Page 63 of A King’s Obsession

He leaned back, comfortable enough to make my nervousness feel obvious.

“I’m impressed with you,” he said, setting his glass down and giving me his full attention.

“Thank you,” I answered, sitting a little straighter under his gaze.

“I don’t mean just today. You’ve been paying attention since we got here. You found something that works, and you could tell me why it works.” His gaze held mine. “I like that.”

The praise hit harder than I expected. I’d worked too many jobs where doing something right only meant somebody finding more for me to do.

“I wanted us to leave with something,” I explained, relaxing enough to meet his eyes. “We couldn’t keep looking at the same places and hoping the floor plans changed.”

His laugh was quiet, and he nodded like I'd said exactly what he'd been thinking. “Exactly.”

For a moment, I relaxed. Then he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.

“I have an offer for you,” he announced, watching me closely.

“What kind?” I asked, my curiosity returning.

“A promotion, if you wanna call it that,” he answered, his expression giving away nothing.

I glanced at the candles before looking back at him. “I already manage the bar and the floor. How much more managing can I do?”

“My original plan was to fire you,” he admitted, watching my reaction.

My back straightened, and whatever warmth had been building between us disappeared. “Excuse me?”

“But I came up with something better,” he continued, looking entirely too calm about what he'd just said.

“No, go back.” I leaned forward, staring at him. “Why were you going to fire me?”

“Because I want you,” he answered without hesitation.

He said it so plainly I forgot the question I was about to ask next.

Ezra watched my face, letting me sit with it. There was no smile to turn it into a joke. No easy way for me to pretend he meant anything else.

“You wanted to fire me because you want me?” I repeated, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.

“I don’t want to keep being your boss while I’m thinking about you the way I am,” he explained, his eyes never leaving mine.

My stomach tightened, and I shifted in my chair. “And how are you thinking about me?”

His eyes dropped to my mouth before coming back up.

“You sure you want that answer right here?” he asked, his voice lowering just enough to make my pulse jump.

I reached for my water. He let me take a drink before continuing.

“I’m opening another spot in Westhaven. Smaller than Vice. Restaurant and bar. I want you in it with me as my business partner.”

I lowered the glass carefully, studying his face. “A partner?”

“An actual stake,” he clarified. “Your name in the paperwork. Your income. You run it, we build it.”

My mind started moving faster than I could sort through the questions. A place I could help shape instead of walking into somebody else’s rules. Something that could belong to me.

Then he added, “But I want you as my woman too.”