Ella Frank - Exquisite

Lena found herself once again sitting in her car at Exquisite . This time however, she knew Shelly wasn't inside to be her buffer. She ran through different scenarios she could use to leave early. Excuses. Her pager could go off, except she wasn't on call. Or maybe her dog got out, except she didn't own a dog. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. It wasn't even the fact that it was him she was going to meet. It was the whole situation she couldn't stand. The false conversation they would have over dinner, the awkward silences, the fake interest he’d show. So she could be what? Lucky number thirty-four? Please , she thought looking around, can't something give me a plausible means of escape? When nothing immediately presented itself Lena trudged inside repeating the phrase, the sooner I arrive the sooner I can leav e.

Mason was still in his office when Wendy came to the open doorway grinning. “Guess who just walked in?”

Mason dropped the pen and leaned back stretching his long arms over his head, “I'm going to go out on a limb and guess my date.”

“Yep.” Wendy said popping the P. “And she looks miserable.”

“Now why do you say that like you're enjoying it?” Mason asked as he stood straightening the desk a little. Wendy leaned her shoulder against the frame and crossed a leg in front of the other. “Because I’ve never seen a date of yours turn up in a pants suit ensemble looking as though she just swallowed a lemon.” Whistling low between her lips she tacked on. “Boy she really doesn't want to go on a date with you huh?”

Mason came around the desk and walked right up to her. “I'll have you know,” he paused watching her tilt her head, then he grinned full blown, “You’re exactly right. She's probably out there looking for the fire escape.”

Wendy laughed and rolled her eyes, “Then why’d you ask her out?”

Walking past her to the entrance he answered, “I have no idea.”

Lena saw him the minute he stepped out from behind the huge frosted glass doors at the far end of the restaurant. She remained at the front by the hostess stand, glued to the wall,

as he started to make his way toward her. Tonight he was dressed in the same black slacks, however he had a white buttoned down shirt over them. The sleeves were rolled up mid arm and his watch glimmered as he walked under the lights. His long legs seemed to eat up the distance and before she knew it he was sanding in front of her.

“Ah the lovely Lena.” he said as he moved around the hostess stand. Lena watched as two of the women who’d been sitting in the waiting area looked up at him and stopped their conversations. She couldn't believe she was standing there preparing to voluntarily eat dinner with him. What on earth had possessed her to do this again? Then he smiled down at her and his damn dimples appeared. Sneaky , she thought knowing he had just answered her question for her. Oh well, no need to be anything other than what she’d been from the start and with that self reminder Lena grimaced a little.

“Save the charm Romeo. I don't want it and I certainly don't need it.”

“Lena I think you're wrong there.” he paused, “If anyone could benefit from some charm it’d be you.”

Lena watched him as he turned to the hostess, trying to decide if the smug bastard had just complimented her or insulted her. She decided it had to be a veiled insult because that’d been their weapon of choice from the very beginning. After conversing with the woman behind the stand he turned back to her and inclined his head a little.

“Well come on through Lena and I’ll show you our table.”

Lena heard one of the ladies behind her sigh and she rolled her eyes at the absurdity of their simpering. Mason caught her look and raised his eyebrows as if to ask, what ? As if he didn't know what the two sighing idiots behind her were thinking. She brushed past him muttering, “Oh I bet you're loving this.” She heard him chuckle as he followed her. He led them through the main dining room, over to the frosted double doors then when she stopped he moved around her pushing one of the doors open to the kitchen. He kept it like that with his hip as she raised an eyebrow at him.

“We're eating in the kitchen?”

“No.” he stated and she walked through cautiously watching the bustling activity going on back there. Just remember she told herself, the sooner I arrive the sooner I can leave .

There were waiters running in and out a door at the far end. Three men behind a stainless steel pass, where a series of grills lined the back wall, were tossing food in fry pans and yelling at each other all the while smiling and going about their business like a well oiled machine. Over in another corner Lena spotted a short lady in a bright purple chef smock and a hot pink bandana. Just then the lady glanced right at them grinned then winked at Mason. Great. Another groupie in our midst , Lena thought looking back up at Mason.

“So if not here, where?”

He walked down the aisle directly in front of him then made a left turn. Lena followed until they finally came to a standstill in a narrow hall. He leaned against the wall facing her as she came to a standstill on the opposite side. She looked at the closed door then back at him. “So we're eating in there?”

He nodded then grinned, “Yep.”

Trying not to look at him as though he was the most idiotic man on the planet she asked. “Let me get this straight. I left my office to come down here and eat dinner in your office?”

Lena stepped back as he pushed himself off the wall and moved toward her. Two steps forward and he was close enough that his shirt brushed the front of hers. She sucked in a quick breath and was now standing with her back pushed up against the wall. Not one to be intimidated she tilted her head up to face him and watched as the left side of his mouth pulled up in a smirk. “Do you ever have anything nice to say?” he asked, his voice dipping down low enough to make Lena’s pulse pick up. She swallowed once trying not to notice the way his tone was slowly melting her resistance.

“What can I say?” she paused, licked her bottom lip, then continued, “You bring out the best in me.”

Leaning down closer to her he moved to the side at the last moment and grabbed the door handle pushing it open. Slowly taking a step back he ushered her inside. When she managed to catch her breath she moved past him and heard him say. “Now why do I doubt that?”

Mason watched as she marched into his office still stiff as a board. For a moment there he’d noticed her eyes widen and her breath catch when he’d moved in a little closer than necessary. He wondered whether it was because she couldn’t stand the thought of him touching her or if it was because she wanted him too touch her. Somehow , he thought looking at her as she stopped in front of his desk then looked back at him with an expression of, well? He concluded it was the former . Just to irritate her further he smiled wide and walked in shutting the door with a definite click as the lock sounded. He noticed her eyes narrow on his hand then she turned back around and took a seat in the chair opposite his. Walking around his desk he sat down as she took inventory of his office. Sure this wasn’t what he’d originally planned. He had only come here to grab his jacket at first. However, when she’d turned on the snotty attitude he’d changed his mind and thought, let the games begin.

“So do you conduct all your first dates in such a formal manner Mason?” she asked bringing her gaze back to rest on him. “Or in here would you prefer it if I call you Mr. Langley?”