Ella Frank - Exquisite

Lena watched as her mother clasped her hands and beamed up at her. “Oh isn’t that a wonderful story!”

Lean smirked a little, “Well not really, we couldn’t stand each other at first.”

“Oh pish! Who cares about that obviously you got past it.”

Laughing Lena aggreed, “Yes we did and Mason’s wonderful.”

Her mother froze then her mouth dropped open. Lena raised a brow as her mom asked, “You don’t mean Mason Langley? That young man that’s been splashed over the television? What are they calling him? Ahh the Casanova Chef .”

Lena winced knowing she’d had everything to do with that nickname. “Yes actually, that’s him. But that whole article and nickname was a misunderstanding and is kind of my fault.”

Her mother still looked like she was in shock. “You’re dating Mason Langley?”

Nodding slowly Lena was worried this wasn’t going to go well at all, and then her mother said softly. “My oh my Lena O’Donnell. You don’t date for years and the first man you choose is a man labeled Casanova?”

“Mom,” Lena said softly about to defend Mason.

“Well I always said you were quietly brilliant. Honey he’s gorgeous!” and just like that they burst out laughing together.

That’s how Mason found her. He’d come down to pick her up on his way into work and there she was in her office laughing with a little lady who was seated with her back to him. He stood at the door for a moment and enjoyed the sight of her. Over the past few weeks he’d watched her change and grow into a calm, relaxed and incredibly beautiful version of herself and right now as she laughed freely she took his breath away. She must’ve felt his eyes on her because she raised hers and stood up pushing off the desk. He smiled, feeling pure joy from just being near her, when she leaned down and whispered something in the woman’s ear. Then he saw the woman turn in her chair and look up at him and he was staring into wide green eyes that mirrored Lena’s.

“Are your ears burning?” Lena asked him as she walked around the chair the woman was in and over to him. He moved into the room and paused as she stopped in front of him gripping his arms and leaning up to brush a kiss across his mouth.

He shook his head. “No, should they’ve been?”

“Hmm.” she grinned against his mouth. Stepping back she reached down and took his hand tugging him closer to the woman who was still looking at him with curious but warm eyes.

“Mason, this is my mother. Alannah O’Donnell.”

Mason watched as her mother stood gracefully and walked around the chair. She reached out a hand and he clasped it in his and shook it gently.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am.”

He watched as a smile spread across her face and he was struck by how attractive she was for a woman of her age. She looked like an older version of Lena, and what was that saying? If you find the woman you want to spend your life with, get a good look at her mother because that is who you’ll be with in twenty years. Well, Mason thought, no complaints there. He turned his eyes to Lena and she was beaming at him.

“We were just talking about how we met.”

Groaning he shook his head. “All lies. Whatever she told you, it’s all lies.”

Alannah grinned at him and reached up patting his cheek. “Oh I doubt that young man.”

“Mother, stop flirting with him.”

Mason grinned over at Lena and smirked, “I happen to like it.”

Lena rolled her eyes at him, “Of course you would. Anything female must bow down to your endless supply of charm.”

“Can I help it if the women love me?”

He looked back to see a twinkle in her mother’s eye. “Apparently not.”

Grinning he looked over to Lena, “You should bring your mother down for dinner tonight.”

Lena looked over to her and he saw the way Alannah looked back at her daughter, almost wary, expecting her to say no. “That’s a great idea. Would you like to come with me or do you need to get home right away?”

He watched as mother and daughter seemed to reach an outcome neither of them expected. Then Alannah turned to him and smiled brilliantly.

“I’d love to.”

Not twenty minutes later Lena went to park around the back as Mason drove straight into his reserved spot. Frowning, it took her around ten minutes more to find one of her own. Her mother looked around the crowded parking lot then back to her. “Boy this place sure gets busy. He must do very well.”

Lena stopped the car and looked out to window to see Mason there to open the for her.

“Busy tonight.” he remarked as he helped her.

Nodding she took his hand and climbed out. “Sure is. Is it always this crowded Friday’s?”

“Yeah pretty much. The quietest nights are Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Lena turned to see her mother had got out and was making her way around to them.

“Your place is packed. That’s a sign that the food is good.”

Mason smiled widely, “Our food is the best.”

“If he says so himself.” Lena added.

“Well fine, don’t let my words convince you.” He reached out the crook of his arm to her mother and said softly, “Let my food. Tonight you dine at the chef’s table.”

Lena watched her mother’s face beam up at him and was amazed at how easy he seemed with a virtual stranger. Catherine, his mother, was right. He could wrap any woman around his finger.

“Is the chef’s table in the kitchen?” her mother asked excitedly. He winked at Lena over his shoulder and they started forward. She followed from behind smiling and heard him reply.

“It sure is.”

Seated at the back of the bustling kitchen Lena was absolutely amazed at the frenzied madness that was going on all around her. The same three men, who she’d seen before, stood at the back of the kitchen in front of several huge ovens, and they were screaming out orders to everyone. They were flipping scallops in fry pans, baking chicken in another and searing duck on the back burner. At the stainless steel prep table was a lady madly plating salads and vegetables and then off to the very far left hand side Lena saw Rachel bent over a pastry adding powdered sugar to the top. All in all it was organized chaos. Her mother was watching fascinated as Mason stood at the head of the ship, by the pass, checking over each plate and adding garnishes to every dish. He would smile at the waiter or waitress, coming to collect, then hand them the plate and move to the next, and each and every one of his staff smiled at him as though he was the best boss in the world, and as far as she could tell he was.

Mason could feel her eyes on him as he worked. He hadn’t brought Lena back down to the restaurant until tonight because it seemed as though every time they got down there somehow, someway, something would go wrong. However, he figured having her mother there as a buffer would help him out and he had to admit he really liked her. She was sweet and genuine and he couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to be so warm and accepting after such a tremendous loss. It was obvious to him that any guilt or self loathing Lena harbored was her own doing, because it was clear to him that her mother just wanted her to be happy and it shocked him even further to realize that she seemed grateful to him for making her that way. Stopping for a moment he glanced over his shoulder and caught Lena’s eye. He tilted his head toward her, motioning for her to come to him. She smiled at her mom squeezing her hand and Alannah smiled then nodded toward her daughter as he watched the capable doctor stand gracefully and make her way over to him.

“Having fun?” he asked when she stopped by him.

“Yes actually. I love watching chaos unfold.”