Read Online A Battle Raging by Sharon Cullars - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sharon Cullars
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said just wine, but I'm a little peckish, what about you?"
Peckish? She had thought she picked up on a subtle accent on the phone and the English idiom seemed to substantiate it. Or maybe he was just an Anglophile.
"Uhm, I'm not that hungry really," she said. Anticipation of something casual was quickly turning into something more formal, something she had wanted to avoid.
"Well, I tell you what . I'll just order some appetizers, nothing too heavy and feel free to indulge or not."
"OK, that sounds about right," she answered. Might as well meet him half way.
Almost on cue, a blond-haired man appeared at their table with menus in hand as though summoned. He gave one to each of them.
"I'll give you a moment to choose your entrée. In the meantime, may I offer you drinks?" he asked with a slight Eastern European accent.
Jules nodded at her to go first.
"I'll just have a rose Zinfandel, if you have it?"
"Yes, we do. And you , sir?" he asked Jules, who promptly chose a vodka spritzer. The waiter left to get the drinks and they both tended to the menus. The reading down time gave Maya a chance to get a second wind, try to settle the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
" Well, I'm good. See anything you want?" he asked as he laid down his menu.
"Hmm, I think I'll try the house's antipasto plate."
"Yes, I've had that. It's very good. The herbed cheese is especially fine. I think tonight I'll just go with the Mediterranean Meze."
"That sounds…interesting ," she said, looking at what the entrée included. "What exactly is tzatziki?"
"It's a Greek sauce. You spread it on pita bread. The Meze also comes with hummus. All of it is extremely good. You can taste some of mine when the plates arrive."
"So, I take it you're a regular here?"
"You could say that. No place better for some straight up, no bogus jazz. The real deal here. As a matter of fact, Hugh Masekela is playing tonight."
She had heard some Masekela before, and he was a phenomenal trumpeter.
"The show doesn't start 'til eight, so we have plenty of time just to talk."
Maya remembered dating, the sheer nervousness of presenting one's best self…and hoping not to be found wanting. Maybe that was why she had avoided getting back out there for so long after her breakup. Tonight was definitely a test for her.
The waiter returned with their drinks, then took their orders, collecting the menus before he left.
Maya took a sip of the Zinfandel. She tasted a tinge of raspberry and maybe a hint of spice. It settled nicely on her stomach, soothed some of the butterflies. He sipped his vodka before setting down the glass. He turned his attention to her and she could feel his tacit approval. At least where her looks were concerned.
"I guess I should get my vitals out of the way , let you know a little about myself. As you saw from my card, I practice law, mostly just defending people who've mistakenly stepped over the line. Nothing too heinous, but I like to think I'm doing some public service."
"Well, you and my sister might have crossed paths then."
"Oh, really, what's her name?"
"Jada Temple…"
His eyes bulged with recognition. "You mean the ADA? Oh wow, man, this is indeed a small world."
" So you've gone up against one another in court then?" she asked, taking another sip from her glass.
"Not in court, but we've made a couple of plea deals together. I have seen her in action, though. I definitely wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of her. She's definitely got some claws."
"Thanks, I'll tell her you said that. It'll make her day. She likes coming across as a bad ass. Tell me something, is that a slight accent I hear or am I imagining it?"
He smiled broadly. "You've got a good ear, then. Manchester England, born and partially bred. My family immigrated to the states when I was just nine. Thought I'd gotten rid of any trace of my humble beginnings, but sometimes it sneaks through."
"Especially when you use words like 'peckish'" she said
Peckish? She had thought she picked up on a subtle accent on the phone and the English idiom seemed to substantiate it. Or maybe he was just an Anglophile.
"Uhm, I'm not that hungry really," she said. Anticipation of something casual was quickly turning into something more formal, something she had wanted to avoid.
"Well, I tell you what . I'll just order some appetizers, nothing too heavy and feel free to indulge or not."
"OK, that sounds about right," she answered. Might as well meet him half way.
Almost on cue, a blond-haired man appeared at their table with menus in hand as though summoned. He gave one to each of them.
"I'll give you a moment to choose your entrée. In the meantime, may I offer you drinks?" he asked with a slight Eastern European accent.
Jules nodded at her to go first.
"I'll just have a rose Zinfandel, if you have it?"
"Yes, we do. And you , sir?" he asked Jules, who promptly chose a vodka spritzer. The waiter left to get the drinks and they both tended to the menus. The reading down time gave Maya a chance to get a second wind, try to settle the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
" Well, I'm good. See anything you want?" he asked as he laid down his menu.
"Hmm, I think I'll try the house's antipasto plate."
"Yes, I've had that. It's very good. The herbed cheese is especially fine. I think tonight I'll just go with the Mediterranean Meze."
"That sounds…interesting ," she said, looking at what the entrée included. "What exactly is tzatziki?"
"It's a Greek sauce. You spread it on pita bread. The Meze also comes with hummus. All of it is extremely good. You can taste some of mine when the plates arrive."
"So, I take it you're a regular here?"
"You could say that. No place better for some straight up, no bogus jazz. The real deal here. As a matter of fact, Hugh Masekela is playing tonight."
She had heard some Masekela before, and he was a phenomenal trumpeter.
"The show doesn't start 'til eight, so we have plenty of time just to talk."
Maya remembered dating, the sheer nervousness of presenting one's best self…and hoping not to be found wanting. Maybe that was why she had avoided getting back out there for so long after her breakup. Tonight was definitely a test for her.
The waiter returned with their drinks, then took their orders, collecting the menus before he left.
Maya took a sip of the Zinfandel. She tasted a tinge of raspberry and maybe a hint of spice. It settled nicely on her stomach, soothed some of the butterflies. He sipped his vodka before setting down the glass. He turned his attention to her and she could feel his tacit approval. At least where her looks were concerned.
"I guess I should get my vitals out of the way , let you know a little about myself. As you saw from my card, I practice law, mostly just defending people who've mistakenly stepped over the line. Nothing too heinous, but I like to think I'm doing some public service."
"Well, you and my sister might have crossed paths then."
"Oh, really, what's her name?"
"Jada Temple…"
His eyes bulged with recognition. "You mean the ADA? Oh wow, man, this is indeed a small world."
" So you've gone up against one another in court then?" she asked, taking another sip from her glass.
"Not in court, but we've made a couple of plea deals together. I have seen her in action, though. I definitely wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of her. She's definitely got some claws."
"Thanks, I'll tell her you said that. It'll make her day. She likes coming across as a bad ass. Tell me something, is that a slight accent I hear or am I imagining it?"
He smiled broadly. "You've got a good ear, then. Manchester England, born and partially bred. My family immigrated to the states when I was just nine. Thought I'd gotten rid of any trace of my humble beginnings, but sometimes it sneaks through."
"Especially when you use words like 'peckish'" she said
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