Exquisite (4 page)

"Boss man. Table of 15 are
doctors from St Luke’s let's not screw up. Would be good to have them as
regulars."

Mason winced slightly but kept his
eyes on the woman in front of him and her suddenly frozen feet. He continued to
smile like he didn't have a care in the world, and wasn’t someone who’d just
been on the receiving end of a cutting insult. Then he tilted his head toward
her. "I'll be sure to send one of
my
staff over to take care of you
as soon as possible sweetheart."

There,
he thought with
satisfaction,
what do you think of that Queen Bitch?

S
helly practically dragged Lena toward their table
while constantly looking behind them to the bar. Lena on the other hand,
followed without a backward glance. She was to busy processing exactly what’d
just happened.
The flower man was also a bartender?
No, that didn’t seem
to be adding up.
The flower man was the restaurant manager?
Hmm,
maybe that was the case but why would the manager of the hottest restaurant in
town be delivering flowers from that cute little flower boutique Precious
Petals?
So many questions and thoughts were flipping through her mind she
didn’t even realize Shelly had come to a stop and turned to face her. Lena
almost bumped into her but at the last minute she looked up and stopped. Shelly
craned her neck to see past her, she would guess at Mr. Flower slash bartender
slash restaurant manager slash pain in her ass.

“You did
not
tell me you
knew Mason Langley.” she whispered. Her eyes so wide they looked like they
might pop out of her face.

Shaking her head Lena answered, “I
don’t know a Mason Langley.”

“That man over there burning a hole
in your ass is Mason Langley. Owner and Head Chef of this little place called
Exquisite
.”

Opening her mouth to say something
Lena found, for probably the first time in a long while, that she had
absolutely nothing to say.

“You know the place we’re standing
in? Where we are about to sit down and have a meal? Yeah, you just insulted the
head honcho, the man who’ll probably go back there and spit in our food.”

“What do you want me to do? Go over
there and apologize?”

Shelly nodded slowly like she was
talking to an imbecile. “It would be a start.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Lena
asked her in a loud whisper, “I was joking about apologizing.”

“Well I’m not and he’s still
staring at your ass.”

Letting out a sigh Lena glared at
her, “I’m sure he’s not looking at my ass.”

Shelly looked over at him again
then lifted her hand in a small wave and smiled. Then looked back as Lena
pouted.

“Why don’t
you
go and
apologize? If you like him so much?"

“Because
I
wasn’t rude.”
Shelly turned to their table and looked over her shoulder shooing her away.
“You were.”

Gritting her teeth Lena spun around
on her heel to see Mason, she assumed, still standing at the bar his head
cocked to one side. His hip was leaning up against the dark mahogany counter
and he was looking right at her. He really was incredible to look at,
now
that she didn’t have to listen to him talk
, she thought with a smirk. Yeah
that’s it, if he could just stand there silently she’d be happy to look at him.
Unfortunately every time he opened his mouth he said something that either
annoyed her or down right pissed her off then she morphed into a raging bitch.
It was a shame really because he was probably the first man in, well as long as
she could remember, that she found extremely attractive. His hair was jet black
and cut shorter in the back with a slight curl around his ears. The front
looked like he’d just run his hand through it and a stray piece flopped
forward. The dark stubble didn’t detract from his appeal it drew attention to
his jaw line and mouth. His eyelashes were insanely long, when she noticed
those she couldn’t tell you, but she knew they surrounded piercing blue, almost
midnight blue, eyes. However, that wasn’t what drew her eye the most, it was
his very presence. He was a tall man, at least 6’3 if she had to guess and his
shoulders were huge, especially in that black buttoned up shirt he was wearing
tonight. They were out lined to perfection and the shirt hugged his torso all
the way down to his slim waist where the shirt disappeared into tight black
slacks that were framed by a black belt with a silver buckle.
Oh yeah,
she thought,
it was such a shame he was a total pain in her ass
. She
looked right at him then straightened her spine for the battle to come. He
didn’t smile as he continued to watch her, almost intently. It made Lena
uncomfortable to be under such scrutiny when there were so many other people
around. It was as though they’d all just vanished and she was back in the
hospital lobby standing in front of him. However, this time he had the upper
hand. Lena watched as one of the bartenders came over to him and started to
speak, he nodded but kept his eyes on her the whole time. Looking over her
shoulder at Shelly, she stiffened her shoulders then said softly. “Fine, but I’m
only doing this because you’re making me and I don’t want spit in my food.”

“I’m so proud of what motivates you
Lena. Oh and by the way,” she paused as she waved to the door where McKinney
was walking in, “He was definitely staring at your ass.”

Lena ignored her and made her way
over to the bar.
Mason kept his eyes on her the whole time she walked back toward him. He noted
she walked like she had a pole shoved up her behind. Smirking at the thought,
he watched her eyes narrow as she got closer. He could only imagine the
thoughts that were running through her mind and he was somewhat curious as to
why she was coming back over to the bar. He’d watched the two women closely as
the blond had pulled Lena away from him, before she could make more trouble he
imagined, and he’d noticed when they stopped at the table that the blond kept
looking over at him while whispering to Lena. Since her back had been turned to
him he’d seen no harm in looking her over. After all, he was a man and she he
discovered, had one fine ass. She may be an uptight piece of work but that
tight little skirt she thought made her look professional, hugged her ass just
as good as a tight pair of jeans. When her friend had caught him looking she
had coyly waved at him and he’d winked at her as she grinned like she was up to
no good and now here he was watching Lena stop in front of him at the bar.

“You couldn't stay away?” he asked
and felt his lips tug into a grin.

“What can I say? Your insightful
recap of this morning’s events endeared you to me.”

He watched her as she placed her
hands on the bar. Her fingers started to tap as though she was annoyed, or
frustrated, more likely the latter. She hardly seemed the type to go out and get
laid to relax herself, though maybe she should. Maybe it would help in removing
the pole.

“Look Mason.” she said interrupting
his thoughts.

“Oh you know my name? I feel
special that you took the time to ask."

Her eyes narrowed, "Well
don't. Apparently Shelly recognized you and volunteered the information without
me asking."

"Ahh. I see how it is."
he said leaning down resting an elbow on the bar which moved him in closer. He
watched as she automatically removed her hands so they wouldn't touch.
"Shelly should’ve just come over. I would've given her my number."
He watched for the reaction he was hoping for
and
…"She doesn't want
your number you arrogant ass. She wants me to apologize to you."
There
it was
. Mason stood up straight and raised his eyebrows feeling a smug grin
spread over his lips. Now
that
, he hadn't expected.

"Apologize huh? And how's that
going so far? As far as I can tell you've just further insulted me." he
paused and then from out of no where his mouth opened and he heard himself ask,
"How about you make it up to me by having dinner with me?"

He watched as Lena processed what
he’d asked and saw a brief hint of emotion, he thought humor, flicker over her
face before the ice was back.

"Why on earth would I go to
dinner with you? We're practically stranger's not to mention we don't even
remotely like one another."

Mason couldn't even begin to
understand his own motivation but suddenly it was vital that he got Lena to go
out with him. He leaned down again and rested his elbows on the bar.

"Come on Lena. What have you
got to lose? The worst thing that’ll happen is you get to enjoy a whole night
insulting someone who was pre warned you would do so."
Mason watched her lip twitched slightly.

"Fine, but only if it ensures
you won't spit in our food."

Mason let out a loud laugh. He
watched her look around and saw everyone staring at them. "Shut up you
maniac, everyone's looking at us."

"I'm sorry." he said,
looking and feeling anything but. She really was an unusual woman. “So tomorrow
night? Eight thirty?"

She was back to looking suspicious.
"Fine whatever. I still think it's pointless."

He watched as she looked over her
shoulder at the now full table she needed to get back to. "Just meet me
right here. Tomorrow night at eight thirty." Mason confirmed quickly so
she couldn't get away without a time or place. She looked up at him, nodded
then turned on her heel to walk away, but before she moved out of hearing range
he called out.

"Lena!" Turning she
looked at him and he smiled wide, "I'd never spit in your food,"
Pausing he then added, "I'd have a staff member do it."

Rolling her eyes at him she spun on
her heel and walked over to her table. Mason watched her go and shook his head
as he wiped the top of the bar then threw the towel on the back pass.
Well
damn
, he thought,
what the hell had just happened?
Making her way back over to the table where her colleagues were now seated she
was thinking about what she’d just agreed to. Somehow she’d gone from going
over to apologize for her apparent horrible behavior, to having confirmed a
date with him? If she could have summed up her thoughts it would have been with
three letters.
WTF?
As it was when she sat down Shelly asked her in a
low whisper. "So what happened?"

All Lena could do was look at her
and shrug. "I'm really not sure. I insulted him, he said he'd accept my
apology for a date, I said yes."
Shelly’s mouth dropped open and before she could pounce McKinney addressed us.

"Well everyone. I’m so glad
you could all make it here tonight to welcome Dr Jones to our group. We look
forward to working with you and we hope you feel right at home at St
Luke’s."

As conversations started around
them Lena was continually aware of a pair of eyes on her. Not once did she turn
around, and she couldn't explain how she knew, but it felt like he was watching
her.
Well
, she thought to herself,
I'll be damned if I let him see me
turn around to see if he’s looking
. Lena went ahead and ordered the filet
minion and it killed her to admit it but the meal was absolutely mouth watering.
They talked about trivial work going ons and finally the night started to wind
down. She really thought she’d got away without having to deal with Shelly but
there was no such luck because right when Lena thought they could all pay up
and leave she saw Mason being led to the table by the blond who’d referred to
him as the
boss
earlier this evening. Watching them come around to stand
by McKinney's chair Lena felt her heart start beating erratically for no
particular reason, other than fear of what the jackass would say. Then the
blond tapped McKinney on the shoulder.

"Dr McKinney? You’d requested
a moment with the Owner? You're in luck, Mr. Langley also happens to be the
Head Chef."

Shelly elbowed Lena and looked
sideways with a smirk on her face. Sitting still as a statue Lena continued to
watch Mason, not giving him the satisfaction of her embarrassment. He smiled at
all the members of the table, including herself, then turned his attention to
McKinney. "Well I do hope you all had a wonderful time here tonight?"

McKinney nodded and stood reaching
out a hand to shake with Mason and he smiled as he shook it enthusiastically.

"Oh yes Mr. Langley. Let me be
the first to tell you that the food was absolutely amazing."

Lena watched dimples appear on Mason's
cheeks as his mouth turned up in a smile, and thought,
did the man really
need dimples as well?

"Well thank you. Nothing
pleases me more than a happy customer." he paused smiling around the table
until his eyes landed right on hers and he spoke clearly, "After all
there's nothing worse than someone running to the boss to complain."

Lena heard Shelly chuckle and she
whipped her head around to glare at her. She shrugged innocently as he
continued, "Did Wendy say you were Dr McKinney?"

Lena groaned silently at the
mischief written all over his face and as the doctor nodded Mason pretended to
look thoughtful, "Hmm. I was sure your name was familiar, but there
must’ve been a mistake."

McKinney nodded. "Yes I think
it must’ve been because if I'd known the chef it wouldn't have been so hard to
get in here tonight." and just that quickly Mason had confirmed he’d never
met McKinney and just how far off the mark Lena had been.

It also pleased him immensely, she
was sure, that at the same time it managed to make her feel like a huge ass. He
made sure he turned toward them and raised his eyebrow as if to say,
see
wasn't me now say you’re sorry
. Lena glared at him,
you conceited jerk.
Just see if I turn up here tomorrow
. Then he looked at Shelly and winked
making her giggle like a thirteen year old.