“Then the cream needs to be toned down. It’s too overpowering.”
Charlie frowned. “Agreed.”
“Why don’t you put some cherries in it and try it out?” asked Nash, hoping to get Charlie that sign-off on the flavor.
Charlie lifted his rounded shoulders. “Why waste the cherries? If we know the base won’t work, there’s no point adding the fruit.”
“But what if the combination of the two is different than what you think it will be?”
They both stared at him as if was covered in cow-like spots. He must have insulted them by implying that they didn’t know the correct taste of an ice cream before cherries were added or after cherries were added or if cherries would be crossing the road to get to the other side.
“I am going to retract that question and strike it from your memories.”
“Good idea,” Charlie growled.
“So the Cheery Cherry goes back to the drawing board.” Nash rubbed his hands together. “What’s next?”
“White Chocolate Blackberry Ripple.” Charlie beamed as he made his way to another freezer. The man didn’t hold a grudge for long. Good thing, because Nash was sure to say something else to tick him off as he learned the ropes.
“What’s your favorite flavor?” Kenzi asked.
Nash eyed Charlie’s back. “I’m afraid to say.”
“Why do you think I asked while he was clear over there?” Kenzi giggled. “No, really. You can tell a lot about a person by their favorite ice cream flavor.”
He propped his elbow on the counter and leaned on his hand. “Do tell.”
“For example, strawberry lovers are shy.”
Charlie was back, and he made short work of divvying out the blue-and-white swirled ice cream. Nash wanted to ask how they got the swirls so perfect, but he didn’t want to derail the conversation train they were already on.
“They are also tolerant and devoted,” added Charlie, before smelling his ice cream.
Now that they’d explained the process, the three of them moved through the tasting experience faster.
“I haven’t known a lot of strawberry ice cream lovers in my life,” said Nash.
“My wife is one,” Charlie volunteered.
“What is your favorite flavor?” Nash asked him.
“Chocolate chip.”
“Which means he’s generous, ambitious, and friendly,” added Kenzi.
“I can see that.” Nash smiled before sampling this flavor. He liked the explosion of berry on his tongue, and said so. The others agreed.
“Hey, Charlie.” A thirty-something man in a lab coat poked his head inside the door. “Can I borrow you for a bit?”
Kenzi got to her feet. “Go ahead. I can take it from here.”
Charlie shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I wanted sign-offs.”
“We’ll keep sampling, and I’m keeping notes.”
Charlie wiped off his fingers on a bar towel. “If you’re sure …”
He was already halfway to the door when Kenzi told him they’d be fine. She made her way behind the counter and tied an apron over her clothing.
