“I do love those, but I’m hoping to showcase my dessert skills. The committee is hiring me to bake, not to put out sprinkles. We need to come up with something better.”
“I don’t see why cake or squares don’t work then, they’ll showcase your work.”
Her brows knit together, and she sighed. Her fingers tapped on the side of her mug. “I need more timeto think on this.”
“Okay, let’s change the subject,” he agreed quickly. Maybe if he didn’t push too hard, he could win the argument. He wasn’t certain why he was dead set on a traditional dessert, but somehow it felt important. “Cats or dogs?”
“Rabbits.” She laughed at his frown.
“That didn’t answer the question.”
“Sure, it does. I’d prefer a rabbit if I were having a pet. Or maybe a de-scented skunk. I’ve heard they can be potty trained.”
“In that case, I’ll let you have the rabbit.”
“Generous of you.” She grinned mockingly. “What’s your choice?”
“Cat. They are way more intelligent than dogs. Probably something from the shelter, or a friend who had kittens. You know what I mean, one of those mixed breed cats.”
“I like that. I never understood spending a fortune on a purebred if you weren’t going to put the animal in shows. But, to each his own, and all that. And just FYI, dogs are more intelligent than cats and they aren’t nearly as arrogant. Are you planning on getting a cat?” she asked.
“Probably not. I don’t allow animals in my buildings, and it would be unfair if I had one and didn’t let my tenants have any.” He shrugged. He could easily change the rules, or simply make himself an exception, but at this point, he wasn’t super hyped to have a cat.
She rubbed her hands together. “Next question. Chicken or beef?”
“Beef. There are many more choices in beef than in chicken. Roasts, burgers, steaks, ribs. The list is endless.”
“I’ll take chicken any day. Fried, baked, roasted, grilled. Battered and deep fried. And you can’t forget chicken wings with ranch dip.”
They went back and forth asking questions, slowly getting to know each other. They shared a passion for detective shows, particularly old ones likeBarney MillerandKojak. They were both avid readers. Ford preferred action novels while Drinda preferred cozy mysteries. They fell into an easy, friendly, camaraderie though he couldn’t forget how attractive she was. Her smile, her shining blue eyes, andeasy laughter.
Drinda thought about his questions before she responded as if the answers mattered. She was easy to talk to as well as being easy on the eyes. Being with her reminded him that he wasn’t getting any younger and needed to light a fire under his ambition and search for a woman to spend the rest of his life with. No more waiting for her to show up, it was time to start seriously looking.
“Holy smokes,” he declared when he realized it was almost midnight. “It’s late. I’m on the early shift tomorrow, and so are you. We better call it a night.”
She yawned. “You’re right. Five a.m. comes too soon.”
“Why so early? You don’t open until seven.” He picked up their mugs, rinsed them, and loaded them in the dishwasher. Her smile of approval was sweet.
“I open at seven for the early birds on their way to work. I like to have fresh muffins by then. I need to roast some beans and it’ll take me a couple of cups of coffee to get my brain in gear. I’m a slow starter.”
“And yet you picked a morning career.”
“Yeah,” she said wryly. “Maybe not the best choice. Once I’m fully up and running, I’ll be able to hire morestaff and come and go as I please. I love coffee, baking, and being my own boss. And I love people in small numbers.”
“You did well at the meeting. You didn’t freak out or anything.”
“No, but I zoned out a bit. I totally forgot. You were supposed to fill me in on what I missed,” she frowned, sounding surprised.
As much as he was curious, he didn’t ask what she was thinking of to cause a frown. They’d gone from uneasy and combative to something resembling friends and he didn’t want to jeopardize that. “I’ll fill you in on the meeting later. You didn’t miss much at all.”
He walked her to the door and helped her into her coat. She didn’t button up. He wanted to tell her she should but held his tongue. While he didn’t want her to catch a cold, it was only steps to her door. When his coworker lived next door they never even bothered with jackets when going back and forth. She’d be fine even without a jacket. His concern was what he’d feel for a sister,only stronger.
“Good night. Thanks for the coffee and conversation.” She stepped out onto the front porch. He followed.
“What are you doing?” she gave him a puzzled look.
“Making sure you get inside okay.” He shrugged.
