The place was super classy with a sort of old-school, club charm,and as Dex stood waiting at the hostess stand, she noticed diners coming andgoing. She definitely would’ve been underdressed in the first outfit she’dchosen. The maître d’ directed her to the bar where she and Suzanne were tomeet. As she entered, she’d found that her clothing choice had been somewherein the middle of most of the diners’.
She spotted Suzanne sitting at the end of the bar. Her red coatwas slung over the back of her chair, just like Grace had said it would be. AsDex moved closer, her legs came into view, and she immediately thought thenight might be promising. The woman was wearing a black slip dress accentedwith a long silver drop necklace fashioned with a large turquoise stone at thebottom.
“Hi. Suzanne?” Dex asked as she approached.
“And you must be Dex,” Suzanne said as she gave her an obviousonce-over and smiled. “Would you like a drink?” She held up her tumbler filledwith a small amount of amber liquid.
“Sure.” Dex slid into the barstool next to her. “What do you havethere?”
“Scotch old-fashioned.” Suzanne glanced around the bar. “It seemedto be fitting.”
“Agreed.” The bar was decorated with dark walls and leather barstools and chairs.
Suzanne smiled and nodded. “Would you like another?” She waveddown the bartender. “Another old-fashioned for the lady, and I’ll have thesame.”
They talked mostly about the restaurant and its history while theydrank in the bar. It wasn’t long before the maître d’ came to get them and ledthem to their table. Dex settled up with the bartender for the second round ofdrinks. Suzanne had already taken care of the first.
After they were seated, the three-piece ensemble playing in thebar resonated faintly through the restaurant as the waiter brought them menusand recited the specials. Suzanne ordered a nice bottle of Cabernet and askedfor sauce recommendations for her bone-in rib eye. The waiter spouted a numberof choices that included Gorgonzola sauce, peppercorn, and Oscar, whichincluded asparagus and lump crab meat. She opted for plain, while Dex went withthe Gorgonzola and was glad she had. It was like liquid blue cheese drippingfrom the steak.
The evening went smoothly, and they had sporadic bouts ofconversation about art, current events, and even politics during the meal. Theconversation was engaging, but Dex would’ve probably enjoyed Suzanne’s companymuch more if she hadn’t been looking at her reflection in the mirrors mountedon the wall behind Dex the entire time. Dex felt like the most concealed playerin a game of hide-and-seek as Suzanne kept a steady gaze on herself. Dex foundherself staring out the window to avoid the discomfort of watching the womanwatching herself or whomever else she’d been keeping an eye on all throughoutdinner. Reminder, never have a first date at this place again.
The waiter brought the check, and Suzanne quickly snatched it awayfrom Dex. “I’ve got this.”
“But—”
“No. I’ve really enjoyed your company tonight. Maybe we can do itagain.”
The most common words spoken after a date and never followedthrough. Oddly, Dex felt good about receiving them this time. Suzanne was way moreinterested in her own reflection all night than she had been in Dex.
* * *
Eager to hear how Dex’s date went the night before, Grace racedinto the diner. She spotted her sitting in a booth near the window and hurriedright to her. She took off her coat and tossed it into the booth before sheflopped down onto the seat. “God, it’s getting cold outside,” she said as shecrossed her arms and rubbed her shoulders.
A waitress followed her to the table. “What can I get you todrink?”
Grace glanced up at her. “Just water, please.” And then she gaveher attention to Dex. “So, how was it?”
Dex bobbed her head from side to side. “The food was spectacular.The girl, not so much.”
“What do you mean, not so much? Suzanne has an awesomepersonality, she’s well-read, beautiful, and a great conversationalist.” Out ofall the women Grace had interviewed, she’d thought Suzanne would be the bestfit for Dex, which was the exact reason she’d set her up as the first date. Ifthey’d hit it off, Grace had planned to cancel the other two.
“That may be the case, but—”
“Ready to order?” The waitress set a glass of water in front ofGrace.
Dex peered up and smiled. “I’ll have the special.”
“What’s the special?” Grace asked.
“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans,” the waitress said.
Grace grimaced. She needed something lighter. “Do you have anysalads?”
“On the back.” She flipped the menu in front of Grace to the otherside and pointed to the salad section. “Chef, Cobb, spinach, all the usuals.”
“I’ll have the chef salad.”
“Blue cheese, thousand island, balsamic, or ranch?” She spoutedthe words out quickly, as though she said them a hundred times a day.
“Is the ranch homemade?”
The waitress nodded. “Fresh daily.”
“On the side, please.”
“You got it.” The waitress went back behind the counter andshouted the order to the cook.
Grace took a drink of water and let her attention veer back toDex. “Now what were you saying about Suzanne?”
“She may be beautiful, have an awesome personality, and bespectacularly well-read, but she was a whole lot more interested in herselfthan me. Probably where the well-read factor comes into play.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.” She hadn’t come off like that to Graceat all. She’d found her interesting and downright engaging. “I know she has astrong personality, but she never seems to run out of things to talk about.”
“Strong isn’t the word I’d use. She was intriguing but, like Isaid, much more interested in herself than me.” Dex shifted forward. “Did youknow they have mirrors on the walls behind the tables there?” She pointed tothe wall above her. “Like right up above them.”
“Honestly, I don’t remember.” It was possible, but it had been awhile since Grace had been there. The place was pricey, and she’d stopped doingpricey when she’d started seeing Brent steadily.
“Well,
