Chapter Forty-One
Her heels clicked against the marble covering the floor. She noticed as the host led them to their table that there were barely any people at the tables. The uniformed staff looked like they had been expecting their arrival, each of them nodding respectfully to Enrique and Leighann. If she didn’t know better, she would think he had rented the entire restaurant for their time together. The problem was she didn’t know better, and that thought made emotions race to the surface.
The restaurant was huge, the tables and chairs screaming luxury and opulence everywhere she looked. The massive chandelier hanging overhead probably cost as much as her entire education.
Even though there were very few patrons, the host led them to a remote table in the corner of the restaurant. There were no tables surrounding it, and potted trees acted as a privacy screen, further blocking them from view .
Enrique grinned as he pulled a chair out for her to sit. Once they were settled, a man appeared in front of them. He introduced himself as chef Romanoff and quickly briefed them on their menu for the evening. When he left, a line of staff took his place. One deposited drinks she wasn’t aware had been ordered but liked the selection. Another dropped off fresh baked bread and butter, and yet another placed a fancy gourmet salad in front of each of them. It was the fastest service she had ever experienced, and it almost made her dizzy.
Light jazz played in the background as Leighann shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She thought the dress and driver had been something, but this... this was on a whole other level.
From the satisfied look on Enrique’s face, everything was going according to his plan. He seemed used to whatever this grand gesture was. But Leighann wasn’t. She was new to all of this, and she didn’t want to get used to it because she wasn’t this type of person.
She tried to wrangle her thoughts and keep them to herself for now. Determined to do what she needed to get through the evening and then discuss the situation with him the next day. Enrique was clearly enjoying their time together. He may have picked up on her anxiety because he kept asking if she was okay or if she needed anything. What she wanted to say was, “Yes, get me out of here.” Instead, she grinned and tried to enjoy herself the best she could.
The food was delicious, and the wine good, even though she didn’t really drink it, so she had little to compare it to. However, all she could think about was how much all of this was costing. The only reason she made it through the meal was the easy conversation with the man in front of her.
They were still chuckling at something Enrique said as they got settled in the car. Once the driver drove out of the parking lot, Enrique turned to her.
“I’m so happy you agreed to do this with me tonight,” he revealed. “Thank you for such an enjoyable evening. I definitely want to do this again- many more times.”
She looked into his eyes in the dark interior of the car, illuminated only by the streetlights of downtown Aspen. Not bothering to hide her emotions any longer, she blurted out, “Enrique, look, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate the time and effort you put into making this first date… special. But I have to be honest with you: if this is what dating you looks like, then you’ll have to find someone else to do this with. I have no desire ever to spend that kind of money on a meal again. I don’t think I have ever been so uncomfortable in my life.”
His lips quirked slightly. “Well, technically, I spent the money.”
Her cheeks grew warm as her temper flared at his flippant remark. This wasn’t a joke. “Neither do I have any intentions of being with someone who would spend that amount of money on a meal. It turns my stomach to see that kind of waste. Did you seriously rent out the entire restaurant so you could have a private meal? ”
He straightened now. “Not the entire restaurant; they had reservations they couldn’t change. So, you didn’t enjoy the date?”
“I enjoyed spending time with you. The food was delicious, I think- not my usual flavors. But I would have enjoyed it more if it were in a different setting. I didn’t enjoy all the glitz and glitter. I’m a simple girl, and that isn’t going to change because I am with a wealthy man.”
“Different setting?”
She blinked. “The kind that doesn’t involve spending a month’s salary on food that looks too pretty to eat.”
His brow arched because he still didn’t understand. “But I’m confused. It’s called a date for a reason. I believe the whole premise is that it should be different from the usual dinner you’d have in your home, and the person planning it is supposed to put in a great deal of effort to show that they care. It’s supposed to be special.”
“By special, you mean grand?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Well, yes, you could say that.”
“That’s where I disagree. The word ‘date’ simply means a planned activity so two people can spend quality time together. It doesn’t mean you have to go all out or be extravagant. A date could be seeing a movie together, taking a cooking or painting class, playing games together, reading a book together, or star-gazing. The list is endless, but it doesn’t have to be a grand, expensive gesture, just a thoughtful one. ”
There was a confused smile on his lips. “Those seem like such normal everyday things.”
“Exactly,” she said. “All I’m saying is that a date can come in any form. It becomes special when the people involved make it special. It doesn’t have to be a luxurious dinner or a lunch on a yacht or something –”
“I did think about an overnight flight to Paris, but I thought that might make a better proposal date,” he said, cutting her off. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“This is my problem with rich people,” she sighed. “Always throwing their money and privilege around. Enrique, just because you have so much money to spend doesn’t mean you should.”
“I don’t agree. What’s the point of making money if you can’t spend it? When I spend money, people have jobs and can care for their families. If those who have it don’t spend it, then… why have it? And if you go down that rabbit trail, then we’re talking capitalism vs. socialism, and to win that argument, I would have you do research on Venezuela. It’s not working so well for them, is it?” he scoffed.
“I’m not saying it shouldn’t be spent at all, but it shouldn’t be wasted on unnecessary things. I think there are much more important things to spend money on than fancy meals that look better than they taste and leave you needing to snack when you get home.”
His eyes were round, and his jaw dropped dramatically as he argued, “You said it was good! ”
She rolled her eyes at his theatrics. “I did. But it doesn’t mean I can’t cook something just as savory and feel much more comfortable and satisfied eating it at home. The thought of how much you spent on that meal makes me almost nauseous.”
“Fine,” he said. “I won a second date. We’ll try this again tomorrow.”
“If it’s going to be a repeat of tonight, then I guess you’ll have to go alone.”
He smirked. “I’m a fast learner, remember. I promise it won’t be a repeat of this.”
“Or anything like this. No flights to Paris or helicopter rides to Denver, for that matter,” she said sternly, and he nodded, smiling.
“I promise. Just give me a second chance tomorrow evening. Me and you. It will be an experience to remember.”
She looked away from him and faced the window, feeling unsure but excited at the same time. “Fine.”
Reaching across the seat, he intertwined their fingers, “You look cute when you’re mad.”
“Oh, hush!” she scolded, but a smile lifted the corners of her lips.