Valentine's Day dinner and then surprises on a deserted beach
Less than thirty minutes after getting out of bed from their late afternoon lovemaking, both boys were squeaky clean from a shared shower, hair dry and properly primped, and dressed for the night out. Kyle had decided to wear a pair of new jeans also, instead of dress slacks. "I thought maybe we could hit the beach for a walk afterwards," was the reason he used; but Josh thought it was more of an excuse so he wouldn't feel under-dressed wearing his new Levi's. That was one thing he felt he needed to work on, even though Kyle had told him many times, he had no problem with Josh's more casual, college boy style over the preppy look he seemed to prefer for himself. In few minutes they were holding hands in the Hummer as they headed into downtown.
Josh still hadn't an inkling of where they were eating...exactly like Kyle wanted him to stay in the dark for the romantic surprise he had planned. He finally found an open space just a half block off the section of Main Street he wanted, and expertly parallel parked the big truck into the stall on the first try. He proudly took Josh's hand in his as they walked up the street. "Hey...two women can do this all the time, every day of the year, and nobody thinks twice about it," he told Josh. "So I think they can get over it bothering them when it's two guys and Valentine's Day too."
Josh laced his fingers with Kyle just a little tighter at that comment. They turned the corner, and a couple dozen or so steps later, Kyle was pulling Josh to the doors of a restaurant he didn't even know existed. He scrunched up his nose a little at the name on the window of the older, downtown storefront. 'Melting Pot. Sounds like some artsy-fartsy coffee house,' was the thought he kept to himself.
Once inside, his opinion quickly changed when he saw the luxurious decorating scheme, soft lighting accented with a muted candle on each table, and a cummerbund-wrapped maitre de standing behind a big mahogany lectern. There were several other couples in the waiting area, and the boys joined them after Kyle gave his name to be checked against the reservation list. He could have sworn he heard him tell the guy 'Roberts Thomas' in a way that was being obviously hyphenated.
An older male couple smiled at them knowingly as they sat down across from them on an antique love seat to wait. Josh was almost ecstatic when Kyle smiled and winked back at them, and then draped his arm behind Josh and gently rested his hand on his shoulder. A quick glance at the other two couples...both male-female pairings...got accepting smiles back. He knew right then, that this was going to be a really special dinner and permitted himself the delight of being able to drop his hand to Kyle's knee and leave it there.
The older male couple's reservation was called next and they seemed to be following the boys' lead, as they took each other's hand and were escorted to their table. It was just a short wait until Josh heard 'Roberts Thomas party' called out, and he and Kyle did the same hand holding as they were led to their chairs. Once seated, they were handed menus with an 'Enjoy your special night,' by the good looking maitre de. He grinned as he rapidly tacked on 'Cuties' and a wink. They both kind of blushed at that, but gave him back a sincere thank you. "You ever had fondue, Joshie?" was asked by Kyle as he walked away.
"You mean the stuff that's like hot cheese that you dip broccoli and celery in?" Josh wrinkled his nose a little again. "It's okay, I guess. Why? You want that for an appetizer?"
Kyle snickered. "My dear, sweet farm boy. I'm not talking microwaved Velveeta and Fritos. Get ready for a whole new experience, baby." The questioning look on Josh's face was priceless. Kyle took the menu from him and suggested, "I know what you like to eat...trust me and let me order, and you just enjoy."
Josh silently nodded. As Kyle scanned the bill of fare and perused their options, he looked around the capacity packed, large room. He smiled as he saw almost every table in the crowd, was just one couple, and that there were at least a half dozen other same sex partners obviously sharing a special Valentine Day meal too. They made some small talk until their waiter appeared and he listened intently to learn, as Kyle placed their order.
It was only a few minutes later; just as Josh was finishing up telling Kyle of the near fist fight he and Ryan had gotten into, and convincing him to stay out of it and could handle things; when the triple cauldrons on short, iron stilts were placed at the center of their table. All three had large tea candles burning under them. One was a dark cheese of some type; another looked to be a super thick pesto sauce with a really enticing aroma; and the last was a near boiling, almost clear liquid with spices and green, red, and orange flakes floating on top. The server quickly added a platter that included veggies of all types; from the predictable carrots, celery, and broccoli blooms, to the more exotic large mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus stems. A big selection of cheeses and variety bread chunks surrounded the edges of the tray. Even though he was well aware; Kyle let the waiter show them how to use one of the long forks to stab their choice and swirl it gently in the warm cheese or white sauce; and also how to use the hottest liquid to deep fry a vegetable, cheese chunk, or piece of bread.
"Eat up baby," was Kyle's only comment when the waiter left. He quickly stabbed a cornbread cube and a mushroom and submerged the fork they were impaled by into the dark but clear liquid that literally sizzled when the food hit it. He did the same with a bright red tomato and chunk of what looked like the thick farm bread Josh's grandma made all the time...but those two went into the cheese mixture. As he jabbed a piece of cauliflower and what had to be rye bread and baptized them in the white sauce, he prompted Josh again. "Come on baby...I will eat it all if you don't help." Josh laughed, but rapidly followed Kyle's lead and picked up a long fork; quickly skewered his own concoctions; and made faces at him as they sampled their way thru almost everything on the platter.
It was better than a hour later, when the waiter asked if they wanted another cup of coffee to go along with the final picking over they were doing of the fruit scraps left on the last platter. Josh was almost a fondue expert by the end of the meal. He had totally gotten into the new...almost boner producing...taste bud sensation of this style of food when the main course platter was added to the table. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the more than two dozen, carefully sliced, chunks of different meats and six jumbo shrimp all bordered by red and white potato wedges, and thick cut green pepper and onion slices. Between the new fondue pots of thick cheddar and pepper jack, and a well seasoned, hot oil that came with them; Josh was infatuated as he tested each one of the selections. He was particularly impressed at the taste of prime rib quick boiled in the heavy pepper sauce juice. A hunk of veal; swirled in the thick cheddar cheese, and then fricasseed in the simmering curry; was excellent also. He even taught Kyle one, when he pulled the onion slab from the bubbling oil; drenched it in the pepper jack; and then submerged it in the oil for another minute to come up with a single alliance taste of onion ring and deep fried cheese stick.
When Kyle told the waiter they wanted the 'Just Kill Me Now' platter for dessert, Josh was stymied at what could possibly show up to top off the meal. His eyes bugged out when the final three hot pots were set in front of them...one with hot, dark chocolate; one with equally hot, white chocolate; and a final one of regular chocolate, but a distinct hint of peanut butter too, rising from the steam. The large oval dish was next and contained apple and orange slices; at least ten, inch thick bananas disks; a half dozen or so large Bing cherries; some of the biggest and reddest strawberries he had ever seen; and some inch square, cubes of cheesecake.
By the time they had both sampled one of each in the different chocolate sauces, Josh wasn't sure if the fullness in his jeans was from all the food he'd eaten, or caused by the flirtatious way Kyle's eyes would roll as he sucked on an orange wedge dunked in warm, white chocolate. He smiled large when he found out dipping a huge Bing cherry in the peanut butter enhanced chocolate, and then pressing it to Kyle's lips made him moan. Kyle returned the favor by soaking one of the huge strawberries in the dark stuff Josh loved, and feeding it to him slowly. He swore he almost came as the mixture of the slight tartness of the juicy berry and the bitter sweetness of the dark chocolate was being teased through his lips and rubbed on his tongue. Nobody even looked twice at them since almost every other couple was doing the same thing at one point or another during their multiple course meals.
While they sipped at their coffees and let the meal settle some, Kyle tried to surprise Josh by slipping a bright red envelope onto on the table. Josh only smiled and countered back with a dark red one of his own and, "You first, Tigger."
