My grin feels gargantuan as I back into a parking spot. “Our table will be even better than the ones in thedining room. You’ll see.”
I’ve never eaten on the private terrace that this restaurant has tucked away for celebrities, but I’ve heard about it. When Kai and Mallory started dating after she broke up with a blockbuster action star, he reserved this table if Mallory was in the mood to avoid the paparazzi—which was almost never.
Leading Alex to the kitchen door, I give it a shave-and-a-haircut knock.
A young man in chef’s whites lets us in before calling to a woman in a sleek navy pantsuit over the din of the bustling kitchen. “Your VIPs are here.”
She glides over, extending her hand. “Tenny, so glad to meet you in person.” After a hearty shake, she offers her hand to Alex. “I’m Katherine, the manager of Sol & Saffron. Let me show you to your table.”
Alex gives me a quizzical glance as we’re directed to a back stairwell off the kitchen. After climbing three stories, we’re led onto a breathtaking patio surrounded by lush planters full of bright California poppies mixed with purple Mexican petunias. Manicured pink bougainvillea vines cover trellises on the nearby walls. The space feels intimate yet expansive with the views of the nearby mountain range. And with its position outset and above the dining room and outdoor seating below us, it’s completely private.
“It can get chilly up here after the sun sets, so I’ve set a cashmere throw over the back of your chair for later.” Katherine smiles warmly at Alex. “We can also bring out gas heaters.”
“This should be fine. Thank you,” she says.
Alex forgets to glare at me as I pull out her chair, enraptured in the view of the mountains and the city beyond. With tiny wisps of clouds accenting the gently pinking sky and the warmth of the day still clinging to the dry desert air, I couldn’t have asked for better weather for our date.
“I’m told it only gets better once the skyline starts to glow,” I say after we’re left to peruse our menus.
Alex finally pulls her gaze away from the view. “You’ve never been here before.”
“Nope.” I take a sip from my short water glass.
She twists her lips to the side in a gesture I’m becoming familiar with.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean?”
I nod toward her gorgeous lips. “You always scrunch up your mouth when you’re holding your tongue.”
When she holds absolutely still, eyes slowly widening, I laugh. “It can’t be that bad.”
Alex ducks her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “This is all really nice, Tenny, and I’d rather—”
“I’d rather us be able to have honest conversations with each other. Don’t get me wrong, I like the teasing and the bickering—”
“We don’t bicker.”
“Yes, we do.”
“No, we don’t.”
“We’re bickering right now,” I say through a chuckle.
Alex narrows her eyes before we’re interrupted by our server, notifying us of the meal and drink specials.
“Would you be okay with the tasting menu?” I ask Alex.
Her shoulders settle. “That would be great.”
Our server takes our menus. “Would you like to add the wine pairings?”
“Not for me, thanks.” I glance at Alex who’s surveying me again but this time with that analytical focus.
“No, thank you,” she tells the server.
Once alone, Alex fingers the condensation on her water glass. “You don’t drink?”
