Page 39 of Sean
“Then why have you never been here?”
Monica’s face flushed, and she was grateful for the darkness.“It never seemed like a place to visit by myself.”And nobody ever invited me.“Did you know that the chef and owner attends Grace Community?”
Sean extended his arm.“That’s interesting.Maybe the pastor’s son deserves a discount.”
Instead of taking the offered arm, Monica slapped his shoulder.
“I was kidding.”
“I know, but since you brought it up, dinner is on me.I sort of got you into this.”
Sean stopped and looked down at her.“I’ve never taken a woman out for a meal and made her pay for it, and I’m not going to start tonight.”
“It’s not a date, though, so—”
“Did you enjoy being with my family on Thursday?”
“I did.”
“And I fully intend to enjoy myself this evening.No more arguments over who takes the check.Let’s go enjoy our meal.”
They were silent the rest of the way to the door, but when it opened at their approach and Monica got her first look at the interior, she couldn’t help the awed sigh.Delicate white lights twinkled along the edge of both the floor and the ceiling.Each table was covered in a gold tablecloth.A red poinsettia and a flickering white taper sat in the center of each one.She heard Sean speaking to the hostess but didn’t pay attention to his words.She was already waving at Kinsley and Benjamin, who were seated at one of the tables in the center of the room.
The hostess led them to the table and waited until they were seated.“I’ll send your waiter right over.”
Monica reached over and took Kinsley’s hand.“This place is amazing.”
“They do make a statement.”
Benjamin was peering at the menu.“Yeah, and the statement is, ‘Prepare to take out a second mortgage.’”
Kinsley smacked him.“You hush.”
He was grinning at her when their waiter appeared.He recited the specials for the evening and took their drink orders.
Sean looked at the offerings.“Wow.How do you choose just one thing?”
“You want a recommendation?”Benjamin asked.
“I’m game,” Sean said.
“The steak and lobster tail is amazing.I know it’s not one of the more exotic items on the menu, but it’s never let me down.”
Sean laid his menu aside.“Sounds good to me.”
Monica looked at Kinsley.“These two are real risk takers.”She too, laid her menu aside.“I’m going with the chicken piccata.”
Kinsley took a little longer.While she studied her menu, one hand circled her enlarged middle.“This baby does not know what it wants.The duck l’orange sounds yummy, but so does the beef Wellington.”She closed her eyes and jabbed a finger at the menu.When she opened her eyes, she said, “The duck it is.”
Monica was still laughing at her friend when she gave the waiter her order.The next ninety minutes flew by in a combination of pleasant conversation, laughter, and trading bites of decadent food.Oakleigh’s more than lived up to its reputation.
While Benjamin and Kinsley shared a serving of deconstructed tiramisu and Sean and Monica enjoyed helpings of chocolate mousse parfait, a young lady with a camera stopped at their table.
“Did you guys enjoy your meal?”
Groans of ascent circled the table.
“I’m so glad.”Her gaze landed on Kinsley’s pregnant belly.“Easy to see what you’re celebrating,” she said with a grin.“Boy or girl?”
