Page 51 of My Casanova

Pirate took the glass, swished it around like an expert, and then swallowed. He nodded and handed the cup back. “Yeah, that’s pretty good.”

Stan threw his hands in the air. “It’s a miracle! I’ve finally found another person who likes Stilton!”

I still had my hand over my nose. “I bought that Stilton three months ago. Stan’s been dying for someone to come in and sample it.”

“Figures Pirate would be the one to like it,” Yarder muttered and shook his head.

The camera crew had backed up a few feet, and we also covered their noses. Even they had their limits, it seemed.

“Grab what you guys want, and let’s go,” Yarder ordered. “Five minutes.”

Poppy sighed. “Sometimes that man is a stick in the mud.” She glanced at me. “It’s a good thing I like his stick.”

“Woman!” Yarder hollered.

She rolled her eyes and moved over to the jarred olives. “If I buy you blue cheese-stuffed olives, will you be less cranky?” she asked Yarder.

“I’m not cranky, but yes. Two jars,” Yarder called from across the room.

I smirked and called over to Stan. “Wrap up a piece of the Stilton for Yarder.”

“Way ahead of you,” Stan said with a grin. He handed Poppy a small plastic bag. “Don’t open this anywhere without good ventilation.”

Poppy wrinkled her nose and held the bag like it was radioactive. “Please don’t make me pay for this,” she whispered.

“On the house,” Stan chuckled. “From one blue cheese lover to another.”

Poppy shuddered. “I am not kissing you for two days after you eat this, Yarder.”

Yarder only chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”

Adalee browsed the shelves and grabbed a jar of Kalamata olives and a bottle of garlic olive oil. Fallon picked out stuffed grape leaves, a bottle of Grenache, and a six-pack of Belgian pale ale. Pirate, on the other hand, took four jars of blue cheese-stuffed olives.

The man was insane.

I rang everyone up as the cameras tracked our every move. Yarder paid in cash, nodded at me, and gestured to the door. “Let’s move.”

Adalee and Fallon waved goodbye on their way out, with Fade and Compass following closely. Pirate clutched his jars like treasure and exited with them.

“Bye, Dani,” Poppy called. “See you soon?”

“See ya!” I replied, even though I knew it’d probably be ten days before I saw them again.

The cameras followed them out, and finally, silence settled over the shop.

Stan came over and wiped his hands on a paper towel. “I like them.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I do too.” I pointed at him. “Now go prop open that door. I can’t believe you opened the Stilton. We’ve got five hours until closing.”

Stan chuckled. “Yeah, probably not my best idea.”

I settled behind the counter and watched him move toward the door. Seeing everyone had been a nice surprise, and it was good to get some clarity about Smoke.

Maybe he’d call me tonight, and we could talk. That seemed like a good plan.

Hell, I’d give Smoke until Friday to call me. If he didn’t, I’d figure out my plan B.

Chapter Twenty-Two

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