Exquisite by Ella Frank Page A

her. He was going to prepare a basic Italian Fettuccini with his special Alfredo Sauce and for dessert, well that was still up in the air at this point. After setting everything up in the private dining room upstairs he stood at the small bar and looked around. The smaller dining room was outfitted with a scaled back version of the commercial kitchen downstairs and it had the capacity to seat fifty, however, tonight it was set up for two and everyone was under strict instructions not to venture upstairs unless the place was on fire. For all intense purposes, he was not here. It was just about to hit 8.30pm when the phone on the wall rang. Picking it up he heard Wendy’s voice, “Your date just walked in.” she paused then added quickly, “You must’ve done something right, she dressed up for you tonight.”
    With that parting remark from Wendy, Mason rubbed his hands together and walked to the stairs leading down to the main entrance. The side stairs brought him out behind the crowd and he spotted Lena straight away. Her long curls were clipped up on top of her head in a knot of some sort and several little ones were escaping down around her ears. From behind he could tell she was in either a dress or a skirt and he looked down her long legs to be surprised by the bright red spiked heels she was wearing. Oh shit, they were hot. He couldn’t wait to get around the front of her. So he called her name.
    “Lena.”
     
    Lena heard her name and turned to see Mason standing in a doorway off to the left. Leaning his left shoulder against the frame he had his legs crossed casually. He exuded confidence and had every right to. He looked sexy as hell. Dressed tonight in a white v-neck shirt that looked to be made of the softest cotton you could find she noticed it was so snug she could see the outline of his biceps where his arms were crossed over his chest. Her eyes traveled past that magnificent sight and zeroed in on the black belt with the silver buckle at his waist. Unconsciously she licked her lips as she continued down his long legs which were wrapped in some designer charcoal colored pants, that hugged perfect thighs and she was sure, a perfect ass. Finally, when she was about to overheat, she looked back at him as he smirked at her. Taking a deep breath she walked over to him, reached into her bag then smiled as she handed him a small white carton. He took it and looked down then laughed so loud everyone turned to look at them. He lifted his laughing eyes from his hand to her.
    “You brought the cream.”
    Smiling she nodded, “I did.”
    Moving to the side he motioned for her to follow. “We’re going to be eating up here tonight.”
    Brushing past him she inhaled that amazing smell of his and started up the stairs. She’d picked out a black pencil skirt with a flare around the knees, since he seemed so fond of them, and had paired it with a siren red sleeveless blouse that dipped down between her cleavage. When she hit the top step she opened the door and walked in then stopped in her tracks. Wow, when the man went all out, he went all out . The room was dimmed and there were lights sprinkled around the eves giving it a night time effect. However, what made it so spectacular was the floor to ceiling windows at the far end that showed off the night sky and melded it in with the lights inside, making it seem like one. In the center of the room sat an elegant table with a candle and off to her left she noticed there was a bar with swinging doors that led into a kitchen she presumed. It was simply breathtaking. She looked over her shoulder to where he’d stopped and spoke softly. “It’s amazing up here.”
    “Thanks.”
    He placed a warm hand on her back and ushered her inside then moved around to the bar.
    “Bring all your dates here?” It wasn’t a conscious question on her behalf, and she actually winced when he stopped to look at her, but instead of being angry he grinned.
    “Not a single one of the