Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,32
leave.”
“Wow. For real?”
“Well, I heard it from Reverend Martin. He was there having dinner with some members of the church board. He’s a reliable source.”
“Okay. Glad I’m not a picky eater.”
Thom slowed the truck and turned into a long driveway lined with trees. He parked on the edge of a circular drive in front of a large stone building trimmed with bright white paint. Ben got down from the truck and jogged around to the driver’s side to take Thom’s hand. “We’re a little early,” he said. “Can we walk around some?”
“Sure. We’ll go around back to the gardens. That’s where the restaurant entrance is, anyway.”
“Perfect.”
Thom led Ben around the corner of the building, which turned out to be larger than it looked from the front. As they approached the back they could smell meat roasting in the kitchen and Ben’s mouth started to water. He stopped and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what that is, but whatever it is I want to eat it.”
Thom laughed. “Right this minute?”
“A little walk first.” He turned to look into Thom’s laughing eyes. “Sometimes,” he whispered, leaning closer until their lips were just a breath apart, “anticipation is half the fun.”
The noise Thom made was somewhere between a moan and a whine, and he blushed. Ben grinned, tucked Thom’s hand in the crook of his arm, and headed for the garden.
They strolled down one side of a large formal garden laid out with pebbled paths and a fountain near each end. Stone benches were set in vine-covered arbors at regular intervals along the sides, and at the end was a large stone gazebo decorated with scrolling black metalwork.
“This is beautiful,” Ben breathed, running his hands over an ironwork grapevine wrapped around one of the white stone columns. “It’s a work of art.”
Thom nodded. “The artist is based in Portland, but he’s from here originally. He’s in high demand now, but did this before he hit it big. There are tourists who stop here just to see the gazebo.”
They turned and walked up the other side of the garden. The back of The Inn was in front of them now, and Ben could see that an addition had been added to accommodate the restaurant. It was mostly glass, overlooking the garden and with a view of the mountains in the distance. Ben smiled – his cousin Donna had promised them a table with a view and suggested the perfect time to catch the sunset.
Ben could feel Thom start to tense up as they approached the entrance, so he released his hand. This was already a big step for Thom, and Ben didn’t want to risk pissing him off by pushing too hard. The door opened as they climbed the steps, and Donna stood there smiling at them with menus in her hand.
“Welcome to The Inn, gentlemen,” she greeted them with a professional smile, which she then ruined by winking at Ben.
“Donna! I didn’t know you were working here,” Thom gaped at the young woman in her sleek black dress and pumps.
“Gosh, Thom. How do you think Ben found out about this place? And managed to get one of the best tables in the house?”
Thom turned to glare at Ben, who shrugged and flashed his dimple shamelessly. It must have worked, because Thom just sighed and turned back to Donna. “Well, okay. Let’s see this amazing table, then.”
“Follow me please, gentlemen.”
Donna led them to the far end of the restaurant, to a table by the windows. Columns between the tables gave an air of privacy, and as Chuck had said, there was not a crowd. Ben counted three other couples at window seats, and a party of four women who appeared to be having a celebration of some kind. No one was paying any attention to them.
They settled in to look over the menu choices as they waited for their server.
“Donna didn’t seem surprised to see us together,” Thom said, leveling his gaze at Ben.
“No.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothing,” Ben sighed, setting down his menu. “Thom, I think you probably should come to terms with the fact that you being gay is the worst kept secret in Cable’s Bend.”
Thom didn’t say anything for a minute, then closed his eyes and shook his head. “Am I a complete idiot?”
“No, of course not. But you maybe spend too much time alone and working too hard. You should get out more, and I’m going to make sure that happens.” Ben reached over to place his hand