Once they were seated and had drinks, Salzy said, “Ah-ha.Found it.”He flipped the phone around so Jamie could see it.
“Send me a link.”Jamie was looking over the dining room.“I’m going to have the salad bar.What about you?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
There was a ping on Jamie’s phone, indicating he had a new text message.He unlocked his phone.“Got it.Let me have a look.”
The waiter came back to take their order.Salzy ordered for them both as Jamie looked at the spa’s website.
“I think this would be perfect.I just need to make sure that they also allow men.”
“Cool.Is it really pricey?”Salzy asked as he started to get up from the booth they were sitting in.
“A little,” Jamie answered.“But it would be worth it.”Jamie stood and followed Salzy to the salad bar.
“This looks good,” Salzy said as he picked up a chilled plate.
“After lunch, you want to take a drive out there?”
“Sure.We don’t have a lot on today.Might as well enjoy it.”Salzy heaped a ladle full of ranch dressing on his salad.
“Have some salad with your dressing?”Jamie commented.
“No hating on my salad, man.”
* * * * *
Mike was trying hisbest to concentrate on what he was doing, but the slide show presentation felt as if it were taking forever.His mind kept wandering, thinking about Jamie and...having sex.It was unnerving and frustrating at the same time.I need to take a break.Go for a walk and then come back to this.He pushed himself away from the desk and walked towards the workshop.Hasha always had some project or another going on.
He opened the workshop door and was greeted with a cloud of wood dust particles floating in the air, the sound of a sander, classic rock under that, and Hasha bent over what looked like a tabletop.He slowly approached the man, who was concentrating on his work.
Hasha looked up, and when he saw Mike, he turned the sander off.“Sergeant?”
“Hey, Hasha.What are you working on?”
“I found this old wrought iron table base at a second-hand store, and I’m making a top for it.”
“Who’s it for?”
“No one in particular.I just wanted something to do until we got the orders for that next big project.Don’t worry, I paid for the lumber.”
Mike chuckled.“I didn’t even think of that.”He examined the tabletop.“What kind of wood is that?”
“Center cut oak.I found it at that repurpose place I go to.They had just enough.”
“It’s beautiful wood.Are you going to stain it?”
Hasha ran his hand over the surface.“Naw, I think I’ll leave it natural.Just use some oil on it.Make the grain jump out.Keep it simple.”
Mike nodded.“Keep it simple.”Then he smiled.Finally, he had a plan.
