Posted by Civilian Karilan Massat (Owner, Quill and Parchment Books) in The Art of a Great Date

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in The Art of a Great Date

(snip)

Her smile was nothing short of radiant and she laughed, but it came out much closer to a giggle. Eela was not a woman who usually giggled. “Fantastic! That’s what I was hoping you’d say,” she said, unable to wipe the grin off her face. “The dress I’m wearing to the gala is magical, but this?” She sighed happily. “This is the antidote to a lot of things. And you, my dear friend, have been so wonderful. Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot to me.”

~Eela

Karilan beamed. “It is, and always will be, my absolute pleasure. Now go! Get out of there! You have a man to stun into silence!” and they straight cut the comm.

Karilan

They had a reservation, but Dash waited outside. The evening was lovely and he was happy enjoying the night air. Eela had been a bit cryptic about what she was up to, but if there was one thing he knew about Eela Dasca, it was that she usually went about life very intentionally and that it was probably worth the wait.

Eela’s slider arrived and she stepped out, adjusting the warm black shawl draped on her arms and carrying a silver beaded clutch. Dash had glanced at the slider and only saw the woman in profile and was about to look away but then he gazed more intently as she turned to face in his direction. Wait, it was Eela! Stunned was an appropriate word for the expression on his face as she approached. “Wow!” he said, drinking her in fully, still trying to find other words that were not just variations on the one he’d managed to utter.

She grinned, her hazel eyes glittering. “That’s the correct response.”

Dash laughed and offered her his arm. Shaking his head he leaned in, whispering into her ear. “You are magnificent and more than a little mischievous. Worth waiting every minute for.”

All she could do was beam at him as they walked into the jazz lounge she had discovered almost by mistake one day.

Swing On By was both a restaurant and a place to go dancing and pulled from all the elements of a Terran jazz club while also looking like it could be from about anywhere. There was a stage in the corner, framed by lucious dark green velvet curtains, where a jazz quartet (with a guitar) was playing in front of a black and white tiled dance floor. The place was half-lit with sconces and candles which reflected off the polished gold surfaces. There was a long curved bar that looked like a piano and was lined with stools that had music notes for the supports between the legs. Faux windows were actually screens that displayed a sky scene. For tonight: a starscape.

She had reserved a booth in a corner and Eela knew her security had already made sure everything was set-up as needed. No doubt, they would be sitting nearby. But that didn’t bother her and she instead focused on Dash as they approached the hostess dressed in a sleek black dress.

The young woman beamed at them. “Ma’am, Mr. Jones, we have your table this way.” She lingered on Eela for a moment and grinned.

Eela could have laughed but really she was enjoying surprising people. They didn’t yet know this Eela, and well, they were all about to and she was nothing short of delighted. This fact was played out as the pair made their way through the restaurant and Eela could feel the eyes on her, and the surprise once people recognized the Lieutenant Governor.

“So, have you eaten here before?” Dash asked as they were looking at the menus.

Eela shook her head. “No, but I hear the food is really nice.”

He noted the tiny frown that was on her face. “Something wrong?”

“Hmm?” She looked up. “Oh, not really, just…” Eela sighed and lowered her menu, leaning in towards him. “I’ve been glancing at the plates others have and the portions are quite large, but I haven’t had much of an appetite since Sunday.” “Stress?” he asked?” Eela nodded. “I don’t want it to seem like I don’t enjoy my dinner, when I actually might really love it, you know?”

Dash smiled at her and nodded. Perception was a huge part of the role some days and he knew Eela treaded a fine line at times. “Tell you what, they have a decent small plates section. Why don’t we order a few and share? Then you can eat as much or little as you want and no one will be the wiser?”

It was such a simple solution and yet there was an intimacy insinuated about sharing food with someone else that caused her to beam, not just for his being sensitive to her situation but also because it was yet another thread of connection. “I think that’s a great idea.”

They ordered several dishes and a bottle of wine, and fell into a flow of conversation that always seemed so effortless between them.

[To be Continued]

~Eela & Dash