“You’re welcome to join our table,” Eve said.
Darius pulled a face but quickly schooled his features.
“Thank you, but no.” Joe indicated they should go ahead.
Darius extended his arm to Eve, and she took it. The bodyguard followed at a discreet distance.
“We were fortunate it didn’t rain until we reached the restaurant for lunch,” Eve said as she held her skirt close to her leg against the wind. “How far away is this place?”
“Just look at that street.” Darius glanced at the sky. “I wonder if we should have dined in the hotel.”
“Let’s be brave. We can hurry.”
Eve let go of his arm and started jogging, glad she’d worn flats. She’d only gotten a couple of steps ahead of him before he grabbed her hand and was running with her. It brought back a flood of memories of other times so long ago when they’d done the same thing.
They were only a little breathless by the time they stopped in front of an interesting looking building that faced the corner. It was shaped almost like a triangle, with the point sheared off and rounded. Joe moved forward and opened the door. He scanned the room as he always did. Once they were inside, he stepped ahead and started talking to one of the staff members.
“That man is something else,” Darius said, watching the bodyguard.
“He’s a good man.” Eve wondered how long before Darius would drop her hand. He didn’t.
Joe signaled for them to come forward, and a young woman led them up a set of stairs to a mezzanine that overlooked the bar. She indicated a table for two and a smaller one nearby with a single chair. Darius pulled out hers and she sat. He shifted his own, so it was closer to her but also put his back to the wall.
“Are you paranoid?” Eve asked.
“I could blame Joe for making me that way, but in truth I just want to sit closer to you.”
Eve blinked at his straightforwardness, unable to fight the rush of excitement. She swallowed and opened her menu.
“You weren’t this smooth in high school,” she said.
“It’s been a long time since then. Would you like some wine?”
“I’m technically on the job, so I’ll pass.” Eve decided on her meal and set down the menu. She glanced around the room. “I love the decor here. The rich, deep colors, that beautiful scalloped ceiling. It’s gorgeous.”
“It is.” Darius closed his menu. “What’s the thing that’s struck you the most since being here?”
“The accents. I love hearing them.” Her eyes stung, and she had to blink. “They remind me of my dad.”
The server stepped to their table. “Are you ready to order?”
Darius looked confused, probably from the man’s heavy accent, so Eve gave her order.
“I’ll try the haggis, neeps, and tatties. But give me a half portion of the haggis please.”
“What did you even order?” Darius asked.
“Neeps are mashed turnips and tatties are mashed potatoes. Haggis is made up of organ meats that are mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning. It’s the one food my father misses the most. That’s because he can’t get the authentic version in the US since it’s illegal. The USDA doesn’t allow food made with sheep’s lung.”
Darius’s expression turned pinched. “I think I’ll have the steak and ale pie.” He leaned closer to the server. “It doesn’t have sheep lung in it, does it?”
“No sir,” he said with a patient grin that made Eve think he must have heard that question many times. He took their menus and left.
“You’re really going to eat it?” Darius asked.
“I promised my dad I’d try it. You have to remember it was a dish created by the peasants. They couldn’t afford to waste anything. My father makes a US version at home, but he says it’s not the same. I’ll find out for myself tonight. The poor man hasn’t had any in almost forty-five years.”
“If your father loves Haggis so much, why hasn’t he come here for visits so he can have some?” Darius asked, taking the end of her dress’s long sash and rolling it between his fingers. Even though he wasn’t touching her, goosebumps broke out along her arm and a delicious thrill ran through her.
