The food arrives

The wine is hitting me already. I slice a couple more pieces of bread to help soak it up. Victoria is plowing through the wine bottle pretty fast. Ten minutes with her mother really gets her agitated. I need to come up with a conversation starter, something to change the mood at the table. If I can also get some love interest gossip, that would be something in my back pocket for Penelope.

“When was the first time you came here?”

Victoria thinks for a moment and smirks. “Six years ago, in the fall. It was a date on my birthday,” she says, looking at her wine. “Then we went out dancing.”

“That sounds like an amazing night.”

“Um-hmm. It was the best date I’ve ever had. He is a great dancer.” I wonder if some of her positive reaction to me tonight might be related to her powerful memories of that day.

“Do you think about that day every time you eat here?”

“Only if I’m here for dinner. This place is magical at night.”

“Too bad we don’t have time for dancing tonight.” I’m comfortable with a little dancing, though I don’t think anyone would call me a great dancer. Part of me just wants her to know that I would be up for it...and maybe get more positive bleed over from the best night of her life. She tilts her head, studying me again, but not committing to a reply.

The first course arrives. The plates are disappointingly small for my hunger. But the smell alone is intoxicating. It looks like a rib of...lamb? There is a sauce drizzled over it and a clump of some kind of mashed root vegetable. I cut a piece and put it in my mouth. Victoria grins at whatever my face is doing to express the delight I am feeling. “OH WOW! That is...so tender and...so...GOOD!” I can’t find my words.

“Uh-huh. Told you. Now stop talking with food in your mouth.”

I try the mash with the sauce, then the meat with the mash, then the three together. Every combination is great and different. After swallowing, I speak again. “So this isn’t bullshit. This really will ruin me forever.”

Her response is unexpected. She leans forward, and in an almost threateningly sultry tone, whispers, “Yeah, sorry about that.” My heart revs up at getting a glimpse of her power of seduction. She leans back, sipping her wine, looking like a smug dominatrix.

This ‘date’ is a gift with a curse. She has been enjoying my involuntary responses to her body and her dress. She likes knowing that she has cursed me, to always compare any meal against this one, to always compare any naked woman to her, and to always feel like nothing else measures up. My conscience warns me that Victoria is only toying with me, her lowly assistant. But the endorphins and arousal are speaking much louder.

"How long had you been dating?"

"Only a few months, on and off."

"Was he a rich, older man, sweeping you off of your feet?"

"I suppose."

There is a buzz. She pulls out her phone, apologizing, then she excuses herself to use the restroom and stands up, reacquainting me with all of her abdominal muscles, then her glutes. It is breathtaking every time. Strangers notice her again, unable to look away. My phone also buzzes.

Penelope: Don't let her drink too much. She had better not be driving home. I am trusting you.

Victoria returns, then the next course arrives. It blows my mind in new and different ways. Victoria orders a bottle of another wine for the next two courses. It is all so brilliant and engrossing that I forget anyone else is around.

“Please...were you raised in a barn? Stop using your fingers, it’s disgusting.” I freeze. The buttery vegetable that refused to sit still for my fork had finally been blocked by the edge of my finger, allowing the fork to get under it. “You’ve been doing it all night. It’s embarrassing.” I look at her plate. She has a butter knife in her other hand. Then look around at other tables, noticing many of them are also using their knives.

"Okay... Sure." I pick up my knife and get with the program. "So..." I want to get the conversation going again, and forget about my fopaux. "What was the most serious relationship you've been in?" Victoria takes another big drink, deciding if my prying questions have gone too far.

"I was engaged to a nice guy that my mother didn't approve of. She really made a mess of it."

Huh. Penelope sounded in favor of him when she brought it up. "Wow, she really does insinuate herself into everything. What was her objection to him?'

Victoria sneers, visibly drunk now. "He didn't have a good enough job."

"Well that is shallow." I notice Victoria didn't immediately agree.

"He went back to med school, so NOW mother thinks he is worthy, after ruining EVERYTHING... That bitch gave birth to me, just to channel her crazy into me. Let's talk about something else."

We get an incredible dessert and a dessert wine. Then, finally, we get the incredible bill. She pulls out her company credit card and hands it to the server. As I understand it, that is for covering business expenses. I don’t see how this applies. I make a mental note to ask Rachel about it.

We walk back to the valet. She did not wait to take my arm and almost stumbled. I quickly extend my elbow and she takes it, but without any warmth. "I'll drive," I say to her as the Maserati appears. Victoria looks at me sharply. She has no idea that I have already taken the car for a spin. She also doesn't like that I am suggesting that she shouldn't drive, but the truth is she shouldn't. It takes her a few seconds to recognize it as well. She leans in close enough to kiss me. My heart jumps. Her nose is three inches from mine.

"DON'T put a scratch on it."

"Understood."

We get in and I drive, grateful that I have already learned the layout of the vehicle. It is much less enjoyable this time, feeling Victoria watching me like a hawk for the first few minutes.

“Grab the gum in the door for me, please.” I feel around in the door panel and find a blister pack and hand it to her. It is Nicorette. I can’t even imagine her as a smoker. She takes one and hands it back. She eventually relaxes about my driving enough to look away. While checking my mirrors, I steal a look at her, acclimating to the idea of this sexy thing in the passenger seat. This feels pretty good. If I were a millionaire, this would just be a normal weekend. She reclines her seat ten degrees and stretches her arms back. I could have easily drifted off the road the way my eyes locked onto her body. Every new pose sends a fresh wave of arousal through me.

When we get to her house, I am disappointed that the moment is over. Victoria walks straight into the kitchen and gets herself some water. I find a hook near the door and put my jacket on it, kick my shoes off and loosen my tie. Victoria disappears into a hallway. There is bottle of wine and a corkscrew on one of the counters. She is already plenty drunk, and if mama bear finds out I intentionally got her wasted, I might have to answer for it.