Natalie smiled at the maître d’ who hurried to greet her as Tino ushered her into the restaurant.
“Miss Kennigan, so glad to see you again.” He looked past her. “I apologize, but I didn’t see that your family had reservations for this evening. I’ll have your usual table prepared immediately.”
Although she didn’t frequent the restaurant all that often, her parents did. “No need to apologize, Henri, and no need to give us their table. I’m not here with my parents.”
Tino moved up beside her. “Actually, the reservation is under my name—Tino Gianelli. Table for two at seven thirty.”
It was obvious that Henri had years upon years of handling awkward situations. He didn’t miss a beat when he turned his smile in Tino’s direction. “Yes, of course, Mr. Gianelli. If you will wait here briefly, I will check to see if your table is ready.”
He bowed slightly and disappeared back into the restaurant, obviously scurrying to find a better spot to put them. Her parents always got the same table by the back window, which offered a lovely view of Puget Sound. It was too much to hope that Tino hadn’t picked up on what was happening, but he was staring in the direction Henri had gone.
“So your folks have a regular table here.”
It wasn’t really a question, but she answered anyway. “Yeah, they do. My father proposed to my mother here back when they were in college. It’s been ‘their place’ ever since.”
“Would you rather go somewhere else?”
She would’ve been happy with any restaurant he’d chosen. However, she suspected he’d figured out exactly who she was and had tried to pick the kind of place she was used to frequenting. “Seriously, this is fine. The food here is wonderful and the desserts even better, so make sure you save room.”
Henri was already back. “This way, please.”
He led them past the main dining room and into one of the smaller ones located in the back of the restaurant. Thankfully, it wasn’t the one where her family usually sat. She was grateful for that much.
“What a lovely view, Henri. I don’t believe I’ve ever been in this part of the restaurant before.”
Her compliment clearly pleased him. “I’m glad you like it. I save it for my most special customers.”
Yeah, right. She didn’t call him on the small lie, though. He held her chair for her while Tino seated himself on the opposite side of the table.
“Your waiter will be with you shortly.” He turned his attention to Tino. “Shall I have the wine steward assist you with making a choice from our list this evening?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Tino gave the wine list a cursory glance and then smiled at Natalie before continuing. “If you’ll trust my judgment, I thought we might start with one I recently discovered and really like.”
“That sounds perfect to me.”
He glanced up at Henri and requested a selection from a well-known local winery, one that happened to be one of her favorites. “Great choice, Tino. I’ve enjoyed several of their wines, but I haven’t tried that specific one. I can’t wait to try it.”
Henri beamed his approval. “You have excellent taste, Mr. Gianelli. It will be along shortly. And might I recommend the halibut tonight? The chef has created a new sauce that is fabulous, and that particular wine will be a perfect match for it.”
They turned their attention to the menus as soon as he walked away. It would be interesting to see what Tino ordered. Evidently it didn’t take him long to make up his mind, because he quickly closed the menu and set it aside. She continued to study hers although she’d already decided to try the halibut. As long as she pretended to find the menu fascinating, she didn’t have to come up with a topic of conversation.
It wasn’t as if she knew Tino well enough to know what his interests were, and it was doubtful he knew any more about her. Well, other than what he might have found online if he’d bothered to look. Most of that was just hype about the various charity events she’d attended for the sake of the foundation. Fortunately, the waiter appeared at the side of their table ready to take their orders, which provided a handy distraction.
She closed the menu and set it aside. “I’ll have the roasted beet salad to begin with and then the halibut Henri recommended. It sounds delicious.”
After surrendering his menu, Tino said, “I’ll have the halibut, too, but with the Caesar salad.”
The waiter made a few quick notes. “Would either of you like an appetizer?”
“I saw they have crab cakes. Want to split an order, Natalie?”
Another one of her favorites. “I’d love to.”
When they were alone again, she glanced out the window, desperately trying to think of something to say. “The view is gorgeous from here. I love watching all the boats out on Puget Sound.”
Tino turned his attention in that direction. “I do, too. Have you done much sailing?”
“My folks never owned a boat, but I’ve been out a few times with some family friends. I enjoyed it for the length of an afternoon, but that’s about it. I’m just as happy to ride on the ferries, especially the one that goes out to Friday Harbor. When I was in college, I’d ride it out and back while I studied for finals. How about you?”
