Kane's palms started to sweat, and he sighed heavily. After this time, he was making himself scarce for the next few hours. From the corner of his eye, he saw most of the kitchen staff standing in the small windows of the double doors beside him. La Bella Luna was full tonight, how was Paulie letting this happen? Weren't there dinners to prepare? Kane cocked a brow, turning inquisitively toward the window, only to see Paulie's smirking face gloating back at him. He had to be in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Drill Sergeant Paulie gave him a big grin and nodded him toward the table.
How had he lost complete control of his restaurant? He ran his sweaty palms down the sides of his slacks and pivoted toward table thirty-four. He squared his shoulders, his signature move to pull himself together. So far tonight, he'd been called over and asked about the linens, then about the type of wood used in the fireplace, and then Mr. Adams had wanted to know if the bricks on the wall separating the spaces were authentic. He'd been asked if the florist was the same as who sent the bouquet to his office and if Kane had personally picked the arrangements out himself for both here and the bouquet he'd sent to Avery. The last time was to taste the sauce on Avery's dish.
When Kane had suggested he retrieve a clean spoon, Avery insisted he use his and lifted the spoon to feed Kane. He'd turned fifty shades of red, if the heat he felt warming his cheeks was anything to go by, as he bent in to take that bite. And now, just like every other time he'd looked over at the table, Avery sat there staring directly at him.
This was hard, one of the hardest nights of his entire life. He found himself so physically attracted to Avery it hurt. But more so, he was astounded at how observant Avery seemed with his pride and joy, La Bella Luna. Avery could pick up the slightest taste differences in the flavors blended together to create their secret recipe sauce. He'd wanted Kane to tell him which was more dominating, the grana padano or the pancetta. How did the man know those things? And why did it turn Kane on so much that he did?
"Yes, sir?" Kane asked as he closed in on the table. His eyes focused on the picture directly behind Avery's head.
"I asked you to please call me Avery." Kane thought he heard a hint of a frown in Avery's voice, but he didn't glance down to find out.
"I know. Is there a problem?" Kane asked. Avery was so much more handsome and elegant than the picture behind the man's head. Avery's presence actually made his restaurant more attractive. And why did he have to think of that right now? He could feel his cheeks burning.
"I'm not sure I'm drinking the right wine," Avery said, which confused Kane. Unguarded, he lowered his gaze to Avery, and then down to the wineglass, before looking at the bottle. Had he heard right?
"I'm sorry?" Kane asked.
"I'm guessing you have a wine room somewhere in this place. You keep coming through the back door over there with bottles of wine. I don't think this is truly a Montalcino. I'd like to see for myself." Kane narrowed his brow, opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. Avery was already scooting out of the booth, coming to stand right in front of him. Avery was definitely taller than him…and why did that matter? No! Bad thoughts! This was a customer, nothing more. His height and gorgeous body had nothing to do with it. He focused on the absurdity of the man's last statement. Did Avery think they'd changed wines on him? Nothing else made sense.
"It shouldn't take but a minute." Avery actually extended his hand for Kane to show him the way. And even more surprising, Kane did. He turned, walking toward the wine cellar, not understanding any part of what they were doing. Did Avery want to see the aged bottles of wine surrounding his selection? He was so confused. He'd never heard of such a thing. Kane hit the swinging door behind the bar, held it open, and took the stairs down to the basement, still completely baffled.
* * * *
Avery followed closely behind Kane as they made their way down the steps to the wine room. Neither spoke, and he stayed a somewhat respectable distance all the way down. He also gave himself kudos for resisting the urge to lean in and smell Kane's cologne. What Kane seemed to have no idea of, and yet every other employee in the restaurant seemed to know, was that Markie had given Avery all the information he needed where Kane Dalton was concerned.
Twenty bucks obtained the necessary facts, and for the remainder of the evening, the rest of the waitstaff kept tossing him speculative looks. But it was well worth the price. Kane clearly had created a small, tight knit family among his staff. They sized Avery up, and at some point, must have deemed him worthy based on the kitchen staff he saw giving the thumbs up through a side door window.
Once Markie figured out what was what, he'd actually played with Avery a little. Telling him everything about Kane, except the most important piece of information. Avery paid another twenty to learn Kane was in fact gay. Relief flooded through him like he had never experienced before in his entire life. Fate was a funny creature. Avery could totally see his heart's desire being stiffly straight. But fate had smiled down on him this time, and now he was more determined than ever to get Kane on board with his plans.
From the time of Markie's final bit of information to this moment, he had decided to mess with Kane. The man deserved a degree of hell for making him work so hard for the smallest amount of attention. Avery actually began to whistle a tune as they walked the length of the bottom corridor to a set of heavy oak doors obviously leading into the climate controlled wine room.