Page 15 of Their Little House Boston (Five Little Roommates #3)

Tripp

After my conversation with Elliot, I wasn’t sure things were going to go any further, but to my surprise, a little while later, my phone rang again. Elliot said they had talked about me and decided they wanted to have dinner with me.

I had by no means been sure that would happen, but now that it had, I knew exactly where I wanted to take them.

Somewhere we could enjoy delicious food and quiet conversation in a nice atmosphere.

I texted my reservation right away and received confirmation.

Although I’d spent a good many evenings there wining and dining clients, The Golden Buffalo was busy enough I’d been slightly concerned about them having the availability I wanted.

Elliot and Boston arrived at the Buffalo in a rideshare.

I’d offered to pick them up, but they declined, saying they didn’t want me to go out of my way, since I’d be coming right from my office.

The address was on the card I gave them, so they knew the restaurant was just a couple of blocks from the agency.

But also, they were using good sense, meeting someone they’d only known for a few hours, member of Chained or not.

Once we’d spent some time together, they could decide whether to get in a car alone with me.

I waited for them in the bar, sipping a whiskey and people watching.

Most of the others were from the surrounding offices, having after-work drinks with coworkers or client meetings, but in an hour or two, they’d all be gone, replaced by couples and others there for a nice meal in comfortably elegant surroundings.

“Mr. Stanz?” The hostess approached me. “Your table is ready whenever your guests arrive.”

“Thank you, Ariana. I was a little early, but they should be here any moment.” Provided they hadn’t changed their minds. I checked my watch. “Due in five minutes.”

“Just let me know.” She lifted her hand in a wave and headed back toward the front where her station lay. But no less than a minute later, she returned, leading Boston and Elliot into the bar. “Mr. Stanz. Your guests are here.”

“Then I guess we’d better go to our table, unless you’d both like to stay in the bar for a while?” Which wouldn’t be great considering the dining arrangements, but it seemed polite not to rush them. “We can order cocktails at our table as well.”

They exchanged a glance, something I’d noticed they often did. “I think the table is good,” Elliot said.

Boston nodded, and our hostess turned on a heel and started through the dining room. “Right this way, gentlemen.”

Our table was located in a private room tucked away behind the main one, something I had used a few times for business but never for personal evenings.

Once our server came in and took drink orders and left, Boston and Elliot picked up their menus, but they both seemed a little twitchy.

Maybe they thought I had some kind of nefarious plan?

“I reserved the room so we’d have quiet to talk without worrying about people at the next table listening in, although the servers are going back and forth right outside the door, and of course coming in and out,” I said, wanting to get rid of any concerns.

“But if you’d rather we eat out there, we can. Whatever you’d prefer.”

“No, this is nice.” Boston smiled shyly. “I’ve never been in a private dining room in a restaurant. Is the food the same?”

“Unless you place a special order, but I thought we’d just choose from the menu, since I don’t know what you like best. Everything is good, though.”

“Lots of people think littles only eat macaroni and cheese or nuggies,” Elliot said, “and, true, when I am in little headspace, I often do enjoy that sort of cuisine, but when I’m big, I love seafood.”

“The Buffalo, in addition to all the red meat their name implies, has a whole page of seafood in the menu, and I’ve tried most of it and never been disappointed. Boston, what is your preference?”

“Just chicken, maybe.”

“That sounds good,” Elliot echoed him, setting the menu down.

Oh, heck no, we weren’t playing the get the cheapest thing because it’s all I deserve game tonight. “Really?” I allowed disappointment to color my tones. “That makes me uncomfortable to get what I wanted to. But the chicken is fine.”

“No, don’t do that,” Boston protested. “We don’t want you not to get…what were you thinking of?”

We all had bison filet and lobster tail. And it did my heart good to see the two of them enjoying their food. We chatted easily throughout dinner about work and the news and the weather, just first-date stuff, but as the server set the slice of cookie monster cheesecake on the table.

“I didn’t even know they served this here,” I marveled, eyeing the blue filling and multiple kinds of cookies in the crust and as decorations. “What is it exactly?”

“Cookies-and-cream cheesecake with food coloring for effect and a layer of ganache and all the cookies.” Elliot was well-informed, but Boston simply stared at it and licked his lips.

“Wow.” I used my fork to break off a small taste. “It’s good?”

“Delicious!” Elliot scooped some up, followed by Boston, and they touched forks before giving me a glance.

I held out mine and as one, we put them in our mouths and chewed.

“Well?” Elliot looked from me to Boston and back again. “Good?”

“Delicious.” Boston went back in for another bite. “Best dessert ever.”

“How did you even know to ask for it?” I also took some more. “It wasn’t on the menu.”

“It’s pretty popular on social media,” Elliot replied. “And after a perfect dinner, I thought it was worth asking at least.”

The ending to our meal provided the perfect little-ish touch to the evening, even if we did have it with espressos. And over our shared blue cheesecake, we decided to take things as they came. No pressure, get to know one another and see how it went.

For a first date, it was pretty darn awesome, and when they let me drive them home, I walked them to their door and gave each a sweet kiss good night.