“In that aspect, we're alike; I'm also not very fussy about food.”

At that moment, the waiter returned. He quickly but carefully filled their glasses with rich red liquid. After arranging the meat dishes with a side of potatoes and vegetables, he wished them a pleasant meal and left.

“To our first dinner together?” Derek proposed, with a raised glass at Megan.

“To our first real date!” she added.

After taking a sip of wine, they noted the waiter's excellent choice and started their meal.

“How was your day?” she asked Derek.

“Quite ordinary, nothing special. Who did you go to the islands with?” he unexpectedly asked, changing the subject.

“With my cousins, Glenn – Warren's wife, and his friend.”

“What friend?” Derek asked a bit tensely.

The girl shrugged, “I don't know, a long-time friend of Warren. He happened to be at the restaurant where we had our family dinner. That's where we were introduced. Are you jealous?” Megan asked teasingly.

“No, just curious,” he smiled back.

“His name is Craig, and he works for a shipping company. When he found out we were going to the islands, he decided to join us. Quite an interesting guy, easy to talk to.”

“Interesting…” Derek slowly repeated, cocking his right eyebrow.

“Why do you look like that? He's interesting to talk to, nothing more,” Megan laughed, pleasantly flattered by Derek's slight jealousy.

“I'm glad it's nothing more,” he said with a smile, looking straight into her eyes.

There was an awkward pause between them for a moment.

“Have you had any serious relationships with women before? Like, a long-term commitment or marriage?” Megan calmly asked, trying to hide her inner turmoil.

He paused before answering, his face once again becoming an impenetrable mask, making it impossible to read any emotions.

“I’ve had a serious and long-term relationship…” he continued to look into her eyes as he spoke.

Derek was hesitant, afraid to accidentally hurt Megan's feelings. He chose his words with utmost care. However, the pace at which she asked her questions threw him off balance.

“How long ago did this relationship end?”

“A long time ago.”

“Did it cause you pain and suffering?”

“Not the relationship itself, but the consequences.”

“Do you feel better now?”

“Definitely,” he replied, now smiling.

“Do you still love her?”

He watched Megan closely, noticing a flicker of fear in her eyes. She feared his answer to this question, afraid he might say “yes,” and he understood that.

“Too many years have passed…” he said slowly. “Let's leave the past behind and talk about us instead. I feel like I've known you all my life. Do you feel the same?” he asked calmly, with a slight smile and a squint in his eyes.

“I do,” she replied, satisfied with his answers.

Derek raised his glass, “Then let's drink to that.”

The tension at their table eased, allowing them to comfortably continue their dinner.

“Madam, now that you've extracted all my secrets, it's your turn to answer my questions. Tell me about your personal life. I'm eager to hear,” he said with a smile.

“There's not much to tell. I was in a relationship for several years, but it didn't feel like the sincere and true love portrayed in movies and novels. We parted ways and remained friends. And now there's you in my life, and I'm very happy about it.”

“I'm also very happy we met,” Derek said.

Taking a sip of drink, he added, “This wine is delightful! If it weren't for this decor, I'd believe I was in Italy! But we'll talk about that later. Have you decided on the fate of the factory and the castle?”

“Yes, I've made my decision known to the family. Warren will manage everything, after all he has experience in this business and he’s a McKenzie. Honestly, managing such a large and unfamiliar production was never of interest to me. I understand that my grandfather probably hadn’t foreseen this scenario. He wanted me to take full control and devote my life to the ancient family business. Unfortunately, I don't feel the same passion and enthusiasm for the distillery that I do for the London restaurant. It’s just not my cup of tea.”

“If that's what you really want, then it's probably the best solution. When are you leaving for London?” Derek asked casually, taking another sip of wine to dull his anxiety as he awaited her answer.

“I think I'll extend my summer vacation here a bit longer. It's been a while since I had a holiday. It's the perfect opportunity to make up for lost time.”

Derek breathed a sigh of relief and said, “So, we'll have more time to spend together.”

“Yes, I’ll have a chance to learn more about you,” Megan smiled.