Page 25 of Heart of Dixie
“Oh yeah? Where you headed?” Molly pointed both her raised eyebrows and the pot my way, somehow keeping two conversations going at once.
I nodded. “God yes, coffee. And keep it coming.”
Flynn pulled Colleen’s empty cup back toward her. “Cleveland.” He drew back his mug once it was full of the steaming brew, causing his wife to glower. “No caffeine for the little mama. Bring her OJ, would you, Molly? And we’ll both have the blueberry waffles today.”
I folded my paper menu and slipped it into the holder at the back of the table. “Sounds good to me, too. How about you, Beth?” Next to me, Beth nodded, then held her breath and darted her eyes toward the kitchen. Today, Ruby wore a black chef’s coat, had her midnight hair slicked back, and half her face was covered with a white Phantom mask. The soundtrack from the musical could just be heard through the open passway.
Molly’s smile may have been apprehensive. “You got it.” She left to deliver our orders to the kitchen.
Colleen scowled. “Give me a break, Flynn! What will one cup hurt?” Amidst her grumble and Flynn’s ensuing chuckle, the musical ring tone of my cell phone sounded. I was wise enough to check the caller ID this time, and good thing—it seemed Drew had found more to say. I flicked off the volume and tossed the device back in my purse. “I haven’t had my coffee yet, Drew.” When I looked up from my mutter, I was the center of attention.
“Boyfriend?” Beth sounded disappointed. She was still hoping for the ill-fated ex-lovers to reunite.Not happening, Beth.
I shook my head. “Client.”
Molly dropped by the table with Colleen’s juice. “Client? What kind of clients do you have?” Apparently, she was joining the conversation.
“Actors, musicians, pro athletes mostly.”
Molly settled a hip against the Formica. “You mean like football players with huge biceps and tight buns?”
Beth perked up. “Who’s in the TMZ limelight this week?”
Colleen stopped digging through her purse and leaned forward. “What exactly do you do for these big, strong, muscular men?”
I split a grin between Beth and Molly, took a sip of coffee, and waited for Molly’s jaw to snap shut again. “Normally, my partner handles their PR and I take care of their personal business but—”
Colleen ran her fingertips up Flynn’s chest and into the open vee of his polo. “Personal business. Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” Flynn turned beet red.
Their enthusiasm was nothing new. “Believe me, I’m more a glorified babysitter than respected professional. I need to be available whenever they have urgent matters to handle.” Molly was gearing up again, her excitement coiled and ready to spring free. It was such a shame to shoot her down. “Believe me, I use the termurgentloosely. In their minds, a postage due notice is cause for a frantic late-night phone call.”
Flynn’s eyebrows shot up and he shared a pensive look with his wife before he trained his narrowed gaze on me. “So, this career you have—it sounds as if you’re some high-powered business manager.”
“Well, my—”
“Now, don’t be modest. I’ve got some skin in that game, too. That’s something you went to school for.”
“I have a business degree, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
Flynn leaned forward with his arms braced against the edge of the table, and drilled me with his sharp gaze while Colleen and Beth carried on a side conversation. “That’s part of it. But it takes an eye, and an ear, to be good. To be respected. And you don’t get clients like Drew Hensley unless you’re respected.”
Molly appeared and delivered breakfast—large wedges of savory quiche with fresh fruit sliced on the side. It looked wonderful, but it wasnotblueberry waffles. I looked through the swinging door into the kitchen where Ruby was bent over the wide commercial oven.What was going on here?
“Hey, Molly, is everything all right with Ruby?” She stilled and her smile slipped before she tightened it back into place.
“Everything’s fine, Dixie.” She glanced over her shoulder and her entire face fell. “I think she forgot to order blueberries this week. And she ordered eggs twice.”
“What kind of ordering system does she use? Her computer should keep that from happening.”
Molly braced her serving tray against her hip and tapped her temple with her fingertip. “It’s all up there. She doesn’t even write it down.”
“Oh, no! Those kinds of mistakes are so costly to a small business. One of my clients also owns a small chain of restaurants; I’ll come back this afternoon and offer some ideas how she can improve her methods.”
“You know Ruby. She won’t want to spend any money on a computer.”
“Perhaps, but a computer is only one way.” The line inside the door wasn’t getting any shorter. As long as I was cramming new ideas down her throat, I’d also mention how she could improve the layout of the dining room to seat more customers.
Molly smiled. “I can promise I’d be relieved to serve what was actually ordered. Now y’all enjoy your breakfast. I’ll be right back with more coffee.” She winked at Colleen, who was scowling. “And juice.”
