"When the stars align" for the Short Affair Challenge

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Challenge: The Short Affair

-Prompt Word #2 – Mushroom

-Prompt Colour – Copper

Author: mrua7

Title: ‘When the stars align.’

Word count: Approx. 925

Napoleon rolled up his sleeves and tightened his apron strings.  Emblazoned on the front of his smock in mauve letters were the words...

‘DON'T FORGET TO KISS THE COOK.'

It had been last year's Christmas gift from Heather McNabb, who was his dinner guest this evening and who would most likely spend the night with him as well.  They were no strangers when it came to being intimate and it didn’t seem to bother her that she was a member of a very large club when it came to Solo’s list of paramours.

Normally such private goings on would happen at the lady’s place, but Heather’s apartment was being repainted and the workmen hadn’t finished.

Napoleon very graciously offered her dinner and a place to stay rather than her going to the expense of booking a hotel room. Of course Heather said yes, how could she resist such an enticing offer by a man as charming as Napoleon Solo?

There were no discussions of the sleeping arrangements as she already knew she’d cuddle up with him for the night.

For dinner, he was preparing bœuf à la Bourguignonne, commonly known here as Beef Burgundy and to do this he was usubg his new set of copper cookware.  He set his chafing dish on the counter, ready to keep the main dish warm while waiting for his guest to arrive.

Beef Burgundy was a type of stew prepared with beef braised traditionally in a red Burgundy wine, and beef broth, flavoured with garlic, onions, carrots and a bouquet garni. Pearl onions and mushroom were added towards the end of cooking. The sides tonight were roasted potatoes and minted peas.

He’d selected a fairly full-bodied, young red Beaujolais wine to accompany the feast. There was a tossed salad with gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, pears and a balsamic vinaigrette. Dessert, a dark chocolate cherry terrine with brandy.

Napoleon was quite pleased with the menu, and to celebrate, he opened the wine to let it breathe, and poured himself a small glass.

Glancing at his wristwatch, he ladled the stew to the chafing dish to keep warm and prevent it from overcooking... as Heather was late.

Twenty minutes later his telephone rang...it was Heather. Seemed her mother had taken ill and she'd gone there to care for her.

“Sorry to hear that on both accounts,” Napoleon sighed, as his evening had just gone down the drain “I hope it’s not too serious?”

“It sounds like bronchitis and I’m waiting for her doctor to arrive. Thanks again for the offer Napoleon, and I hope I didn’t put you to any trouble?”

“No, Heather, no trouble at all. I was just going to get some Thai food delivered, as the cupboards are bare and I didn’t really have time to shop,” he lied through his teeth.

“Oh that’s good...I mean that you didn’t go to any trouble by cooking. Maybe I can make it up to you, how about dinner this weekend? My place will be back to normal by then.”

“That sounds like a plan Heather; I look forward to it. Hope your mom gets well soon. G’ night.”

“Night Napoleon.”

He looked at all the food he’d prepared, and snapped his fingers when an idea came to him. Picking up his communicator, he contacted his partner who he presumed was still at headquarters.

“Would you care to join me for dinner at my place tovarisch, seems I made too much,” he lied.

“Or did your date cancel on you my friend?” Illya asked.

Damned how Kuryakin seened to know these things. "I'm ignoring that, so are you coming or not?”

“Are you sure?”

“If I wasn’t would I have asked?"

“Very well, I accept your gracious invitation.”

Two seconds later Napoleon heard his partner’s coded knock at the door.

“Did Captain Kirk have Scotty beam you here? Napoleon asked as he opened the door.

“What? Oh...no, I was in the hallway.” Illya scratched his head.

For a moment Solo was confused. “And what were you doing in the hall outside my door?”

“Being intuitive...now what is for dinner? It smells wonderful.” Illya slapped his hands together, rubbing them as he walked inside.

“Intuitive? Now really, how did you know I was going to ask you to have dinner with me?”

“Sometimes I can sense things, you know that. Now what is that enticing smell wafting from the kitchen?”

“Methinks I smell a rat,”Napoleon cocked an eyebrow. “You can sense that I was going to ask you to dine with me but you can’t identify what’s cooking?”

“Napoleon please, must you spoil a fine meal by mentioning rat? You know I have had to eat that all too many times in my life.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring back unpleasant memories. Dinner is bœuf à la Bourguignonne with roasted potatoes and minted peas. There’s also a tossed salad, and for dessert a chocolate cherry terrine, all served with a lovely Beaujolais.”

“Sounds deliciously decadent my friend, thank you for the invitation.”

In truth Illya had given Heather a lift from headquarters to her mother’s place, during which she revealed she was supposed to have dinner with Napoleon at his place. That information alone made the always hungry Kuryakin head straight to his apartment building to wait for Solo’s call.

He managed to time it perfectly. The stars, it seemed for once, were in alignment for the Russian...

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed. I was hoping everyone would get the double Star Trek references... Kirk, Mr. Scott and the stars coming into alignment.