First Class Menu (13 page)

At five minutes to seven, David looked over his list. Every
item had been checked, with the exception of slicing the beef, but that would
have to wait until it had finished cooking and came out of the oven.

After a quick check in the mirror, he poured two glasses of
white wine and placed them on the counter that separated the kitchen from the
dining room and waited for the doorman to buzz and tell him Lindsey was on her
way up. At five minutes after seven, he began pacing.

At eight minutes after seven, the buzzer sounded and David
breathed a sigh of relief. She was on her way. Let the evening begin.

*****

“You made chicken liver mousse?”

“I did,” David grinned.

“Wow! Impressive!” Lindsey nodded.

“That was the plan,” he chuckled.

“It’s working.” Lindsey spread the thick mousse over a water
cracker and took a bite. As she swallowed, she turned to David and smiled.
“Well done! I have chefs who can’t make it this well. It’s smooth and velvety
and perfectly seasoned.”

“Seriously?” he was a little shocked at the praise.

“Seriously. This student may have surpassed the teacher,”
she winked.

“Not likely,” he smiled. “But I appreciate the compliment.
Ready for dinner?”

David escorted her to the dining table and pulled out the
chair for her. Then he placed the mousse and crackers beside her so she could
continue eating while he served the soup.

She admired the table setting as she lifted the pale blue
linen napkin from her plate. The plates were white with a silver ring around
the edge. The flatware was simple but elegant. There were three glasses in
front of her; one was filled with ice water and the other two were empty. There
were votive candles floating in water in shallow glass bowls and a single red
rose in a tall vase in the center of the table.

Yes, she was impressed.

Gently placed in front of her was an exquisite fire-glazed
bowl full of French onion soup. The melted cheese oozed down the side of the
bowl, still bubbling. The steam rose and the delicious smell filled her nose.

David sat down opposite with a bottle of Pinot Gris and
poured the pale liquid into her glass.

“Bon appetit,” he smiled.

As Lindsey cut through the bread floating in the top of her
bowl, she glanced at David. His tongue stuck between his lips as he attempted
to slice through the bread with his spoon. She grinned and took a sip of the
soup.

“Excellent!” she praised.

“This has been cooking for hours.”

“I can taste that. There is a depth of flavor here that is
simply divine.”

“I sautéed the onions in olive oil and butter,” he grinned.
“
And
a sprinkle of sugar to help with the caramelization.”

“You
did
listen to me,” Lindsey laughed.

“Every word!” David replied. “Only I didn’t always
understand your meaning. But I’m smarter now.”

She didn’t know what he meant by that and was too afraid to
ask so she kept eating, which wasn’t a chore. The soup was wonderful.

David cleared the bowls and carried them to the kitchen
sink. She could hear him opening and closing the oven then opening and closing
the fridge. She heard a cupboard bang shut and some cutlery rustling in a
drawer.

“Can I help?” she yelled over her shoulder.

“Nope! Just getting the meat out to rest while we eat the
next course.”

Lindsey leaned back in the chair and took a sip of wine, a
smile spreading across her face. She was really having a delightful evening.
She dabbed the napkin at the edge of her mouth, careful not to smear her
lipstick. She replaced it in her lap, covering her navy blue skirt.

David emerged from the kitchen, a plate in each hand. He
lowered them to the silver chargers on the table.

“Hope you like tuna.”

“I love tuna,” she sighed with pleasure.

David topped off her wine glass and sat down again. They
both began eating, moaning with pleasure with each new bite.

“David,” Lindsey looked up as she took another bite. “I
don’t think I’ve ever had a student exceed my expectations as you have.”

“I’ve never had a teacher like you.” He spoke softly and his
eyes pierced through hers making it impossible for her to look away.

“Thank you, I think,” she smiled.

“You are an exceptional woman and a master chef. I couldn’t
have dreamed of a better partner…in the kitchen,” he added.

Heat rose from her chest up her neck and flooded her cheeks.
There was a double meaning there, she was sure of it. She concentrated on
stabbing a green bean with her fork and getting it to her mouth. It took every
ounce of concentration she had. David was making her extremely nervous. He’d
put his fork down on his edge of his plate and was watching her…intently.

The chewing was so loud in her ears she had to swallow
quickly. She took a long sip of wine, hoping it would calm her nerves. This
feeling was new. Her tummy was rolling and tumbling and spiraling out of
control.

“May I use your bathroom?” She pushed back in her chair.

“Of course.” David stood and helped her up. “Down the hall
and through either door you’ll find one. Are you finished?”

Lindsey attempted a smile. “Yes, thank you.” Then she turned
and hurried in search of privacy.

The first open door she came to was obviously David’s
bedroom.  A king-size bed took up most of the room. The light was off so she
couldn’t see much, just enough to know she’d try the other room. She couldn’t
seem to muster the courage to be in the room where he slept…and showered.

Turning to the left she stepped into a larger room that was
lit by a small desk lamp on the far wall in front of a large window. This
wasn’t his bedroom so it immediately felt safer. She took a deep breath as she
took a few more steps into the room.

It was obviously his studio. There were two desks; one that
held the lamp on the far wall, and one in the middle of the room. It was like a
drafting table; slanted; higher at the top, lower at the bottom. There was a
stack on clean paper on it, ready to be used. There was a set of small shelves
next to it and in a box on top were several pieces of charcoal, each one
looking thoroughly used. In another corner there was an easel next to a window
that was open to the back of the building.
It must get the early morning
light,
she thought. Next to the table was a round table that was full of
tubes of paint in every color imaginable. It reminded her of her spice drawers.
You never knew when you’d need a pinch of this or a pinch of that.
Painting
must be the same way
, she mused.

There were two doors on the opposite wall. She assumed one
would be the bathroom, the other a closet. Taking a guess, she opened one to
find it was indeed the bathroom. She stepped inside and closed the door. It was
larger than she imagined. There were dual sinks and a large soaking tub. A free
standing shower with a glass surround looked as though it would hold two people
comfortably. There was a tiled bench at one end.
Perfect for shaving my legs
,
she smiled.
Or…

She stopped her train of thought and shook her head. Turning
on the faucet at the nearest sink, she ran her hands under the cool water and
then placed them on her warm cheeks. Something was different about David this
evening. He was still charming and intelligent and articulate and humorous and
drop-dead sexy, but there was also something else. He was focused. He was
confidant. He was flirting…with her. And she was enjoying it. No, she was
loving
it.

Lindsey dried her hands on the hand towel and walked back
into David’s studio. There, straight in front of her, how she missed it before
she didn’t know, was a drawing…of her! She walked very slowly toward the small
easel perched on top of a set of shelves that held books and binders.

She tilted her head and studied herself. Her eyes were
bright and alive. There was a slight smile on her lips. She looked…happy. Is
this how he saw her?

“I don’t think I did you justice.” He spoke softly.

Lindsey whipped around to see him leaning in the doorway.
“You’re much more beautiful than that.”

Lindsey didn’t know whether to be embarrassed she’d been
caught snooping or because nobody, not even her ex-husband had paid her such a
compliment. She didn’t know what to say.

His shoulder pushed off the door frame and he sauntered
towards her. He’d taken off his jacket and his crisp white dress shirt was open
at the collar exposing his neck. She concentrated on that small glimpse of skin
as he closed the distance between them. His hand reached for her and she turned
slightly as he touched her cheek. His fingers pushed through her hair and his
thumb caressed her warm skin, only now it burned where he touched.

“Lindsey,” he whispered and bent down to press his lips to
hers. “The vegetables are getting cold.”

He led her by the hand back to the table. Plated in front of
her was chateaubriand with roasted asparagus, glazed carrots and potatoes in a
cream sauce. A small bowl of what appeared to be bernaise sauce was next to her
plate.

Once again, David pulled the chair for her to sit and then
filled her glass with a deep red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, if she could read
the label correctly. He sat opposite and lifted his knife and fork.

“Hope you like it,” he winked.

It was difficult to breath let alone eat. Lindsey’s heart
was still racing from that kiss, if you could call it a kiss. Their lips barely
touched for just a fraction of a second but in that moment, her feelings were
confirmed. She was hopelessly lost…hopelessly in love with him.

And now she sat trying to eat. She had to try. He’d gone to
all this trouble. She was enormously flattered.

“You made chateaubriand?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“But?” she asked.

“I had to enlist the help of a pro…my mom.”

Lindsey smiled. “There’s nothing wrong with asking for
help.”

Surprising her, she managed to clean her plate. The beef was
a perfect medium rare, the potatoes soft but not mushy, the carrots still had
some crunch to them and the asparagus, Lindsey’s favorite vegetable of all
time, was seasoned perfectly.

“Mmm, I love asparagus,” she sighed as she lifted the last
stalk to her mouth with her fingers and bit off the end.

“I know,” he winked. “I remembered.”

Lindsey was surprised and her face must have revealed that.

“I told you I listened,” he chuckled. “Every single word.”
He finished the liquid in his glass and poured himself some more.

“You know your wines.” She nodded at the bottle. “That is a
perfect selection for a tenderloin.”

“I’m a Lathem!” he chuckled. “It is required of us to know
our wines.”

“Let me get the dishes,” Lindsey offered as she began to
stand.

“I’ll let you
help
,” he smiled.

Together, they cleared the table and cleaned off the plates
into the garbage disposal and David finished filling the dishwasher.

“Do you mind if we wait on dessert for just a bit? I don’t
think I could eat another bite right now.”

“There’s dessert?” she exclaimed.

“Sure is,” he smiled. “And it’s not pavlova or a chocolate
tart.”

“You’ve blown me away,” she laughed as she leaned back
against the counter.

“Have I?” He stepped closer.

Lindsey’s heart began beating faster as he approached. Her
head dropped and he lifted her chin with his hand.

“My brother told me that a woman who can cook is a catch.”

She bit her lower lip and blinked.

“But I’d like to think that a man who can cook is also a
catch.”

She didn’t say anything. She was trapped in his gaze.

“Am I a catch now Lindsey?”

Her head nodded…barely moving.

“Am I?” he repeated.

“You were before you knew how to cook,” she mumbled.

“Huh?”

“Yes! You’re a catch,” she blushed as she spoke.

He lowered his lips to hers and brushed them softly. She
responded immediately. He let go of her chin and wrapped his arms around her
waist and pulled him to her, their bodies now touching.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmured into her mouth.

They kissed for what seemed like an eternity to Lindsey and
it felt divine. His lips were warm and wet and he tasted heavenly. She was
lost. But then he broke the spell as he pulled away, his arms leaving her and
he stepped backwards.

“Come,” he said as he took her hand and led her to the
living room.

“Sit,” he said as they approached the sofa. “Let’s talk.”

“Talk?” she asked.

David chuckled. “Yeah. There’s something I need to tell
you.”

Lindsey sat down, flicked off her navy pumps, and pulled her
ankles under her hips. She twisted sideways so she could look at him now seated
beside her. He took her hand and laid it on his thigh and traced her hand with
his pointer finger.

“Everything okay?” she asked as the silence progressed. He
wanted to talk but hadn’t said a word.

“That depends on you?”

“Me? How so?”

David pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Then he replaced it on his thigh.

“I don’t see any reason to play games here,” he began. “And
if you’re going to break my heart then I’d prefer I know now rather than
later.”

His words were like a foreign language. She heard him; she
saw his lips moving, but she wasn’t sure of his meaning. Her head tilted to the
side and her eyes squinted as her forehead wrinkled.

“I really enjoyed our cooking lessons. I learned how to
cook, well at least you got me on the right track, and I got to know you. I
loved spending time with you and I didn’t understand how much ‘til our
Saturdays came to an end. I found myself moping around all day, not knowing
what to do with myself. And when Audrey tried to set me up again a couple of
weeks ago, the thought repulsed me, not just because I had memories of the last
time she’d set me up, but because I just wasn’t interested in seeing anyone but
you.”

He took a breath and Lindsey’s brow unwrinkled just a
little.

“I found myself thinking about you, not just on Saturdays,
but on Mondays and Thursdays and every other day too. And then I saw my brother
Mark and how miserable he was because his wife is out of town and I saw an
expression in his face that I’d seen in my own. I just missed you…terribly.”

The wrinkle was entirely gone and Lindsey’s eyes were wide
open, following every word.

“I love you, Lindsey. I’d actually wondered if I would ever
get to say that, but I’m so happy that I do. I love you and I can’t imagine my
life without you in it.”

A lone tear escaped and ran down Lindsey’s cheek. Her chin
trembled for just a moment but then his hand was there, on her cheek, wiping
the tear away. And then his lips were on hers again and he kissed her with such
emotion another tear escaped.

“You’re crying,” he whispered. “Why?”

The words of her step-mother rang in her head.
You are
bold and assertive in your career. Why can’t you be the same way in your
personal life?
Trudy was right. If there was ever a time to be assertive,
this was it.

“Because I fell in love with you and I thought that you were
with Lou and every Saturday I would come and we would laugh and cook and we
became friends and that was all good, but I wanted more and knew that I
couldn’t have it. And now…”

“And now?”

“And now I wonder if I
can
really have all I wanted.”

“Do you want me?”

Lindsey nodded. “Yes.”

“Then you can have all you wanted.”