Heart of Gold – by Tiffany Carby #4
“Chocolate pairs well with all sorts of flavors, Adam,” Pippa said. “It’s a nice complement to peanut butter too .” And with those words, I suddenly felt like I had betrayed my best friend.
HENLEY
I pushed the grocery cart out of the shop’s glass door as Marty, the owner, locked it behind me.
I’d be sure to stow the cart in the outside bin, so it was easy for him to grab the next morning.
I had made them wait long enough. My to-do list in my head was running at warp speed, and though I was stressed about this quick upscale event, I was thrilled to be able to show the Griffins just what I could do.
I wanted to open more doors as business-to-business consumers.
Quickly finding Adam’s cruiser, I noticed blondie had moved to the front seat and they were …
no they weren’t … Yes, they were. They were drinking shakes from The Parkette.
My favorite place in Lexington to get a shake.
What the hell, Adam? And neither of them was paying a bit of attention to me as they smiled and giggled and slurped their most fantastic milkshakes.
I knocked on the trunk to get Adam’s attention and Blondie stepped out as if she was going to offer up the front seat to me.
“It’s okay,” I said as I loaded the bags into the trunk. “I’ll sit in the back this time.” And indeed I would so they wouldn’t see the steam coming out of my ears.
“Got you a shake … the usual,” Adam said.
He went to return the cart and opened the door for me. He always opened the door for me, whether it be a car, a store, a train, or a restaurant, he always opened doors.
Adam was quite the catch. I never had such jealousy like this when he dated other women. But this Pippa. Pippa was making a rage come out in me. I did not like seeing him with her.
He handed me my shake and his, knowing they were best together. I noticed he had already had some of mine, and that thought made me smile. I just didn’t want his lips on blondie’s straw.
“Supermarket time?” he asked, and I suggested a place that was close and should have the additional things I needed.
They continued their giggly small talk, making it obvious to me at least, that I was the third wheel in this cruiser.
I hurried around the aisles, getting ingredients I knew I couldn’t get in Spring City. The two lovebirds followed behind me looking at things along the way, having a grand old time.
“I’m headed to the checkout,” I said, turning around to see she had her arm laced in his. Pippa’s paws on Adam’s police uniform made me want to claw her eyes out. “Y’all ready?”
“Yep, we’ll go pull the car around and meet you, ’K?”
“Sounds good, thanks.” I had to keep my cool. When I got him alone later, I could tell him she wasn’t Mrs. Right. Surely, he’d see that.
I stewed the whole hour’s drive back to Spring City. Maybe I wasn’t as pretty as she. Or as interesting. Or as blond. Or as pretty.
Adam pulled up to the restaurant, and I wasn’t sure what his plan was for the evening, but I was hoping for his help getting ready for the party.
“Hen, I’ll drop you off since there’s cold stuff in the back, and then take Pippa over to the B I want your help! I screamed in my head.
“Lots to do, friend … gotta get to it,” I said and went into my office, hoping when I came back he would be gone.
Thankfully, Holly and Katie were still there, though probably getting ready to leave. I couldn’t afford overtime for either of them, or I’d have seriously considered asking them to stay.
I heard the back door close and assumed he’d left to deal with Pippa.
After a few minutes of standing at my desk breathing deeply, the girls came in to see what else they could do to help before leaving for the night.
They had enough time to get the meat marinating. That would help me a ton.
“Tomorrow is going to be insane,” I told them both as we sorted through my purchases and got them working on the marinade so it could go in the fridge overnight.
“We’re excited for you,” Holly said. “This is such a huge party, and it’s going to be great.”
“I hope so. Can I ask you two a question? This is not going to come out right, but I need to get to the bottom of something.”
“Sure, what’s going on, Chef?” Katie was so polite.
“I’m not asking either of you to ‘tattletale,’” I said with air quotes, “but I have employees who are stealing. The expensive beef, skimming the pricey bourbon, taking truffles. I’m not accusing you, but I need whoever is doing it to stop before we all go under.”
They looked at each other and then back at me.
“Can you spread the word that Chef is onto whoever is stealing, and if it stops, then we’re all good?”
“Yes, Chef,” they said in unison. And I suddenly felt better about the issues with the staff. Fingers crossed they’d figure out I was serious.
ADAM
I wasn’t expecting Henley to blow us off like she did, but she was busy, and I knew that. Dealing with Pippa was not on her radar for the night, and I might have overstepped my bounds.
“Do you mind if we swing by my car to grab my overnight bag?” Pippa asked as we were leaving the restaurant.
“Not at all,” I said and crossed over to the closed Griffin Gas Station. Her car was parked out front, and the doors were unlocked. Probably not the best way to leave her vehicle, but for the most part, Spring City was a safe place.
“It’s a little late, and neither of us has had supper. Want to grab a bite to eat?”
She nodded her head, and we strolled over to Trixie’s Tavern, knowing they’d be open for another hour or so.
I got a burger, she ordered a club, and we shared some fried pickles, talking all the while.
She reached over at one point and grabbed my hand across the table.
Pippa looked up at me, my face making it clear I wasn’t sure how to react.
She then let go and put her hand back in her lap, laughing at my jokes as though she didn’t want me to notice she’d noticed.
Trixie had to kick us out at closing time. There wasn’t much to do in a small town after dark, especially during the week.
“Thanks for taking me under your wing, Adam,” Pippa said as we were leaving the tavern.
“Happy to oblige. I’m a friendly guy.” I teased but meant it. “I’ll make sure you’re settled at the B&B before I hit the road.”
And I stuck to that promise.
Mrs. Armstrong was true to her word and had a nice room reserved for Pippa. Once she was checked in and had her bearings, I gave her my cell phone number so she could let me know how the car situation played out.
“Is that the only reason you want me to call you?” she asked. Her question caught me off guard. “I’ve enjoyed your company today … too.”
“And I’ve enjoyed your company as well. I wish we would have met under different circumstances.” What was she doing?
“Ah, maybe the circumstances were just fate working her magic?”
“Maybe,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“So maybe you want to stay for a little nightcap? Talk a bit more?” She shut the door behind me and walked a bit further into the bedroom.
I wasn’t shy, but I wasn’t expecting a one-night stand either. If that indeed was her plan.
“Sure, we can chat a while longer,” I agreed and went over to sit in the large wingback chair in the corner of the room. Pippa proceeded to unpack a few things from her bag and take down her hair, making herself comfortable.
And then she took off her shirt.
And her shorts.
Her back was to me the whole time and I felt like I was intruding. Like I should have had my hands over my eyes or something.
“Uh, I can step out and give you some privacy.” I started to get up and move toward the door when she turned and caught me with her arm.
“Or you can come closer? I don’t have anything to hide. I mean, was this not where you saw the evening going?”
Actually, no. The second went by slower than molasses and the decision before me was an easy one to make. I couldn’t get the girl out of my mind.
“I’m a gentleman, Pippa. I just met you, and while I don’t judge people for having one-night stands, I’m a little uncomfortable with this situation.” Did I seriously just turn down the beautiful, half-naked woman standing before me? I think I did.
And then I gulped.
“Well. If I’d have known that, I’d have just stayed in Lexington. save the hotel cost.”
She started to put her shirt back on.
“If I misled you in any way, I’m terribly sorry. I’ll say good night.”
I left the room without turning back to face her. It wasn’t Pippa that I couldn’t get out of my head. It was Henley. In the ten seconds I stood before her while she was asking for the night to be more, Henley was the girl on my mind.
Henley was always on my mind.
And I was cursing inside because it had taken this kind of night to make me realize I was such an idiot.
HENLEY
After Holly and Katie went home, I was left with my thoughts and needed to get my to-do list and menu down on paper. To the chalkboard I went and started by segmenting the board into courses.
Desserts I knew would take the longest, and Rory was helping lighten that load, so I started there.