as Kane waited for Avery's response. A lump formed in his throat, something he wasn't prepared for. Avery thought he'd been on firm ground when he entered the restaurant tonight, but that shifted to unstable with each second that ticked by.
He was amazed at how this man standing in front of him could rob him of any coherent thought. Maybe he shouldn't have been so adamant about his biweekly dinner plans; maybe he had overstepped his boundaries. But he'd never felt so drawn to another. Avery Adams was in uncharted waters for the first time in his life. Perhaps he should have left well enough alone.
Any doubt or reservation Avery had been able to muster fled as he looked up into Kane's blue eyes and realized he'd met his one. Kane was meant for him. A chance dinner at a Midwestern restaurant had produced his other half. Who would have thought? Avery finally smiled. Motivation was such a great focuser and Avery moved right in on what he wanted. Surely fate wouldn't put his one in front of him and make him straight. Avery cleared his throat in an attempt to gather his scattered thoughts.
"I wanted to let you know that I had no problems the other night. I enjoyed myself immensely. The meal was outstanding, the waitstaff superb. You have one of the finest establishments I've ever dined in. I'm truly sorry I gave you the impression I wasn't pleased," Avery said. He stopped himself from being more forthcoming and asking the questions he really wanted answers to: will you…date me, make love with me, marry me? Kane visibly flexed as he spoke, and Avery had no idea what that meant.
"Thank you, sir. You've lifted a great deal of weight off my shoulders. We hate for any of our guests to walk away unhappy." Uncertainty crossed Kane's face. He started to turn away, but stopped himself, clearly unsure if the conversation was over. And it wasn't, at least not from Avery's perspective. "Has Markie taken your drink order this evening?"
"Yes, he has, but I would like to ask you a question. Do you ever take time to eat? Would you like to join me for dinner? My treat?" Avery asked, again he was met with more uncertainty. The question must have thrown Kane off. After another moment of pause, Markie interrupted them, bringing the bottle of wine to the table. Avery went through the steps of tasting and accepting before Kane answered the question.
"Thank you for the invitation, but I must regrettably decline. Enjoy yourself, and this bottle of wine's on me." Kane's skin was pale, probably from the long winter months. The slight blush never left his cheeks as he nodded and left the table. Kane's response wasn't quite a rebuff, but definitely a no, without any excuse as to why. What did that mean? Yet somehow, Avery recognized those few short moments had set them on a new course. One Avery had no idea about, but was more than happy to play along with.
* * * *
Kane resisted the inner groan as Markie approached him for the fourth or fifth time that evening, letting him know the Adams table requested to see him. He couldn't help but frown as Markie's smirk slid into place. For that matter, every one of his waitstaff looked full of grins and giggles, as though this were some sort of game. It wasn't a game. Kane was tense, completely stressed out, barely hanging on to his carefully placed control and way past ready to snap.
He never allowed himself to get this strung out over any situation.
"Markie, can you handle this one for me? I'm busy," Kane said, preparing to spend the rest of the night in his office, far from the dining room, away from all the annoying grins and hushed snickering being aimed his way, and definitely nowhere near table thirty-four.
"No, sir. I asked, but he requested you," Markie said in his straight up Bronx accent. Now, Markie was just trying to get on his nerves.
"I comped his bottle of wine. He'll be fine if you handle his request," Kane said, gathering his tickets to head back to his office.
"No, sir, that's not the restaurant's policy. A customer wants you, you do what he needs. And that customer definitely wants you," Markie said and actually chuckled this time. That just flat grated on Kane's nerves. All he could do was gawk at the waiter for a few seconds in total disbelief before turning his attention to the bartender.
"Rodney, can you handle this one for me?" Kane stopped at the end of the bar, even more frustrated that Rodney wore the same smirk as Markie. Why did his carefully planned life feel as if it was all of the sudden spinning out of control? His mother at the beginning of the week, Brian this afternoon, and now he had a guest from hell at table thirty-four…and his staff had decided this was all a game to them. Really?
"We tried that last time, remember? He wants you," Rodney said, grinning at Markie as he poured two new drinks. Did they really just exchange winks? Seriously?
Kane took a deep breath and let out an exasperated sigh. Avery Adams bothered him. No, that wasn't exactly accurate. The truth—this was beyond an attraction, he was exceedingly drawn to the man, more so than he'd ever experienced in his life. But that wasn't the only problem. Avery Adams flustered him, made him feel unsure and tongue-tied. The calm he trusted to always fall into place seemed to disappear, and he was left a bumbling mass of nerves. He absolutely didn't want to go back to that table.