They take their seats on the farthest table, which is situated right against a wall. The folded ‘napkins’ are actually menus, Shannon discovers.
“Fish soup?” she asks, trying not to wrinkle her nose.
He notices and laughs. “I’ll share one with you. Trust me, it’s divine.”
Twenty minutes later, she is inclined to agree. The fish ‘soup’ is actually a huge, thick broth filled with mussels, clams, fish, vegetables and so many flavors that it is practically bursting with taste. The soup is served with crusty bread, and Shannon swears she has never eaten anything more hearty or delicious in her life.
“I think I’m already full,” she declares when she has finished her fourth piece of bread.
“We haven’t even gotten to the entrees yet.”
“I know,” she says in dismay. “Can I cancel mine?”
He laughs. “We can do a doggy bag.”
The entrees are grilled chicken breast on polenta for her and a rich tomato-based cream pasta for him. Shannon can only eat half of hers before pushing her plate away.
“That fish soup really did me in,” she groans.
“You are a woman of small appetites.” He grins. “I hope that only pertains to food.”
Again, she catches the double entrende. He has been flirting with her all night, dropping hints in their casual conversation. Letting his eyes roam to her breasts now and again. Letting her know how much he is drinking in the sight of her. It is extremely flattering and yet disappointing.
Is this all men see me as? she wonders.
But the talk all evening has been extremely pleasant. They chat about small things, inconsequential things. She asks about his family. He tells her amusing anecdotes. She laughs. He asks about her family. She tells him it’s too personal and fobs him off. He accepts this graciously.
“Do you want dessert?” he asks as their dining draws to a close.
“Oh no.” She shakes her head vehemently. “I’m stuffed up to here.” She raises her palm to the level of her throat.
“Great. I’m kind of stuffed too.” He signals to a waiter. “Check, please.”
“You have to pay to dine at your own restaurant?”
“It helps keep the accounts clean.”
Once he has signed the bill, he gets up and offers her his arm. “Shall we?”
“Where are we going?” She wonders if he will ask her to go to his suite.
“You like gardens. So I thought we’d take a walk in this one. It’s still light out there and it’s a glorious sunset.”
“Thanks for dinner.”
“Night isn’t over yet.” His eyes say: Not by a long shot, if I can help it.
They grab their jackets and go out into the reception. It is a lot quieter now that the wedding party has gone up to the ballroom. The lack of raucous noise is a balm. She fleetingly wonders what her brother is doing.
“You warm enough?” he asks.
“Yes.”
He puts his arm around her anyway. His embrace sends tingles all over her skin under two layers of clothing. She can smell his sweet manly scent, which is not enhanced by any cologne or eau d’ toilette. There is something else other than man musk there. It is an undertone of something more forbidding. Primal. Dangerous.
The garden in twilight is even more glorious than its initial promise. Carefully pruned bushes are shaped in spheres and lambs and rabbits. Crazy paving forms paths around the greenery. A profusion of flowers in full bloom – roses, azaleas, others native to this region – are laid in careful precision to make the greatest color impact to the eye.
Shannon’s spirits soar. She dances away from Lucien and soaks in every glorious sight. He laughs at her delight.
“This is gorgeous!” she exclaims as she spins round and round to take everything in. She feels like a little girl again. “I have never seen anything more gorgeous!”
“I thought that would be me, but I’ll settle for being second best.” He smiles.
In twilight, all the colors are muted, but they take on a sleepy hue, as if she is viewing everything through tinted glasses.
“We have a maze,” he announces.
“A maze?”
“Yes. Very English, I know. It’s a small one. Come, I’ll show you.”
He shepherds her further down. Here, the garden is fringed by the forest – dark, mysterious and watchful. The forest spreads up the hills for as far as the eye can see. A small shiver of foreboding spears her.
Bad things happen in that forest. She can feel it in her bones.
“Hey, you OK?” he asks.
She shakes herself out of it. Bad things happen in every forest.
She wonders where Jared is.
“Sure. I’m just a little cold, that’s all.” She pulls her jacket tightly over her dress.