Since last night, Eli has been acting differently toward me, in a good way.
Flirty.
“Is that so?” I take another sip of my cranberry juice and glance at him over the rim of my glass before setting it back down.
“That is very much the case, yes, Sapphire.” Using his fork, he points to my food. “Now eat.”
He’s back to being bossy again.
The man has so many facets, each one with its own unique strength in dominance, forthrightness, and confidence.
I dig into the steaming pasta, blowing on it to cool it down first, and as the first mouthful hits my tastebuds, they sing with delight, enjoying the best mac and cheese they’ve ever tasted.
“This is amazing, Eli,” I say mid-chew, covering my mouth.
“It’s my mom’s recipe. It has a hint of mustard in it.”
I already want seconds.
“So,” he says, leaning back with a napkin placed on top of his lap, “what’s coming up this week for you and the business?”
I rattle off my schedule I’ve already memorized. “Work meetings, two events: one on Tuesday and another on Thursday. We are all set for your staff conference in a few weeks’ time. There is nothing left for us to do other than write my opening speech. I do those myself.”
“Does that take you long?”
“About two hours, sometimes longer, as I like to take my time and inject humor, combine it with your values and your business mission to create something unique to jumpstart the day.” It sets the vibe and helps me gauge the crowd, allowing me to see who I need to impress the most. Usually the people who’ve been in their job too long and need to move on, unless I persuade them otherwise.
“Is that before or after the Boomwhackers?”
“Before.”
He rolls his eyes. “I can’t wait,” he says, deadpan, his face as straight as a ruler, but I won’t be taunted, although I do like poking the bear.
“I’m going to make you a musical conductor.”
“You will do no such thing,” he says sharply, as if a wave of shock just hit him.
“Are you sure about that?” I press him more for a reaction.
He drags his hands down his face, momentarily flustered. “Sometimes I have no idea what the hell you’ll say or do next.”
“Well, that makes two of us then.” I lift my glass and cheers him in the air.
He bursts out laughing, his rich laughter echoing off the walls, causing Ghost to finally jump down from the sofa and start exploring Eli’s apartment.
“You’re great, Sapphire. I don’t think you realize how refreshing you are.”
His words have my heart singing with delight. “I thought I was annoying?” I’m being coy and cute, and he knows it.
“And I thought I was a grumpy bastard?”
“I never said that. Grumpy, yes; bastard, no.”
“But you thought it.” It’s not a question.
I raise both hands in the air as if I’m under arrest and say, “You got me.” My drink sloshes around in the glass, and I set it back down on the coaster.
For the remainder of our meal, we share playful conversations between bites, teasing each other and reveling in the banter and our natural rapport.