Mike pulled the corvette into a parking spot in front of the small inn. As Stacy checked them in, he looked over a brochure for the place. It was located on about 30 acres overlooking a small lake complete with walking trails and secluded picnic areas. There was an outdoor spa/hot tub situated in a secluded garden, perfect for a late night dip. The setting was remote and private, yet it was only a short walk from a nearby village center filled with restaurants, antique shops, and curio stores.
Stacy walked up and handed him a room key. "Isn't this place fantastic?" Mike had to admit she was right.
The view across the lake from their suite was naturally scenic, and promised to be spectacular at sunset. The suite had a small sitting area complete with an antique writing desk and an elegant love seat facing a classic stone fireplace. Tucked away in a small alcove were a microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker. The generously sized bedroom also had a fireplace, and was appointed with an awesome, four posted, king sized bed, covered in the obligatory down comforter and adorned with numerous fluffy pillows. The bath was spacious and elegant, with a tub large enough for two.
Stacy wanted to walk into the village and window shop a bit before dinner at her friends place. She needed some time to change and freshen up so she grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom, then stuck her head out and said, "Why don't you go and grab a paper, and I'll meet you inn the lobby in a few minutes." Mike quickly changed into his slacks, grabbed his jacket, and headed downstairs.
He was sitting in a plush leather chair reading a local newspaper when he saw her coming down the stairs. She was wearing a sleeveless, paisley dress with a plunging neckline. When the light hit her from behind he could see her shapely figure and tiny, thong panties silhouetted through the sheer fabric of the flowery dress. As she walked up to him, her beautiful breasts bounced and swayed suggestively, barely contained by the thin material and revealing neckline.
"Stacy, you certainly know how to make an entrance. You look good enough to eat!"
She kissed him full and sensuously and then put her lips next to his ear and whispered, "Maybe later…"
It had been unusually warm for the time of year and the temperature was still high as they walked down the short path to the village, chatting casually about the scenery. Stacy was telling him, "You are going to love this restaurant. It has the best wine cellar in the whole area. Plus, there is a great cigar room I think you will like."
Mike brightened, "Cigars? I love to smoke them. But my ex hated them…"
Stacy smiled, "Well… I know they are bad for you, but I think there is something very sexy about a man smoking a cigar. I used to love doing my homework in my father's office where he smoked them."
Mike grinned, "Then by all means, I'll indulge myself. After dinner of course…"
Stacy hooked her arm into Mike's and snuggled against him. She didn't really understand why he made her feel so happy and contented, but she was sure glad they had found each other. Mike was a solid, smart, honest, old fashion guy, and she was rapidly falling for him.
They walked past a few shops peering through the windows before Stacy pulled him through the door of an antique store. They browsed through the inventory for a few minutes, and then moved on, visiting a number of other shops and boutiques over the next hour.
Suddenly Stacy pulled his arm and said, "We're here." The small sign next to the door simply said "Allesandro's… Open Daily, 5:30PM to 10PM"
They stepped inside and waited for the hostess, who turned out to be a voluptuous, dark haired woman of obvious Mediterranean descent. As soon as she saw Stacy she rushed forward and embraced her. "Anastasia! Cara mia. I didn't know you were in town. Who's this?"
Stacy kissed both her cheeks and then said, "Angie, this is Mike Williams. Mike, this is Angelina Allesandro."
"Pleased to meet you, Angelina."
Angelina pulled Mike into a tight embrace, and then said "Please, call me Angie… Well, let's find you two a table."
The place was packed, but Angie led them to a small, round table near the fireplace, and then rushed off to seat another couple. The décor was all stone and dark hardwoods, and the place smelled fragrantly of wood smoke and garlic. Mike was about to signal a waiter was when a man in a chef's hat rushed up to the table.
"Anastasia! How nice to see you again." He embraced her boisterously as she stood to greet him.
"Buonasera, Antonio. Mike this is Tony Allesandro, the owner and chef. Tony, this is Mike Williams."
Tony shook Mike's hand exuberantly, "Very nice to meet you Mike. Welcome to my restaurant." He looked at Stacy again, "Stacy, you get more beautiful every time I see you."
Then he said to Mike, "Put that menu away. I'll take care of everything…" and he rushed off to the kitchen yelling in Italian at the waiters.
After that things happened swiftly. A waiter arrived with a bottle of excellent Chianti and fresh bread with seasoned olive oil for dipping. Soon after came a purée of artichoke hearts with garlic and olive oil. The soup was simple, beans laced with hints of ham and touches of tomato. The main course was a lightly grilled sea bass with a covering of mussels, olives, green beans and baby clams. A little fluffy cappuccino mouse finished off the meal.
The wine flowed freely, and Mike and Stacy talked and ate till they were sated. She told Mike how she met Tony and Angelina on a cruise right after her divorce, and they practically adopted her. Since then she came up every couple months just to visit them. When the meal was over, Tony and Angelina joined them for coffee. The four of them chatted for at least an hour about the restaurant and the village. Tony and Angie seemed to know all the local gossip and Mike ate it up with a spoon, much to their delight. Mike could tell they were curious about him and Stacy, but they politely stayed from the subject until Stacy mentioned they had only known each other for about two weeks.
"So Stacy, how did you meet Mike?" asked Angelina.
Stacy was coy, "Oh, let's just say we saw each other around the building and one thing led to another."
"Well, I like him. What do you think Tony?" She said, eyeing Mike.
Tony said, "If he can stand my cooking, he'll do fine."
They all laughed.
After that, Tony and Angie hugged them and kissed them and then went back to work. Stacy led Mike to the bar and poured them both a snifter of cognac, and then she showed him the cigar room. It was behind a glass door off of the bar. The room was paneled ornately in dark mahogany. There were several high backed leather chairs situated throughout the room, each next to a small table complete with a large ashtray. Just inside the door was a large glass topped humidor with a variety of cigars inside.
"Let me choose, OK Mike?"
"Okay, surprise me. I am sure they are all good."
Stacy walked past the large humidor and over to the bookshelf. There she opened a smaller humidor and brought back two cigars, a clipper, and a lighter.
"Tony's private stash", she smiled. "He won't mind."
Mike looked at the cigars and realized they were Cubans, Montecristo No. 2's. "No, I couldn't. These are worth a fortune!"
Stacy just smiled and expertly clipped the cigar at the point where it began to round off. Then she slipped it into her mouth, sparked the lighter, and rolled the cigar around on the flame, puffing on it until it was evenly burning. She handed it to Mike, and then surprisingly clipped and lit the other one for herself.
They were alone in the room but still within sight of the large glass door. Stacy sat down in the chair across from Mike and took a long drag off her cigar. They could see people still moving about in the dining room, although the crowd appeared to be thinning out.
Mike thought, "God she looks sexy." Stacy was sitting back, legs crossed, clearly enjoying her cigar. Watching her smoke was like watching a sex act. Every time she wrapped her red lips around the slender, brown tube Mike held his breath. When she puffed on it, her breasts moved tantalizingly under thin cloth of her dress. Mike was puffing away on his, but still he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Stacy blew out a long plume of smoke. "They have a room like this at the country club, but they don't allow women inside."