great chef who has offered to make us dinner.”
Janie was intrigued. “Does he have his own restaurant in the
city?”
“He does,” replied Matt. “Shall we get dressed?”
“What about the game?” Janie asked.
“I think this will be more fun,” he winked and pulled her
from the sofa.
*****
Ray pulled into the harbor pier parking lot and Janie was
very confused. She looked out trying to find the restaurant Matt had said they
were going to.
Matt opened the door for her and helped her out of the car.
She was wearing her black jeans and heeled pumps and her blue sequined tank
top, with the Tiffany bracelet dangling on her wrist. She had straightened her
hair again and was feeling pretty good about how she looked as they had left
the apartment, but now she was worried about where they were actually going.
Matt held her hand as he led her through the rows of boats. Yachts! she reminded herself and tried to find Ryan and Courtney’s boat, assuming that’s
where they were headed. But it was just starting to get dark and Janie couldn’t
locate it.
Matt finally stopped in front of a beautiful yacht, smaller
than Courtney’s but still very impressive. There were lights shining through
the windows and Matt stepped aboard and helped her on to the deck.
“This isn’t the same boat we went out on,” she looked at
Matt looking for an answer. “And you said we were going to a restaurant.”
“No, I said a great chef was going to make us dinner,” he
grinned. “And Courtney’s dad has taken the yacht to the Mediterranean for the
summer. So this will have to do.” He winked at her.
They were greeted by the Captain and two crew members and
were escorted inside where drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served. Matt gave the
order to set off and soon they were drinking champagne and slowly leaving the
pier.
“Matt!” a voice said behind them.
“Aaron!” Matt turned and hugged the man in a chef’s jacket
and apron. “So good to see you. Thanks for doing this!”
“Of course! Anything for you!”
Matt introduced Janie to Aaron and then he headed back to
the galley. Dinner would be ready in about fifteen minutes.
“I’ve known Aaron since high school,” Matt began. “He and
Mark were really good friends and I helped him open his first restaurant by
buying the building and giving him a great deal on a lease.”
“Wow! You would do that for a friend? That’s amazing, but
not really that surprising. You are an incredibly generous man, Matt.”
Matt shrugged. “I’ve been very fortunate and if I can help
someone else, someone that I really believe in, then why wouldn’t I? Let’s walk
around the deck before dinner.” Matt took Janie by the elbow and led her out
onto the deck.
They strolled around the boat, admiring the superior
craftsmanship and design of the craft.
They were summoned for dinner and Matt and Janie talked all
through the several courses about everything under the sun. They laughed and
ate and had a thoroughly wonderful time. As the entree plates were cleared,
Janie leaned back in her chair and declared she couldn’t eat another bite, to
which Matt protested.
“I believe Aaron has made something particularly special for
dessert.”
At that moment Aaron appeared with a plate that had
sparklers alit on top. He placed in front of Janie and grinned at Matt as he
headed back to the galley.
Janie’s eyes wide open, she looked at Matt and smiled.
“Wow!” she mouthed.
“Happy Birthday,” he whispered.
Janie’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Matt, not
knowing what to say. “How did you…”
Matt chuckled and admitted that he had stolen a peak at her
driver’s license after a hint when she was on the phone.
Janie groaned, “So you also know how much I weigh?” She was
totally mortified.
Matt roared with laughter and jumped to his feet pulling her
up to him. “I knew that before I ever looked in your wallet,” he said as he
picked her up off the floor and twirled
Janie was intrigued. “Does he have his own restaurant in the
city?”
“He does,” replied Matt. “Shall we get dressed?”
“What about the game?” Janie asked.
“I think this will be more fun,” he winked and pulled her
from the sofa.
*****
Ray pulled into the harbor pier parking lot and Janie was
very confused. She looked out trying to find the restaurant Matt had said they
were going to.
Matt opened the door for her and helped her out of the car.
She was wearing her black jeans and heeled pumps and her blue sequined tank
top, with the Tiffany bracelet dangling on her wrist. She had straightened her
hair again and was feeling pretty good about how she looked as they had left
the apartment, but now she was worried about where they were actually going.
Matt held her hand as he led her through the rows of boats. Yachts! she reminded herself and tried to find Ryan and Courtney’s boat, assuming that’s
where they were headed. But it was just starting to get dark and Janie couldn’t
locate it.
Matt finally stopped in front of a beautiful yacht, smaller
than Courtney’s but still very impressive. There were lights shining through
the windows and Matt stepped aboard and helped her on to the deck.
“This isn’t the same boat we went out on,” she looked at
Matt looking for an answer. “And you said we were going to a restaurant.”
“No, I said a great chef was going to make us dinner,” he
grinned. “And Courtney’s dad has taken the yacht to the Mediterranean for the
summer. So this will have to do.” He winked at her.
They were greeted by the Captain and two crew members and
were escorted inside where drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served. Matt gave the
order to set off and soon they were drinking champagne and slowly leaving the
pier.
“Matt!” a voice said behind them.
“Aaron!” Matt turned and hugged the man in a chef’s jacket
and apron. “So good to see you. Thanks for doing this!”
“Of course! Anything for you!”
Matt introduced Janie to Aaron and then he headed back to
the galley. Dinner would be ready in about fifteen minutes.
“I’ve known Aaron since high school,” Matt began. “He and
Mark were really good friends and I helped him open his first restaurant by
buying the building and giving him a great deal on a lease.”
“Wow! You would do that for a friend? That’s amazing, but
not really that surprising. You are an incredibly generous man, Matt.”
Matt shrugged. “I’ve been very fortunate and if I can help
someone else, someone that I really believe in, then why wouldn’t I? Let’s walk
around the deck before dinner.” Matt took Janie by the elbow and led her out
onto the deck.
They strolled around the boat, admiring the superior
craftsmanship and design of the craft.
They were summoned for dinner and Matt and Janie talked all
through the several courses about everything under the sun. They laughed and
ate and had a thoroughly wonderful time. As the entree plates were cleared,
Janie leaned back in her chair and declared she couldn’t eat another bite, to
which Matt protested.
“I believe Aaron has made something particularly special for
dessert.”
At that moment Aaron appeared with a plate that had
sparklers alit on top. He placed in front of Janie and grinned at Matt as he
headed back to the galley.
Janie’s eyes wide open, she looked at Matt and smiled.
“Wow!” she mouthed.
“Happy Birthday,” he whispered.
Janie’s mouth dropped open and she stared at Matt, not
knowing what to say. “How did you…”
Matt chuckled and admitted that he had stolen a peak at her
driver’s license after a hint when she was on the phone.
Janie groaned, “So you also know how much I weigh?” She was
totally mortified.
Matt roared with laughter and jumped to his feet pulling her
up to him. “I knew that before I ever looked in your wallet,” he said as he
picked her up off the floor and twirled
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