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There was a lone table set up with a deep navy tablecloth and a centerpiece with string lights giving it a nice glow. Placements were set for two. The hostess outdid herself with my request.
“Can I get you a drink?” She pulled out my chair for me and ushered me in.
“I’m good. The water here will be enough, but please bring whatever David’s favourite drink is.” My mouth was parched, so I took a drink to moisten it.
The glass was chilled, and the coolness seeped into my hands, making me colder than I already was.
David joined me a few minutes later, looking slightly refreshed and smelling like he’d just applied a new spritz of cologne. “Sorry, just a little something I need to take care of. You forgot this.”
The envelope fell with a dull thud in front of me.
“You’ve absolutely earned it.”
“Thank you.” I cleared my throat and pointed to his seat. “Now that the business portion of the meeting has been concluded, let’s get to the heart of the matter, shall we?”
The door behind David opened and the waiter set down two plates of food. The one he sat in front of his boss was a steak sandwich, with a healthy side of fries and a Greek salad. The one he sat in front of me was a chicken Caesar wrap.
David’s eyes grew bigger. “Seriously?”
Nodding, I forced a semblance of a smile to spread out my lips, as I crossed my legs and let my foot bounce to the race of my heart. “Alright, let’s dig in.”
David set his napkin across his lap as I lifted the chicken wrap to my mouth. It smelled amazing and looked just as good. The chicken was there, among the lettuce, strips of red pepper, and shredded cheese with bits of bacon, but until I took a bite of it, I had no idea what to expect. Everything was good, right?
Hesitantly, with his wild-eyed gaze upon me, I pushed the top of the wrap into my mouth and chomped down. Flavour by flavour, I sorted out the bits of food until I tasted the Caesar dressing. Biting the bullet, I bit into the chicken. It was cooked, almost too much cooked, but it was good, edible.
Heart pounding and my breathing just as fast, I set the wrap down and wiped the corners of my mouth.
“Wow.” David leaned forward, eagerly awaiting my response.
“It was good. Cooked.” I added, swallowing it down. It wasn’t my favourite, not by far, but I was no longer going to be intimidated by eating at David’s restaurant. “A new review will reflect the tastiness.”
“You don’t have to eat anymore.” He reached for my hand. “I can’t believe you’d do that. Why?”
“Because, David, I like you and this was a small step to making amends.” I stared deep into his eyes, searching for the passage that would lead me to his soul once again, and held still.
“Well, I like how you call me on my bullshit and micromanaging, and the way you are with Vera, and how you put aside your own needs for her.”
I shook my head. “Every mother does that, it doesn’t make me special.”
“But it does. And it’s one of the many things about you I like.”
One of the many things, I repeated mentally. All was not lost. I clutched at my chest as a fresh jolt of energy zipped through.
“You know what I think?”
I wished I did.
His chest expanded with a deep breath. “I think every person is entitled to a do-over. Whether in business,” he pointed to the two plates of mostly untouched food, “or pleasure.” He waggled a finger between him and me. “Do you agree?”
“For the most part, yes.” There were some things and some people who would never be given a second chance. Ever.
“Do you think we can start over? Now, with the whole business arrangement behind us, can we just be two people who met and found they really enjoyed the other’s company? Two people who understand the other on a level most never know about and who connect so well intellectually, that,” he leaned closer to whisper in my ear, even though we were all alone, “the sex is mind-blowingly awesome.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks at a breakneck speed, washing away any remnants of chill. Just whispering the words ignited the fires deep inside.
“Yes, it is.”
“So, we can start over? This can be our first date.”
