"Comeon, I am going to take you out to eat." He turned back towards the garagedoor.
Salenehalf expected to be taken to a drive-through, so when she found herself beingseated in the small but upscale Italian restaurant she was glad she stayed inher interview clothes. Seated at a table tucked away in an alcove, they had aperfect view of the large display fish tank.
Thankingthe waiter that poured her water she looked over the menu with a frown. Theprices were completely out of her price range, even the appetizers were toohigh, all she had to spare was a ten.
"What?Do you not like Italian food?" Snapping his menu shut Gabriel gave her ahard questioning glare.
Fora moment she was confused. "Oh no I love Italian food, almost too muchreally," she sighed, carbs were her enemy. "No, I was frowningbecause it is a little expensive. I really like every…"
Thewaiter appeared beside them interrupting her explanation, he was ready to taketheir order. Snatching the menu from her grasp Gabriel handed it to the waiteralong with his.
"Wewill have two pasta Bolognese and a bottle of the black label Cabernet."
Everythingin her wanted to tell him off over that high-handed chauvinistic stunt, butSalene refrained.
"Whatkind of men have you gone out with that invite you to dinner and make youpay?" He questioned, there was a slight laughter in his tone thatsuggested he was being derisive as usual.
Steelingher back she sat back in her chair and gave him a calm frosty smile. A smileshe knew for a fact that enraged him to no end. Brilliant green eyes narrowedas he awaited her response.
"Mydaddy always said, never order something you cannot pay for when you are on adate." Taking a sip of her water, she did not break eye contact."Besides you and I are not dating are we?"
Witha breathtaking smile, he replied. "We sure as fuck are not."
Notable to look at his annoying smile she turned to look at the fish tank. Thewaiter came by with the wine and stemware. The sound of the wine rushing intothe glass was distinctly clear at the quiet table. Movement underneath thetable caught her eye, looking down she noticed expensive shoes on either sideof her legs as Breslin stretched his legs out underneath the small table. Forsome reason the sight of his long legs encasing hers in the tiny hidden alcovemade her feel utterly trapped. Glaring at him, Gabriel simply returned a meansmile.
"Sotell me about the new job." He said, setting his glass down.
Thesubject change to her new job made her smile.
"Wellit is a little ironic, and I know you are going to make a joke out of it,"Salene was more than a little apprehensive to share all the details of her goodnews, especially with someone who only wanted to laugh at her misfortune."So if you do not mind please spare me any ridicule, at least fortonight."
Seeminglygiving it some thought he agreed. "For tonight."
Figuringthat was as good as she was going to get she relaxed in her chair.
"Iactually got a job as a manager at Starbucks. And no it is not the one down thestreet from your house." Knowing full well he would not miss theopportunity to ask. Salene did not miss his large grin in response, she chose toignore it. "It's the one on the other side of the highway only about a ten-minutedrive from your house."
"Wowmanager, isn't that kind of a jump?"
"Wellnot really, I used to be an assistant manager at a Starbucks in college believeit or not." Though she was excited about getting the job Salene inwardlycringed at the severely early-morning shifts she had to work.
Noddinghis head at the sense that made, there was a couple of beats of silence betweenthem. It was odd trying to make conversation with someone you generallydespised.
"Whatdate do you start?" Gabriel's tone was a mixture of forced obligatorypoliteness and boredom.
Lookingaround the cozy little restaurant, Salene immediately experienced anoverwhelming tide of sadness. She wished she was here with a nice guy on adate. The intimate alcove lit by the bright aqua blue fish tank was a perfectspot for a date.
Doingher best to hold back a depressed sigh she replied. "I start work thisMonday, I…"
Thearrival of their food cut her off, the waiter sat down two steaming plates ofmatching pasta. The sight and the delicious smell of the food made her stomachgrowl. Today was such a hectic day she forgot to eat.
"Ohmy God Gabriel, this looks so good, thank you again." Forking some of thepasta she took a bite.
Itwas so good she nearly groaned.
"Yeahwell don't tell Tobias I am eating this." He did groan when he took a bitecausing her to laugh. "That bastard seems to be obsessed with me onlyeating meat and vegetables."
Salenecovered her mouth as she laughed and tried to swallow her food at the sametime. "Well, we all cannot be as god-like as Tobias."
