Chapter 22
But he wasn't early or late, he was precisely on time the way a good military man should be. Sam opened the door and found him standing there in a charcoal gray suit with a dusty blue dress shirt and a black and navy blue striped tie. He looked amazing!
He smiled wider than she had ever seen him do before, and he said, "Samantha I never thought that you could be more beautiful, I was wrong." He handed her a dozen long stemmed red roses.
"Thank you, let me put these in water before we go. Please come in while I do that."
He followed her into the apartment and looked around while she dealt with the roses. One of the things that he found missing in her home was family photos. AJ made a mental note to ask her about it later. He liked her color and style choice, they were close to his own.
She came out of the kitchen with the roses in a vase and placed them on the coffee table with a large smile, "They are very beautiful AJ. Thank you again for them. I'm ready to go now if you are."
Nodding, he told her, "I'm ready."
Sam locked the door behind them and they went to his car. AJ held the car door open for her and waited until she had fastened her seat belt before closing it and walking around to the driver's side.
They drove in silence at first, both of them seemed a bit unsure of themselves and how to start the conversation. Sam thought about thanking him again for the flowers but then thought it might be too much. AJ thought about asking her about the lack of family pictures, but then thought it might be too soon.
Finally they both spoke at the same time:
AJ asked, "Would you like to know where we are going?" at the same time she inquired, "Will you tell me where we are going?"
Both laughed and AJ told her, "I made reservations at the Willard. I hope you will like it."
"Isn't that a hotel?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"It is," he admitted. "But the top floor is a world famous restaurant and that is where I made the reservations."
"Oh," was all she said and he wasn't sure if she was happy or disappointed with his answer.
Neither of them said anything more until they arrived at the Willard. AJ pulled up under the awning and the valets hurried over to open both their doors. AJ handed over the keys and took the ticket the valet handed him then hurried over to Samantha's side. "There is a dedicated elevator to the restaurant right here," he told her pointing out the one he meant. When they got inside she could see there was only one button to push. AJ pushed it and they started up. When the doors opened they stepped out into the restaurant.
AJ gave his last name to the hostess and she smiled, then asked them to follow her and showed them to their table.
"Shall I order a bottle of red wine?" he asked her once they were handed them their menus.
"Are you sure we need a bottle? A glass or two should be fine," she answered.
"But by the time we've gotten four glasses we've almost drank a bottle, and we can take any left overs home," AJ answered.
"Alright then, that sounds good," Sam replied.
When their waiter arrived Sam told him she also ready to order. So once AJ had selected which wine he wanted for them, Sam ordered a medium rare filet with mushroom and shallot gravy, scalloped potatoes and roasted asparagus.
AJ looked at her in amazement and then said with a grin, "That sounds fantastic. I'll have the same thing!"
The waiter left and Sam looked at AJ and teased, "Copy cat!"
"I beg your pardon?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm so sorry AJ! I didn't mean to offend you!" she gasped out, almost looking like she was about to cry.
He reached across the table and put his hand over hers. "No Samantha I am the one that is sorry! I was trying to tease you rather than upset you. I guess it's just been so long since I've tried to be funny that I failed."
Sam put her free hand on top of their two, "AJ its okay as long as I didn't upset you. That's all that matters."
"Okay then how about if we start over?" he asked smiling at her.
To be continued…