#53 A Date With A Damsel

(A few hours ago)

"I'm glad we finally got the chance to do this," said Jacquie from across the candle lit dinner table.

"Me too, stud," said Cherry Bomb Valentine at the opposite end of the dinner table.

They dined in a softly lit alcove off to the left of the restaurant's main dining room. A bottle of Sterling merlot sat between them. Their wine glasses were a quarter filled. The flame of the candle burned still and its light pierced through the wine and gave the alcove a blood red hue.

Jacquie subtly adjusted his glasses and glanced longingly at Cherry as she observed the rest of the restaurant. Her skin was a smooth creamy white and was revealed by her low cut black dress. Her lips were fuller and of a brighter red than Jacquie had ever seen before. Her eyes were light brown almost like a treasure of gold. A treasure that was protected by lashes so long they resembled lion tamer's whips.

"So I have to know, Jacqueline Bloom, Mr. Gun Bearer. Where did you get the guts to ask me out?" Her eyelids thinned and then widened in wonderment.

Jacquie smirked beneath his beard, looked away, and then looked into her eyes. "I've always had the guts Ms. Valentine. But you know as well as I do that timing is everything."

"I do know a thing or two about timing. Does it have anything to do with me kicking Lorenzo to the curb?"

"Us going on a date might conflict with Gillingham's orders for Lorenzo to protect you. Yes I should say him not being around to cause me to lose my apatite is a good thing."

"You don't like El Scorcho?"

"Gun Bearers are forbidden to speak unkindly of other Gun Bearers. All I can say is that I can't keep down veal when he is breathing down my neck. Now let's put the spotlight on you Ms. Queen of the Damsels. At the risk of having my ego bruised, what made you say yes?"

Cherry narrowed her eyes before looking down and when she looked back at Jacquie they were still narrow. She leaned in a little and said, "it was Kitten's death." Jacquie sat back in his chair but his face remained neutral. "She was always rooting for you and me to get together. You know as well as I do that when Lorenzo wasn't looking we flirted. Kitten knew and she thought we made a nice couple. Now she's gone. I think she would have loved to know we were out on a date."

"You don't think she does right now?" Jacquie asked.

"Please, all the weird shit I've seen at the club? The easiest thing for me to do is not to believe in anything."

"Here we are you two lovely mutts," said a chef in a white coat holding two plates of food.

"Lucius!" said Jacquie shaking the chef's hand after he sat down the food. "How are you doing?"

"Business is good. Hello Ms. Valentine."

"Mr. Martin."

"I'll let you two enjoy your evening. If you need anything at all don't hesitate to ask."

"Oh of course you're going to say that when you lay down your amazing food, man! You know our mouths will be too full to say a word."

Lucius smiled as he waved and walked away.

After the meal the waiter popped the cork on the third bottle of wine. Jacquie sniffed it and sipped it and nodded. Cherry took up her glass and softly pressed her lips to the rim of the glass. The crimson liquid met her lips and the two separate bodies became one. Jacquie's glass hung just below his chin as he watched Cherry drink and stare back at him.

"Your meal has been taken care of by Mr. Martin, sir," said the waiter. Jacquie withdrew a hundred dollar bill and handed it to the waiter after he helped Cherry on with her coat.

Jacquie's Lincoln pulled up to the curb and Jacquie opened the door for Cherry.

"Do you have anything to drink at your place, Jacquie?" asked Cherry when Jacquie got into the driver's seat.

"I think all I have is a bottle of scotch."

"Perfect."