Page 21 of Her Surprise Protector
Hallie. When had I last thought about her? Not since Elena had asked about the ring. It wasn’t like I had forgotten that chapter of my life – I could never do that. My relationship with Hallie was a part of my past. I had learned from it, but Elena made it so easy not to dwell on my ex. Every second of the present that I spent with her felt incredible and left no room for pain caused by old injuries to the heart.
I just didn’t need Hallie anymore. Nights alone didn’t bother me, because I knew I would get to see Elena again soon. If I wanted to text someone to chat or to talk about something that bothered me, I had Elena. Hallie’s absence had left a hole in my life and heart, but Elena had easily found a place in the first and was quickly filling the second hole as well.
Thinking about Elena made me miss her. So, of course, the next morning I woke up with a burning urge to see her. Not wanting to be too pushy and knowing she was busy, I amused myself by cooking breakfast, then heading out on a couple of errands. The day dragged on, especially when I remembered a conference call I had scheduled. Finally, I was off to Elena’s to pick her up and drive us to the airport to start our evening.
She was waiting for me in front of her door, wearing a flawless white evening dress that fell just short of the sandy ground. Despite the weekends I had spent with Elena, I never grew accustomed to how well she dressed for the occasion, and it always hit me right in the chest when she looked even more beautiful than I was expecting.
I told her so. And even though I complimented Elena every single time I laid eyes on her, she still blushed.
“You sure are trying hard to keep this dinner a surprise,” she commented when we reached the airport.
“Well, honestly, the concept sounds a little strange. In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words.” I said with a wry grin.
“So conniving.” She gave me a light slap on the shoulder before allowing me to help her up the steps.
The flight went by in no time, and we arrived in Manhattan, landing at the same private airport I always used during the workweek. Elena rolled her eyes over the limo that awaited us, but she stepped inside with no comment.
The limo let us out on the sidewalk in front of our destination. “Four Senses,” Elena read out loud, eyeing the sign above the double doors. “Are you sure this place is open? It looks pretty dark.”
“Oh, yeah, it’s open. We have a reservation.” This was far enough to take the secret and time to end the suspense. “We’re going on a blind date…literally.”
“Like a blind couple’s date or something? Or a…” The dark windows helped Elena understand what I meant. “Oh, it’s dark inside?”
“Pitch black,” I confirmed. “You eat in the dark. It helps amplify the flavors of food.”
“What food?” Elena laughed, looking intrigued by the idea. “We won’t be able to even see what- ”
“They only tell you if you ask. It’s a three-course meal, and the chef chooses it each day… we don’t order from a menu or anything like that. I’ve never done this before either, only heard about it.” I took a step forward to stand in front of the doors. “Are you ready?”
Elena took my hand. “Of course. This sounds incredible! I’ve never heard of a place like this.”
“I guy at the club recommended it to me a while back… Shall we?” I opened the door, and we stepped through into a spacious corridor with dimly-lit lanterns casting long shadows on the wall. Another set of doors stood at the far end.
“Good evening.” The woman behind the counter stepped forward to welcome us. “May I ask your names?”
“Jason Rutherford Riker III and Elena Vaughn.” Elena chuckled, and I realized she had never heard me speak my full name. “I know it’s a mouthful. I didn’t choose it,” I protested jokingly.
The woman eyes widened as she checked the reservation list. “Oh, Mr. Riker, welcome to Four Senses. I don’t remember seeing you here before? And Ms. Vaughn, welcome. Have you ever visited a dark restaurant?”
“No,” we said in unison, gripping each other’s hands.
“You’ll have a wonderful time,” she promised. “A waiter is just inside the door, ready to show you to your table. Now, will one of you place a hand on the other’s shoulder?”
“Will this work?” I held up our hands with fingers interlaced.
“Absolutely. Then, I’ll ask one of you to put your hand on the waiter’s shoulder. He will tell you his name and guide you to your table. You can call out to him at any time if you have questions or need something. If you ask, he’ll explain what each course is. But, we encourage you to try to guess by the delicious aroma.” She waved her hand toward the corridor. “That’s the whole idea behind the Four Senses.”
“Alright.” I glanced at Elena, when she squeezed my hand, her white dress catching the lantern light. “I think we’re ready.”
“Perfect. Just place your phones, watches and anything else that gives off light into one of the lockers, and I’ll let the waiter know that we’re ready.”
Phoneless and watchless, we stood near the door as directed. The lanterns dimmed further, then faded entirely.
“Welcome to Four Senses. I’m Anthony, your waiter. May I take you to your seat?”
“Please.” I held out my palm and touched a gloved hand. Then Anthony placed it on his shoulder.
The hinges of the doors made no sound, but I could feel the gentle swoosh of air as they opened before us. It was, hands down, the most unusual feeling I had ever experienced. If I hadn’t known better, at first, it seemed like we were on a carnival ride inside a haunted house. But instead of hearing ghoulish laughter or screams, I heard soft conversations, silverware clinking against fine china, and shifting chairs. The redolence of delicious food swirled around us as plush carpet cushioned my polished shoes. The Four Senses certainly had all the trademarks of Manhatten’s finest dining establishments.
