Crave: A BWWM Romance Read Free Page B

just been a retired architect, an independent contractor, and a holiday smoodge.
    The suit was snappy. It was a double-breasted charcoal gray affair with a silver vest and tie. I put on a white collared shirt and polished black shoes. I knew already I’d be the best-dressed guy at the party. Hell, this suit was worth more than all of those light fixtures that Moneka had been going on about the other day. Maybe this would teach her to boss me around like I’m someone’s help.
    However, when I showed up, I soon realized I was more than just the best dressed; I appeared to be the only dressed. I mean sure, other people were wearing clothes. It wasn’t that kind of dinner party. But there are jeans and t-shirts and then there’s Giorgio Armani. Even Moneka was wearing nothing more than a simple yellow spring dress with a blue cardigan and flats. Although she managed to make them look like a million bucks, it was clear they didn't cost anywhere near that. Self-consciousness washed over me as I immediately ducked into the bathroom to lose the vest and loosen my tie. When I returned, I tried to slip unnoticed into a seat between two of my crew members. Their low snickering told me that I was not successful.
    Across from me, Kaila and Sonia were giving each other a look like they has just shared an inside joke. I wondered if I was paranoid for thinking that I was the punchline.
    “Nice threads Romeo” Kaila winked, the heel of her hand supporting her chin in a flirtatious way.
    Nope. Not paranoid.
    “Yeah Cole. What’s with the getup? Headed to the opera later?” Sonia giggled.
    “You’re both very funny.” I said. I then muttered something inaudible about laundry and exhaled gratefully at the site of Moneka trying to get everyone’s attention.
    There was something different about her. I’d never noticed how petite she was before, how graceful. Her shoulders were slender when they weren’t squared in hatred toward me. Her face was glowing and her features soft when she wasn’t furrowing her brow at something I had just done. Everything about her seemed changed, the way she walked, the way she laughed, the tenor of her voice. It was as if Ms. Hyde had gone home for the night and here was Dr. Jekyll, ready to entertain us and serve us a meal.
    “First of all, I just want to thank all of you for coming. Crave has been a dream long in the making and it would never have been possible without each and every one of you. Since I am a chef and this is my restaurant, I could think of no better way to thank you than by serving you a meal made from scratch by yours truly.”
    Moneka’s broad smile was inviting. I felt drawn into it. I no longer felt the need to prove anything to her. I just wanted to eat her food and be in her company.
    Some mild conversation at the table told me that my crew and I were among friends and investors. Many of the guests had contributed substantial sums of money to the endeavor. Some had contributed their expertise. I recognized one man who had helped with the décor; he had called himself an “interior decorator and gentleman for hire”. Now he was telling a loud, and apparently wildly entertaining, story at one end of the table. I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying, but it didn’t matter. The wine I was drinking was settling in nicely and I was working up quite the appetite, though for what I wasn’t quite sure.
    Moneka’s meal came out in roughly five courses. First, we were given salad. Not a great start for a guy like me. I’m not a salad guy; I’m a steak guy. I hoped the main course had some meat in it. Although I picked at it skeptically for a good five minutes before Kaila’s icy stare shamed me into taking a bite, I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn’t begin to identify what was in it short of almonds and oranges, but the flavor worked and I supposed that was all that mattered when it came to food.
    After that, there were two rounds of appetizers. I had thought the