The interior had been restored, and maintained the elegance and ambience of a well-appointed home.
The entrance hall offered marble floors, Italian art, and cozy seating areas. Dana barely had time to absorb the light, the color, before the maitre d hurried over to greet them.
“Mr. Hawke, were so pleased you could join us this evening. Signorina , welcome toLucianos . Your tables ready if youd like to be seated. Or if you prefer Ill have you shown into our lounge.”
“The ladys hungry, so well take the table, thanks.”
“Of course. Shall I take your wrap?”
“Sure.”
But Jordan beat the maitre d, and with a trail of fingertips along her shoulders, slipped her coat off. It was whisked away, and they were led up the grand staircase and into what she realized was a private room already prepared with a single table for two.
A waiter materialized with champagne.
“As you requested,” the maitre d said. “Is this suitable for your evening?”
“Its perfect,” Jordan told him.
“ Bene . If you wish for anything, you have only to ask. Please, enjoy. Buonappetite .”
He slipped away, leaving them alone.
“When you pull it off,” Dana said after a moment, “you really pull it off.”
“No point in doing things halfway.” He lifted his glass, tapped it gently against hers. “To moments. Past, present, future.”
“That seems safe enough to drink to.” She sipped. “Jeez. You know what old Dom meant about drinking stars when he had his first sip of the bubbly stuff.” She took another sip, then studied him over the rim. “Okay, Im impressed. Youre quite the big cheese these days, arent you, Mr. Hawke?”
“Maybe, but its more knowing to use what works. And the local boy who makes good can usually get a table at a restaurant.”
She looked around the room, so softly lit, so private, so romantic.
There were flowers and candles, not only on the table but on the antique server, on the long, carved buffet. The room smelled of both of them, and music—something soft with weeping violins—drifted through the air.
A low fire burned in a black marble hearth, more candles, more flowers on the mantelpiece above it. A wide scalloped mirror reflected off it, creating a strong sense of intimacy.
“Some table,” she said at length.
“I wanted to be alone with you. Dont spoil it,” he said, and covered her hand with his before she could move it out of reach. “Its just dinner, Stretch.”
“Nothings just in a place like this.”
He turned her hand over, ran his finger down the center of her palm while he watched her face. “Then let me try my hand at romancing you. Just for one evening. I could start by telling you that just looking at you right now almost stops my heart.”
Hers did a quick bounce, and then went thud . “Youre pretty good at it, for a beginner.”
“Sit tight. Ill get better.”
She didnt tug her hand away. It seemed wrong, a small, mean gesture when hed gone to such trouble to give her something special. “Its not going to mean anything, Jordan. Were in different places than we were.”
“Seems to me were both right here. Why dont we relax and enjoy it?” He nodded to the waiter stationed discreetly just outside the room. “You said you were hungry.”
She took the offered menu. “Youve got that one right.”
* * *
IT would, Dana discovered, take considerable effort and a great deal of determination not to relax and enjoy. And it would be mean-spirited. He might have cornered her into the date, but hed gone out of his way to make it a memorable, even magical one.