Page 45 of My Haven
“Welcome! My name is Caiden Ironwood, I’m so very glad you could make it. Let me show you to your reserved table,” he said, offering her his arm.
Without thinking twice, she accepted it. His arm under his hand was warm and very firm. She kept glancing up at him as they walked. How could a man be ruggedly handsome and beautiful at the same time?
“Here we are," he said, pulling out her chair.
She noticed the way he eyed Arlo as they sat.
Arlo must have noticed too and blew the man a kiss.
She was afraid for a second, he would be angry. Straight men rarely took such a thing well, but the gorgeous man simply looked relieved. “We have a set menu, so our waiters will simply be bringing out the courses in order; each come with a wine pairing, but if you’re wanting something else, please don’t hesitate to ask.” He waved over a young man with red hair. “This is Nigel, he’ll be taking care of you. I’ll be on standby over by the bar if you need anything in particular,” he gave her a heated look.
She felt herself blushing. “Thank you,” she murmured.
He walked away and she began to fan herself.
Nigel gave a half bow. “Tonight, we’ll be starting with our Vegetable Medley. It will be served with a white wine, but a sparkling rosé is also available.”
“Which vineyard?” Arlo asked.
Nigel smiled. “We’ll let you taste them first and see if you can identify them.” He pointed to the small, printed card that had their courses listed. “Next, we have a homey tomato soup. Not glamorous, but definitely delicious. It will be served with a toasted cheese bread.” He leaned in. “I could honestly live off the bread.” He straightened. “To clear the palate, a sparkling water is served with the soup.” He pointed to the menu. “The main course is tender cuts of fresh pork, boar actually, killed justthis morning. I have it on good authority that it converts steak lovers.” He smiled. “And finally, a specially chosen dessert. Dark chocolate, raspberry truffles, served with a chocolate liqueur.” He propped up the menu against the wall so they could reference it. “Any questions for me?”
Arlo shook his head, but she nodded. “The boar, was it killed humanely?”
Nigel scrunched his nose. “It was a quick kill, if that’s humane.”
She sighed in relief. “Yes, thank you.”
He gave a half bow. “I’ll return with your first course in just a moment.”
She turned to Arlo. “Were you expecting boar?”
He shook his head. “I was thinking fillet mignon or high-end seafood being near the coast.”
“Me too,” she agreed.
Arlo looked past her to the man who walked them to their table. “I think he’s gay.”
Behind them Hunter burst out into laughter at something someone said.
She sputtered into her water goblet as she was just taking a sip. “What makes you think that?” she asked, wiping her mouth.
“Did you see how he relaxed when I flirted with him,” he paused. “Though, he was staring at you as if you were the only drop of water in a desert.” He shrugged. “Maybe he goes both ways.”
She had noticed how he relaxed at Arlo’s playful flirting. “I have a feeling you’ll find out.”
“A man that good looking, you bet I will.”
She had just sat her water goblet down when a smiling young man bounded over to them. “Hello! My name is Pip. I’m the maître d’.” He placed their wine down on the table and held the tray to his chest. “I wanted to be a waiter like my brothers,” hepointed to Nigel and a man that looked identical to him. “But they said the maître d’ gets to talk to people more. Are you comfy? Do you need anything?” he asked, his eyes shining with innocence and warmth.
“We’re very comfy, thank you for asking, Pip,” Arlo replied.
“I’m assuming that other young man is Nigel’s twin?”
Pip nodded. “Yup, that’s Neil.”
Arlo pointed to the men visible in the kitchen preparing plates. “And who are those majestic, golden gods?”
Pip turned and looked at the kitchen. “Oh! That’s Aeson and Balder, they’re helping with food today.”
