“The passion in a painting?” That laugh again. My toes tingled. Not good. “You sound like a painter, Ms. Winston.”
The martini glass in my hand suddenly weighed a ton. “Isn’t painting an obsession for an artist, like cooking is an obsession for a chef? Having an obsession is a healthy thing. It reminds us that we have a soul.”
He nodded, seemingly approving of my drunken ramblings. “That’s very profound and also very true. I think you have a lot of talents yet to be discovered, Ella. May I call you Ella?”
“Ah, sure. Ella is fine.” My mouth went dry. “What makes you think I have any talents … outside of cooking?”
“Just something I can sense.”
I tensed. Oh God, does he know? The same thought always haunted me when I met new people. I fought so hard to keep my little secret under control. Time to make a run for it.
“Don’t tell Marcus I have other talents. He’ll probably fire me.” I was about to turn away when he stopped me.
“If he ever does, you come and cook for me.”
I dropped my eyes to my martini glass. “Perhaps when you’re a rich and famous painter, you could look me up. I’ll probably need a job if Sans Regret ever closes.”
He leaned in closer, and I could just make out the small cleft in his pointy chin. “I promise, if you ever need a job, I’ll hire you.”
His mouth was so close to mine that I could have kissed his perfect thin lips, but, instead, I backed away. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“I hope you do, Ella.”
From New Orleans, Alexandrea Weis was raised in the motion picture industry and began writing stories at the age of eight. In college she studied nursing and went on to teach at a local university. After several years in the medical field, she decided to pick up the pen once again and began her first novel, To My Senses. Since that time she has published many novels. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning books, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable.
Alexandrea Weis is also a certified/permitted wildlife rehabber with the La. Wildlife and Fisheries. When she is not writing, she rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She is married; they live in New Orleans.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralexandreaweis/
Webpage: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/
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Dark Attraction: The Corde Noire Series Page 26