Chapter 20
20
When Rick led Anya down a narrow back street and stopped in front of a building with plain white wooden window frames and a small sign above the door that simply said Deliziosa , she wondered if he’d brought her to the right place. Nothing about it seemed welcoming and if she’d been walking down the street on her own she’d likely have passed it without a second thought. But the moment he pushed open the door, her mood completely changed as it was like stepping into a different world. A narrow bar lined the right-hand wall, with trailing plants sitting in amongst the bottles. Three pairs of stools were spaced evenly so early arrivals could enjoy a drink. The restaurant seemed huge until Anya realised it was an optical illusion created by a mirror wall above the olive-green leather banquette seating. Each table was covered in a crisp, white tablecloth, with a glass bud vase, candles and sparkling silverware. The napkins were burgundy, the same shade as a good red wine. Like the stools at the bar, the tables were well spaced out, creating an air of quiet intimacy for couples like them wanting to enjoy a romantic date .
A smiling middle-aged woman wearing a simple black dress walked towards them. ‘Good evening, my name is Marie and it is my pleasure to welcome you to Deliziosa.’
Rick thanked her and gave his name and Marie ushered them to one of the empty pairs of stools. ‘Your table will be ready shortly. Relax and I shall fetch you some menus.’
Rick held the back of the stool while Anya hopped up onto it, then placed her bag on the bar in front of her. She’d quite forgotten he’d been carrying it. ‘Thank you.’
‘My pleasure.’ He sat beside her and she liked the way he didn’t try to crowd himself into her space. Drew had always been one for tugging her chair close, sitting with his arm around her or with a hand resting on her knee. She’d thought it romantic at the time, but looking back it felt more possessive, as though she’d been a thing he owned, a pretty bauble he wanted to show off to everyone.
Thankfully the barman approached and distracted her from the uncomfortable memory. ‘Good evening, I’m Phil. Great to have you with us this evening. Any allergies we need to be aware of?’ When they both shook their heads, he turned to retrieve two small white bowls, one with shiny black and green olives in it, the other a selection of nuts, which he set down in front of them. ‘Here’s Marie with the menus. I’ll leave you to browse, but just let me know when you are ready to order a drink.’
Anya turned and accepted the menu Marie was holding out to her. ‘Thank you.’
‘You are very welcome. Your table is ready when you are, but please, there is no hurry at all, so take your time.’ She handed the second menu to Rick before gliding off to clear plates from a nearby table .
‘Are you happy to sit here for a minute?’ Rick asked her as he unfolded his menu.
‘If you are.’ Unable to resist the plump olives, Anya popped one in her mouth only realising after a couple of chews that there was a touch of garlic in the oil dressing coating them.
Rick must’ve seen something on her face. ‘What’s wrong?’
She swallowed and shook her head. ‘Nothing. They’re delicious, just a bit garlicky.’
‘Ah.’ With a grin he reached out and popped a couple in his mouth. ‘In case you let me kiss you again on the way home.’
Ducking her head to hide her blush, Anya buried her nose in her menu. ‘Play your cards right and we’ll see,’ she murmured, enjoying the rich chuckle that elicited from him in response. Maybe she hadn’t forgotten all the rules of flirting after all. Feeling pleased with herself, she studied the menu. It wasn’t a huge selection, no more than a half-dozen choices each for starter, main and dessert, but everything sounded so tempting she had no idea how she’d ever settle on one thing. While she mulled over her options, she turned the page and looked at the drinks list. There was a nice selection of wines by the glass, which was good to see, and she might have one with their meal, but she didn’t want to overdo it. ‘I think I’ll start with a glass of sparkling water.’ She reached for her bag and pulled out her debit card. ‘What would you like?’
She saw the hesitation in Rick’s eyes, could tell he was fighting the instinct to tell her he’d pay, and was relieved when he simply said, ‘I’d like a bottle of alcohol-free beer, please.’ She had no doubt he would offer to pay for their food, and honestly it would be a blessing if he did because her budget would struggle to stretch to it, but she didn’t want to take his generosity for granted.
Phil must’ve been keeping an eye out, because he appeared in front of her and took their drinks order with a smile. While he went to fetch them, Anya turned her attention back to the menu. ‘I don’t know what to choose,’ she confessed to Rick.
‘How hungry are you?’
‘Quite, but I also know if I order a starter I’ll probably regret it, especially with these nibbles as well.’
‘We could stick with what we’ve got and just order a main each, then; maybe share a dessert if we get that far?’
‘That sounds like a plan. Now, if only I could decide between the chicken in mushroom and brandy sauce or the fillet steak.’
Rick raised an eyebrow ‘No pasta?’
Anya glanced down at the fantastic array of dishes. ‘They all sound tempting but when you live with a small child then at least 50 per cent of your meals are pasta based.’
He placed a hand over that section of her menu. ‘Definitely no pasta, then! I’m torn between the lamb chops and the pork belly.’
‘Pork belly,’ Phil said, setting down their drinks in front of them. ‘If you’re looking for a recommendation, that is.’
Rick closed his menu. ‘Sold.’ He glanced back at Anya. ‘Any closer to making a choice?’
She loved chicken, but again it was almost a daily staple at home. ‘The fillet steak.’
‘A fine choice,’ Phil said. ‘Medium?’
‘Yes please.’
‘Great. I’ll let Marie know. Are you happy here, or shall I bring your drinks over to your table.’
Anya gestured to Rick that she didn’t mind and he smiled at Phil. ‘I think we’ll go to our table now. Can we bring these with us?’ He pointed at the bowls of snacks.
‘Of course. I’ll bring them with your drinks. We’ve put you over there in a quiet spot.’ Phil nodded towards an empty table in the far left corner beneath the mirrored wall.
Rick stood and offered Anya his hand as she climbed down from her stool, releasing it afterwards so he could fetch her bag from the bar. Again she was struck by the thoughtful way he looked out for her. It wasn’t for show, it just seemed to be something innate within him. What her mother would consider old-fashioned good manners.
They were just settling into their seats when Phil appeared carrying a tray. As well as their drinks and snacks he set down a plate with a cheese-topped garlic bread, its four quarters still steaming from the oven. ‘Compliments of the chef.’
‘Thank you,’ Rick said with a smile, and he waited until Phil had walked away before he raised the plate and offered it to her. ‘Do you want some?’
Several reasons to refuse popped into her head – it was swimming in garlic and there was enough melted cheese coating the top and filling the centre to block several arteries. It would be messy and greasy and there would be no way to eat it politely. Plus she always ended up with a little food belly when she ate bread. She met Rick’s eyes. Would any of that bother him?
You can always trust Rick .
‘I’m having an existential crisis about the bread,’ she admitted with a wry grin.
Scrunching up his brow, Rick set the plate down again. ‘In what way?’
She raised a hand to the sudden heat rising on her cheek, wondering why she’d said anything. ‘Because I’m worried about stinking of garlic, about not being able to eat it nicely…’ She trailed off before deciding that if she was going to be honest wi th him then she might as well put it all out there. ‘And about getting bloated.’
Reaching out, he ripped one of the quarters off the round loaf and held it out to her. ‘For as long as I have the privilege of spending time with you, I will always want you to eat the bread, Anya.’
The little knot of tension in her stomach unfurled. Accepting the greasy, cheesy chunk from him she ripped the corner off and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed with relish, her cheek pouching out like a hamster’s. Eyes shining with approval, Rick tore off his own piece and joined in. God it was good. Not just the bread, though it was soft and warm, the cheese rich and creamy, the bite of the garlic adding the perfect complement. It was the fact she felt like she could be completely herself and Rick wouldn’t judge her. She’d barely swallowed the first piece before she pulled off the next, and the next. Her fingers were covered in buttery grease, and she had no doubt her chin would be shiny with it too. When she reached for the plate to help herself to her second quarter there was nothing but approval in Rick’s gaze. It made her want to lean across the table and kiss him, greasy garlicky mouth and all.