He refused to tell me where we were going, so I sit back and enjoy the ride, gazing at the city lights through the window.My hand is clasped into his when he doesn’t need it to drive, and the silence is comfortable.
Half an hour later, he parks the car in front of a place I know well.I turn to him, not believing my eyes.“We are eating here?”
He nods and kills the engine then exits the car.I giddily push my door open and jump on the sidewalk.Before I can take a step farther, Damiano has caged me in with my back pushed against the car, his voice an angry growl against my ear.“You will wait for me to come open your door, do you understand?”
I lean back and gape at him.“What?”
“You will let me open your door and help you in and out.Every damn time we go somewhere.Is that clear?”he snaps and leads me toward the entrance with his hand on the small of my back.
I send him a sideways glare.“Wow, calm down, macho man.You know that women have now mastered the challenging ability to open their own car doors, right?”
I yelp when he sharply smacks my ass.I splutter angrily as his hand stays there and massages my buttocks.
“Stop!People can see us!”I hiss.
He merely chuckles and opens the restaurant door for me.I glare and push past him to step inside.He is infuriating.
But soon excitement has me rocking on the balls of my feet while Damiano gives the employee his reservation name.I beam at the waiter, knowing full well he recognizes me.This has been my favorite Lebanese restaurant for as long as I can remember.
We are sitting facing each other at my favorite table and I smile.“I can’t believe it.How did you know that this is my favorite place?”
“Your bank statement shows that you come here almost every week.”
My jaw drops to the tabletop.“Wow, talk about anticlimactic,” I mutter.“Is there anything you don’t know about me?”I ask him.
“Yes, how you want to name our children,” he replies, deadpan.I sputter again, flustered.
Fortunately, the waiter saves me from any further embarrassment.“Lily, good to see you.It has been a while.”
“Sam, it’s good to see you too.How is your family?It’s almost summer break for Joshua, right?”We chatter along for a while before an angry throat clearing brings our attention back to a scowling Damiano.
Sam visibly withers under his glare.“Wh-what can I bring you?”
Damiano looks at me and I am happy to take the lead.“We can have mezze to share if it is all right for you?”He nods.“Then we should have a white wine to go with it,” I go on.“Sauvignon blanc is probably the best choice.”
Sam nods, takes the order and leaves us to our appetizers.
I peer up at Damiano, a bit uncertain.“This might not be the place you are used to going, but the food is really good.The people running the place have been doing so for two generations and you can feel that this place is their heart-blood.I really am grateful that you took me here and I hope that you will like the food…” I trail off and turn to look at the restaurant.It is light-years away from the luxury he must be used to, and I feel self-conscious.
He covers my hand with his and squeezes lightly.“Little flower, anywhere you bloom is a place I will gladly worship.”
I gape at him, stunned.His gaze is burning.My face heats and I feel shy all of a sudden.
Sam brings us our wine and I look around, finally noticing that we are the only people inside.
“Huh?This place is unusually empty today.Where are the other patrons?”
Sam gives me an uneasy smile and his eyes flick to Damiano before he cheerily—too cheerily—says, “It is still early.They probably will arrive later!”Then he is gone before I can reply.
I have a nagging suspicion that a certain someone has ensured that no other diners were allowed in the restaurant for tonight.“Dark?”My cry of outrage earns me an innocent smile.“What have you done?”
“Nothing, just ensuring your safety.”
“You are taking this safety thing too far!Nothing will happen here.”I scoff.He looks unconvinced but remains silent.
Our mezze platters are served and I happily dig in, forgetting everything and enjoying the moment.As I eat and rave about every bite, I notice that Damiano is not eating, his intense eyes on me.
“Don’t you like it?Have you at least tasted it?”
