Chapter Sixteen

Just before the turn-off for Zuma beach, Richie made a right hand turn into a small hillside complex.  Wending their way through the trees, the restaurant appeared on the right, tucked in among the maples and oaks.

Richie parked and as he helped her out of the car she caught a hint of salt in the air.  They were just south of the beach and the light breeze carried the scent of sand and seawater. Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply, savoring the clean evening air.  Back in New York she had lived near the shores of Lake Ontario, but the air had never smelled this good.

A light tug on her fingers had her opening her eyes.  She found Richie watching her, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.  “What?”

He pulled her gently away from the car, walking them toward the door.  He couldn’t remember the last time any of the women he knew had stopped to smell the roses as it were, or even the last time he himself had done it.   He smiled at her, utterly charmed by the pleasure she took in such a simple act.   “I can’t tell you the last time I saw someone stop to smell the ocean.”

She smiled sadly and her cheeks took on a hint of pink, “I’ve learned to appreciate everything, and” she took one last deep breath, “there’s nothing quite like breathing in the fresh sea air.”

“No” he agreed.  “There isn’t.”  He held the door open for her.  “It smells even better in Hawaii.”

“I bet.”  Hawaii was one place she had always wanted to go.  Mark had promised her they would get there one day, but that was one promise he would never be able to fulfill. Shaking off the thought she followed Richie and the hostess to their table.

Even though it was past the dinner hour, the restaurant was still doing a brisk business. Most of the tables were full and the bar was crowded.  From their table in the corner, looking over Richie’s shoulder, she had a view of the beautifully kept grounds.  If she glanced to her left, she could see the chefs behind the sushi bar rolling and wrapping and putting on an entertaining show.

This was something she and Mark had never shared.  She’d had her first taste of sushi with her girlfriends on a weekend trip to New York City.  She smiled to herself at the memory. She and Samantha had shared a cab from the airport, meeting up with Hath at the hotel. They went for lunch and Sam had ordered sushi.  When offered a taste, Stephanie shrugged and accepted the bite of California roll.  She had been a fan ever since, but could never quite get Mark to agree with her.

Richie studied her as her gaze shifted past his shoulder and out into the night.  Her dark hair fell in long, soft curls past her slim shoulders; her skin took on a honey glow from the flickering candle that burned in its Chinese lantern holder between them.  Her lips, painted a soft shell pink, looked soft and inviting.  Unconsciously, he wet his own lips, knowing hers were as sweet as they looked and longing for another taste.

Refocusing her eyes and pushing back the memories, she found Richie watching her.  “What?”

He reached across the table, his fingertips brushing hers.  “You were a million miles away sweetheart.  Where’d you go?”

She smiled softly, “I was just thinking about the first time I ever had sushi.”

He scanned her face, wondering if it was a memory with Mark.  But he found no sadness there, just a fondness for the memory.  “It must have been a good time.”

She nodded.  “It was.  One of the best.”  She told him of that trip, and one other that she had taken with her girlfriends.  Her smile widened, “you know, in the last few years I traveled a lot because of you.”

Before he could say anything their waitress appeared and set a platter down on the table between them.  The girl looked at Richie, “Toshi say he take care of you tonight.”

Richie leaned back and looked over to the bar, the chef waved and Richie nodded his head. “Tell him thank you.”

The girl disappeared and Richie turned back to Stephanie.  “I think this is the vegetable and shrimp tempura.”  He picked up his chopsticks, “There is just one rule tonight.”

She quirked an eyebrow.  “And what might that be?”

He grinned and tapped his chopsticks together.  “You have to use your chopsticks.  No forks allowed.”

Their conversation ebbed and flowed as they sampled the delicately fried shellfish and crisp vegetables.  After her fourth or fifth piece Stephanie set her chopsticks down with a groan.  “If I eat any more of this, I won’t have room for anything else.”  She sat back in her chair, sipping her tea and rubbing her stomach with one hand.  “I’m full already.”

Richie popped one last shrimp in his mouth and set his chopsticks across his plate.  “That’s the only problem with this place.  The food is too good and the portions are too generous.”  His eyes roamed from her face down to where her hand was resting on her stomach and back to her face.  “Am I going to have to roll you out of here when we’re done?”

She nodded and laughed, “Probably.  I haven’t eaten this much all at once in a long time.”  She hadn’t eaten like this since before Mark and Ben died.  Her appetite had taken an abrupt turn and still hadn’t returned to what it once was.

Something flickered across her face, a fleeting unpleasant thought?  He wasn’t sure but it was gone before he could make anything more of it.

The waitress came and cleared away the platter, replacing it with another that held a wide array of sushi and sashimi, each piece an individual work of art.

Stephanie picked up her chopsticks, “your friend does realize there are only two of us at the table, right?”  She’d be lucky to get two or three pieces in her before she was stuffed to the gills.

He chuckled and picked up his chopsticks, “just eat what you can and don’t worry about it.  I have no problem taking a doggie bag home.”

~

They were both groaning by the time they walked out of the restaurant and climbed into the car.  Stephanie pulled the seatbelt across the front of her and clicked it into place.  “I am so full.”  She nudged Richie’s arm where it rested on the console with her elbow.  “Why’d you make me eat so much?”

He looked over at her, astonished.  “Make you?  I don’t recall tying your hands behind your back and forcing you to eat anything.”

She laughed.  “Lighten up, I was kidding.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head.  She had really loosened up since he had picked her up earlier.  “Wanna take a walk, work off some of that fish we ate?”  He wasn’t ready to take her back home yet.

She glanced at the clock on the dashboard.  It was still fairly early so she shrugged.  “Sure.  Where?”

He put the car in gear and headed back to the turn off for Zuma beach.