The Dirty Set-Up by Cassandra Dee

The Dirty Set-Up by Cassandra Dee

Author:Cassandra Dee [Dee, Cassandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cassandra Dee Romance


7

The kiss breaks the ice on the evening, and the mood continues to lighten as we drive downtown. I finally let out my first real laugh all day when the car pulls up to the valet station, and I realize where he’s taking me for our first truly romantic night out.

“Señorita Christa?” Osvaldo the valet exclaims as I step out of the luxury car.

“Hey, Ozzie. Not used to seeing me on this side of the valet station, are you?”

“Keep your eyes off her, brother,” Hunter says as he rounds the car’s front grill. “She’s with me.” He flips the valet his keys and a wink. Osvaldo gives us a warm chuckle. I take Hunter’s offered arm, and together, we enter Perch.

When we walk into the restaurant, I finally discover why, on a Friday night, Osvaldo seems to be the only valet on duty. Hunter has reserved the entire place for the evening, just for the two of us. The lights are low, and there’s a candlelit table right near the bandstand, where a sharp guitar-led contemporary quartet simmers just below a boil, the perfect tempo for conversation and intimacy. As I look over the place that I’ve seen forty hours a week for two years now, but never like this, it suddenly occurs to me that I work at what just might be the most romantic restaurant in all of Los Angeles. That is, of course, if you’re lucky enough to have it decked out especially for you by this striking gentleman at my side.

Lili’s waiting to seat us, and she’s dressed as G-rated as I’ve ever seen her: hair in a sensible bun, lace blouse up to her clavicle, and a billowy black skirt. As she guides us to our table, she drops her voice to a whisper, leaning back to me.

“He’s gorgeous,” she whispers. “And you look beautiful. Go for it girl!”

I blush. Did Hunter hear? But thankfully, he’s still behind me at the door, handling something or other.

We don’t need menus because Hunter’s already selected a special feast for two, personally prepared by our executive chef, Gerardo. Surf-and-turf skewers to start, steak frites for Hunter, and salmon gnocchi for me, paired with a full-bodied cabernet I can only describe as a brilliant choice. For dessert, Hunter goes with the chocolate pot de crème, and a lovely sweet wine as accompaniment.

As we enjoy sweet, creamy spoonfuls of heaven together, Hunter grins.

“So, is this a little more what you expected?”

I daub chocolate from my lip with a napkin. “You know, I’ve worked here for almost two years, and this is the first time I’ve ever actually tried the food. Never even had one of these desserts. But if I had done it before, this is definitely the one I would have picked. Guess you remembered I love chocolate.”

“I did remember. But that’s not why I picked it.”

As I take another spoonful, I shoot him a quizzical look. A tiny drip of chocolate trickles down my chin. But before I can wipe it off, Hunter leans forward, those blue eyes magnetic.



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