Page 8 of Midnight & Magic
“Kind of? I mean, it’s expensive here. You don’t owe me anything—even if it’s a treat.” She said with a smile as she patted the back of his hand.
Damn it! She’s still nervous!
“How about next time I have you pick the place? Sound good?”
“I thought we would not worry about a next time until after this date?” She said with a chuckle.
“Right! Well, I feel terrible because there aren’t many vegan options on the menu. That is—if you plan on continuing the charade of being vegan.”
“Okay, you caught me. I’m not vegan. I’m just allergic to overpriced meals.”
The waiter came up, interrupting them.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear as I walked up—does someone need our vegan options? Because our bar menu has vegan options.”
“That won’t be necessary, thank you,” Camden said with a smile.
“Very well. Would you like to start off with a bottle of wine?” The waiter asked.
“Yes, we would. Cassie, do you like port?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, great! Can we order the one I had the last time? The 40-year Tawny.”
“Certainly, Mr. Connel. I’ll be right back with that for you.”
Camden looked over the menu.
“Well, I hope you like dairy-free lasagna if you intend to keep up with the vegan stance because it appears your only option besides the greens salad is that.”
“I love lasagna, but not one that’s vegan.” She said with a smile.
“Let’s have the heirloom tomato as an appetizer, though?”
“That sounds great. But let’s definitely share that porterhouse because it will go great with the port wine.”
They ordered their meal once the waiter returned with the wine bottle. Cassidy put the glass to her lips after they toasted to her new job. She had never tasted a wine so smooth before, and she was afraid to ask precisely how expensive the wine probably was.
Cassidy was used to $20 bottles of wine being expensive. Usually, she’d go for a box because it was more economical and better for the environment. And not one of those wines was top shelf by any stretch of the means because they packed them within the past year. Any excellent wine should sit. And this one tasted like it had been sitting for a better portion of the last century as opposed to just 40 years.
“How old is this wine again? It tastes wonderful.” She found herself asking out loud, even though she already knew the answer.
Camden smiled and let out a small chuckle.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. That’s probably a silly question for someone like you.”
“No, no, it’s refreshing! I’m really not used to hearing the question. And probably because I’m used to dining with people that put everything on their company credit card. This wine is 40 years old, and that’s why it is so smooth and tastes so rich. If we were to order a newer bottle, you’d be able to tell the difference.”
“Oh, I see.” Cassidy placed the glass in front of her and sucked in a breath. “I think I’d better go a little slower drinking this so I can savor it. It’s not every day that I can sip a bottle of wine that is technically older than I was as a human.”
“Cassidy, you can drink as much as you’d like. Remember, this is my treat. A woman as beautiful as you should be celebrated, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to share a good bottle of wine with you.” He said as he raised his glass to her. “To a budding friendship that I hope develops into more.”
Cassidy smiled and lifted her glass to his. The distinct clink seemed to echo through the back of the restaurant.
“So, why don’t you tell me a little about yourself? I mean, I understand you lived a very public life for a while with your divorce, but I really don’t know all that much about you other than that. What are your interests? What do you like to do when you aren’t working?”
“I’m actually quite boring. The only thing I do for fun is perusing antique shops on the occasional day I’m off.”
