A gentleman with luxurious taste

He was holding the wine list only with the fingertips of his left hand. Wondering down the page with an expression I could not read. He stopped. Quick “Ah” followed by slight lip movement that seemed like almost a smile.

I raised my eyebrows to show interest in his sudden discovery.

“Château Canon La Gaffelière. 2018. Good year. For me, that is,” he looked up to the waiter. That grin.

I located the name as quickly as I could, by what I thought he said. There. French, merlot. Region I cannot pronounce. Price… Price! I saw the first digit, and the second. And the third. Composing myself was not easy, but I pretended to continue exploring the menu. As if I knew what I was looking at. The most expensive merlot bottle I ever bought in the restaurant was around £35. Calm yourself and smile. Put that wine list down and smile. I closed the menu and placed it on the table.

“One of the top rated that year, I believe. Not had a pleasure to taste it yet though. Have you?” he tilted his head slightly. Don’t believe he blinked since we got to the table. Maybe I just missed it starring at that wine list, full of words in French and Italian. Even English names seemed foreign.

Oh, the question was addressed to me!

“I trust your choice,” – yes, that is the answer I came up with. Once the five seconds silence seemed too long to continue thinking of a better one.

“Very well then,” he handed the closed menu to the waiter, who picked mine off the table, too. I finally smiled when he did so.

“Are you ready to order or shall I give you few more minutes to think?”

Nigel turned to me for assurance. Somehow all these questions made me feel like attending a job interview.

“I will have the risotto, please”, adding that pleasing fake smile of mine.

“No starter?” there actually might have been an honest wonder in Nigel’s face. “Well, in that case I will go with the halibut. Thank you.”

The waiter left with all the pleasant smiles and quick nod, collecting the glasses and cutlery we will not need.

Another few seconds lasting pause of silence. Putting on another agreeable smile could be something suitable. Instead, I pretend to be searching for something in my purse.

“Are you not that hungry?”

I continued to pretend I was still searching for that imaginary object that I so needed right there and then.

“Well, saving some space for dessert, I guess. You should have ordered a starter, I’d feel bad if you were going to order one,” surprisingly, that was quite honest and, for the first time tonight, something that came out rather naturally.

“More of a sweet tooth person, then.”

“You could say so. A place like this must have some mouth-watering sweets”

“Place like this?” he asked.

Oh, there we go. What should I say? You know - damn expensive? Oh, no. Say something.

“A popular place, of course. You need a menu that would have equally deserving courses to satisfy all diners,” oh dear. Did that come out of my mouth? What am I now? Next thing you know, I will be horseback riding & hunting foxes.

Gosh, I hope he is paying for the wine.

He smiled. A full smile, wide, showing teeth. One that seemed genuine.

“Indeed! I heard their avocado and rum ice-cream is something unexpectedly delicious,” he then said.

That does sound good. I like avocado. And I like rum. I wish I had a good gulp of the latter to make myself at ease. Somehow, I felt like a clownfish that was dunked in together with beautiful and graceful koi fish. I stopped destroying my purse as it was actually doing nothing to make me feel more comfortable.

“Let’s hope it is on tonight’s menu, too,” I finally managed a reply.

“Maybe we can share one,” he hasn’t stopped the eye contact. When he said share one, did he mean simply to share the ice-cream, or is this the first innuendo. Does it mean he likes me? Hard to say from just the emails we sent each other. And tonight, I am more focused on what to say not to look stupid, than I am paying attention to actually enjoying his company.

“I might want to have it all to myself.”

What? All to myself? What a great attempt to answer a possible flirty suggestion. Could be worse, if he thought I was simply greedy.

“Oh really?” he leaned towards me, slightly pressing on the table.

At this moment, I wanted to leave. Or scream. Maybe both. I could not tell if this was the awkwardness of me feeling out of place, or that I was unable to read him, or that I could not tell if what I thought was a flirtation was simply a talk about sharing a dessert. I looked down, my palms resting on my knees, fingers gently caressing the dress. I did not answer. It was way over my five seconds rule. I had no words to share. My anxiety was taking over.

“Tali.”

He called my name. And I was frozen. Five seconds times three. Five seconds times four.

His chair made a silent squeak as he moved. He walked up to me and I could see his figure with a glimpse of an eye. He slouched next to me, yet our bodies did not touch. He kept the space. I needed it.

“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Collect yourself. Do not, I mean do not, start shaking that lip. No teary eyes. I took one deep breath and turned.

He had these wonderous, almost navy-blue eyes in this lighting. That look was familiar. I could almost read his thoughts. It was a sincere wonder if he had done something wrong. Making sure I was alright. A friendly look. And in that moment, I didn’t need to think of what to answer back.

“I know.”

I wanted to touch him, it felt right to. I raised my hand to grasp his shoulder, before I even moved it further, I felt his hand on my arm first. He gave a very gentle squeeze, his other hand offered for me to take.

“Should we get out of here?”

Those navy-blue eyes were almost glowing with a truthful charm. I took his hand. I shared my trust. When we were up, the waiter appeared with that expensive bottle of French merlot. Now I know how I looked the whole evening. Confused and not knowing what to say. What an unpleasant look to have!

“We’ll take that to go. We have to be somewhere else all of a sudden,” Nigel said, at the same time gently wrapping his arm around my waist.

Waiter pretended to understand the circumstances and did it well, accompanied by employee of the month smile, and again, a light nod.

Nigel has helped me with the coat. Even more then, I realised he was simply a nice guy. Yes, a gentleman. One who happens to have a luxurious taste when it comes to dining.

I am not chipping in for that wine.

- - -

I woke up feeling a slight chill, however comfortable in the arms of a charming man. Carefully not to wake him, I glanced at his face. He looked peaceful, like having a childhood dream. We were wrapped up in several blankets, right in front of a fading fire. Above us was the summer sky, full of stars, yet it was dark. It seemed the only thing that existed was what the disappearing fire flame lit up. We were here. A night full of stories and giggles, burnt hot-dogs, a shivering first kiss, more kisses and hugs, falling asleep listening to the crackling wood. He gave me his sweater. And his coat, to cover my legs. I was feeling chilly in a dress, and a gentleman never lets his lady get cold. A gentleman will never ask his lady to remove her dress, either.

I saw my heels laying in the grass right beside me. Next to them was an empty bottle with a fancy label. And two glasses. One was empty. The other one had a sip or two left. The last drops of a posh French merlot. The wine that gave me the best date in my life.