Black Rose

Thirty-Seven

Later that night Raine decided to take his lovely ladies out for dinner at a Restaurant called The Rock Bar at the Ayana Resort and when they arrived, it wasn't hard to see where they got the name from. It literally sat on top of rocks. If you look over the rails, you'd see the waves washing up against the rocks and again Mel was astonished by the beauty. The atmosphere was a mixture of romantic, cozy and family friendly. Since Venus was accompanying them, Raine opted for a lounge area that provided the perfect view of the Indian Ocean.

"I want to try the steamed clam, but it has alcohol in it." Mel pouted.

"You know you can't have that dear. Try something else that doesn't contain alcohol." Venus suggested, gazing at her menu in hands. "How about the Goong Saroong" It's just fried shrimp with noodles wrapped around it and chili sauce."

"Or the Orient Baked Chicken Wings with honey and chili sauce." Raine added.

Studying the menu more, Mel was in a dilemma because both of the choices sounded good to her but she wasn't sure if they'd allow her to have more than one appetizer. Not everyone is like the states and they are a far cry away from there. Before she could make up her mind, a waitress came over and took their orders, spending most of her time on Mel as she asked a series of questions. Her name tag read Novi and Novi was getting annoyed with the 21 questions game Mel threw her into. Raine and Venus caught on and decided to cut in to keep from prolonging the questions.

"She'll have the Orient Baked Chicken wings and Goong Saroong." Raine ordered for her.

Mel nodded in agreement with a small smile on her face. "Oh, and a pink lemonade too. I heard the couple behind us say that you guys personally squeeze them right before they're served."

"We don't have pink lemonade." Novi spoke hastily, switching her weight from one foot to the other. "You'll have to pick something else."

Now Venus chimed in, unappreciative of the funky attitude she has against Mel. "No, she doesn't have to pick a damn thing. You're telling me as fancy as this place is—literally sitting on rocks at the edge of the ocean—y'all don't have any pink lemonade? No, sweetheart I don't believe that one bit and I don't condone your repulsive attitude you're spewing at my pregnant daughter. Now, she's asking you these because she needs to be cautious of what she's feeding my grandchild. What she doesn't need is your snobby attitude and quite frankly me nor her fiancé wants to sit back and witness it, so would you be so kindly as to find us another employee. Or better yet your boss. Thank you darling." Novi stood there with wide eyes and a hanging bottom lip while Venus stared at her, waiting to see if she was going to challenge her. She didn't. Instead she turned around swiftly and switched away from the table angrily.

"Wow, Venus, I didn't think you had it in you. Where did that come from?" Mel asked amused with her mother coming to her defense. Something Venus hasn't done since Mel was a little girl being bullied in school.

"It's always been in me. Never mess with a lion's cub. That's signing your life over." She adverted her eyes to the handsome older man sitting three tables behind them and her reflexes caused her to bite down on her lip. He was sitting alone and his ring finger was clear of any signs of a wife, maybe a girlfriend but not a wife. Just from first glance, she could tell he was eerily tall from how much space his legs took up under the table. Then again, these tables aren't necessarily big. Gray strings were gracefully peeking out from underneath is his facial hair, strangely making him even more attractive. His side profiled revealed one hell of a nice strong, jaw structure. With one head turn, he could cut you deep with that thing. I wonder what else he can do with it, Venus wondered. A nice expensive suit, she thought. Venus has never been up to date with what's hot, but it was evident his taste in clothes were designer. I bet he looks like a perfectly Mr. Goodbar underneath that suit. Yeah, that's what I'll call him. Smiling to herself, Venus hadn't noticed the crazed looks Raine and Melrose was throwing at her and quickly fixed her face.