Glancing back at her over my shoulder, I spot a reluctant grin spreading across her rosy cheeks. This seems to loosen her up, and she steps closer to get a better look at the computer screen.
I wish my intentions were more altruistic. But I’m really just dying to get a whiff of the scent that enveloped me when I was near her last night. It reminded me of the first few notes that hit your nose when macerating raspberries with sugar and lime.
Refreshingly fruity with a hint of sweet feminine musk.
Alice framboise.
I wouldn’t mind eating that.
As she leans in closer, placing one hand on the back of my chair to steady herself, I get a whiff of her fragrance. I discreetly sniff the air as I keep my eyes focused on the screen in front of me, but it’s near impossible.
The words on the screen blur together, and a pleasant warmth spreads from my chest to the tips of my fingers. I’m drunk on her scent.
“Uh… Are you going to show me?” she says, rousing me from my intoxicated state, while also awakening something in the crotch of my jeans.
“Of course,” I say, moving the cursor to the top of the screen. “The name of this software is—”
Ollie walks in unannounced, interrupting our private lesson. “There’s only—” She sees Alice and stop mid-sentence. “I’m sorry. Should I come back later?”
My disappointment must be obvious. “No, please come in.”
Ollie glances at Alice again, and Alice takes this as a sign that she should put some more distance between us. I press my lips together to hide my annoyance.
“There’s only one supplier that has the same model within a hundred-mile radius, but they’re in Poughkeepsie, and it’s a scratch-and-dent model. But that means it’s less than half the price of the new one.”
“Great,” I reply, feeling my body flood with relief at the knowledge I won’t have to create a new tasting menu, and I can postpone this ill-conceived lesson with Alice for another more appropriate time.
“Actually…” Ollie chimes in looking somewhat hesitant. “The guy won’t hold it for us. He said they don’t hold scratch-and-dent models unless you have an account with them, which we don’t.”
I shrug, wondering why Ollie seems so worried about this. “So, what’s the problem? You have all the business information. Create an account.”
Ollie shakes her head. “They don’t take scanned IDs. You would need to go to Poughkeepsie and open an account yourself, unless you want the account to be under someone else’s name.”
I lean back in my chair, utterly deflated by this news.
“Are you talking about Henry’s Restaurant Supply in Poughkeepsie?” Alice asks.
Ollie’s eyes widen. “Yeah. Do you know them?”
Alice nods. “Of course. I’ve known Hank for years. I don’t have an account with him, but I’m sure I can get him to hold whatever it is you need. You want me to give him a call?”
Ollie lets out an enormous sigh of relief. “Oh, my God. Yes! Please. That would be amazing.”
My chest fills with an emotion that can only be described as pride as Ollie and Alice huddle together, their attentions focused on Alice’s mobile phone as she makes a call using the speakerphone.
A deep voice, with what sounds like—to my English ears—a thick New York accent, answers on the other end. “Henry’s. What can I do you for?”
“Hank, it’s Alice Lopez. I—”
“Alice! Hey, long time no see, sweetheart. How are things?”
Ollie and I try not to appear too impatient as we wait for Alice and Hank to get through the niceties of a greeting between two seemingly long-lost friends. I also have to work to keep my creeping possessiveness at bay as I listen to the mildly flirtatious tone she uses to butter him up.
Finally, after what seems like an hour but is probably closer to three minutes, Alice mentions Forked and the conversation Hank had with Ollie earlier.
“Do you think you can hold the proofing cabinet for me for a few days? Just until we can get someone out there to pick it up?” she asks, and my insides roar with jealousy as puts on a girlish tone to play up the flirtatiousness.
“I wish I could, sweetheart, but you know the policy. I only do holds on scratch-and-dents for customers with terms. But…” His voice trails off as he seems to consider something. “I guess, for you, I can hold it until closing tonight, but no later than that. And only if you’re the one who picks it up. Does that work for you?”
Alice beams, the joy in her face matching my own excitement. “That’s perfect!” she says, then she turns to me as she seems to remember I’m the one who has to pick up the cabinet if I also want to create an account. “Is that okay with you?”
I nod and the hairs on my arms stand on end as I watch her hash out the particulars with Hank. Alice and I will have to make the long drive to Poughkeepsie together.
“Thank you,” I say as she tucks her phone in her pocket.
She smiles, looking uneasy with my gratitude. “Don’t thank me yet. You still need to fight traffic to get there before closing, which is in…”—she glances at the clock on the wall—“…three and a half hours. It will be tight with traffic, but we should make it in time.”
“I can drive you guys,” Ollie offers enthusiastically. “I have an EZ-Pass for the parkway.”
“No,” I interject, perhaps too abruptly. “I mean, you can’t. I need you to hold down the fort while I’m gone.”
“Are you sure?” Ollie says. “Seems like you might not want to take that kind of risk today.”
“I thought your check engine light came on yesterday,” I reply, blurting the first thought that comes to mind.
Ollie appears confused for a moment, then, “Oh, yeah! I can’t believe I almost forgot about that.” She turns to Alice and lets out a brief snorting chuckle. “Imagine the three of us getting stuck upstate in
