Eating out...

Her tiny frame stood over the large stove with sweat dripping down her brow.  Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun and her chestnut skin was fresh faced.  It was a busy night for her new restaurant's location.  She had opened up three so far all named after greek gods.  Athena, Zeus and Poseidon were in West Hollywood, South Beach and D.C. respectively.  She saved Adonis for her favorite place in the world, Brooklyn.  Though she had a slew of world-renowned chefs working underneath her, the perfectionist in Sophia would not let her leave.  She had barely glanced at the line outside the door waiting to try her creative dishes or even at the bar where celebrities, politicians and businessmen were laughing over cocktails.  She had worked extremely hard and even resting for five minutes just to take it all in didn't seem right. 

While putting the finishing touches on her acclaimed seafood dish with its grilled pawns, fresh asparagus and cherry tomatoes and a scoop of jasmine rice topped with diced sautéed peppers, Sophia decided to surprise this particular guest.  According to the waitress, the guest was dining alone as he/she only ordered one entree.  She poured a glass of red wine to accompany her creation and headed through the crowd with the plate covered waiting to be unveiled.  As she walked to the table and saw her patron, she slowed her stride.  He was quite possibly the most handsome man she had ever seen.  He sat there with perfect posture, the shoulders of his suit filled with his broadness.  The knot in his tie was still in tact at 8pm as if he had just tied it resting on his crisp gray button up.  The dark navy suit looked sharp on his figure and his dark brown skin only brought out how dark his hair and goatee was.  Sophia wondered why she was even nervous.  She had not been with a man since she started her culinary entrepreneurship nearly two and a half years ago.  There was brief dating in those years but no intimacy.  She had decided after her last relationship that she would no longer engage in anything empty or anyone that could not fulfill her.  Her work, her art had become the love of her life and until she met a man as rewarding as such, she was single, in mind, body and spirit. 

Good evening, my name is Sophia and I am your chef for the night.  
His eyes followed her voice from his iPhone to her smile.  Jason was pleasantly surprised by the distraction that took him away from his consulting firm's constant emails. Her face was stunning.  Her cheekbones stood out underneath her piercing, dark eyes.  Her thick eyebrows outlined her small face and her button nose stood in the middle of her facial symmetry.  Her light brown hair was swept up into a neat bun and under the pressure of having a restaurant in one of the most popular cities in the world, she seemed unfazed.
Jason, please join me.
Join you?  No, I can't.  Sophia let out a nervous laughter.
Why not?
I have a kitchen to run.
If you're kitchen can't run without you, then you weren't really running it.
Jason had stumped her there.  He was right.  Her staff had been begging her to relax and actually enjoy her success so maybe the time had finally come.  She unveiled his plate and sat across from him.
Ok Jason, now that you have me sitting here, I'm going to give you 30 seconds to convince me to stay.
He bit into his first piece of shrimp slowly, his lips sucking the sauce off of it.  She watched his lips like a silent motion picture.  When he was done chewing, he put his fork down, sat back and looked at her directly in her eyes.  She did not break his stare.
Fair enough, come home with me.
A look of confusion flashed across Sophia's eyes. 
Excuse me? she said, wondering what kind of woman he thought she was.
I would like my food to go and I would like you to go as well.
They engaged in a silent negotiation while Sophia contemplated his offer.
What could she have to lose?  He wouldn't kill her or anything like that.  He knew people would look for her.  She hadn't been adventurous in a long time so she deserved to have some fun.  She got up from the table and walked back to the kitchen.  Jason remained at the table eating calmly.  He thought to himself that she would be back and then he shook his head.  He hoped that she would come back.
Ten minutes later, Sophia emerged from the kitchen doors dressed in all black, with wide legged slacks, black platform pumps, a chiffon top and a black Birkin bag on her arm.  In her hand was a plastic bag and a styrofoam box.  She was ready to go and when he saw her, so was he.

On the short car ride to his house, they were silent.  She held his food in her lap and asked herself the same question a million times.  What was she doing here?  They pulled up into a cup de sac in front of an architecturally beautiful home.  The stained glass was set into a dark oak door and the exposed brick made her think of the countryside even though they were still in Brooklyn.  He unlocked the door and allowed her to walk in first.  In front of her were two winding staircases meeting at a large chandelier in the middle.  
This is a beauti....and before she could even get the words out of her mouth, Jason covers it with his.  Their lips touch and his food slips from her fingers and onto the floor.  He leans his body into hers and she feels his chest against hers.  She was lost in a sea of kisses, in a moment that probably didn't belong to her and as her knees buckled with the weight of her anxiety, Sophia kissed a man for the first time in two and a half years.

Stay tuned for what happens next.