Page 42 of The Estate
“I have conditions,” she responded, looking stern.
“I expect nothing less.”
Mrs. S smiled as she stood up. “I need a complete report back of your thoughts. I need details. From taste and texture to smell and appearance. You up for the challenge?”
“I am absolutely capable of doing that.”
“Excellent,” Mrs. S proceeded to the counter. “Oh, and share some with Cal,” she tossed back casually.
She disappeared into the back, leaving Rachel to finish her drink. If a pair of oatmeal raisin cookies didn’t soften the blow for Cal, maybe a test Thanksgiving cookie would do the trick. Fingers crossed.
When she finished, her to-go order waited at the counter. Mrs. S wasn’t there, so she grabbed some paper from Terry and wrote out the White Hall name and phone number. If that date was open and he could snag that event, it would be a big win for Cal. Fingers crossed for that one too.
Chapter Fourteen
Time Out
Cal tried to focus again on the paperwork spread out around him. The Friends’ Weekend had been a blast, but he was dragging. Probably a piss-poor idea to try to do anything mentally challenging today. And doing it during the prime afternoon slump was madness indeed. Although none of that stopped him from trying.
When Rachel showed up, coffee and bakery box in hand, he could have kissed her. The thought of doing so sat really well with him. Too well. It must be the caffeine and sugar coloring his reaction. Anyone would have felt the same.
“Hey Rachel,” he said after she knocked on the doorjamb. “Come in. I wasn’t expecting you.” He paused and eyed the items in her hand. “Did you show up here with Pie in the Sky intent on sharing, or am I just going to suffer and watch you gobble it all up?”
She laughed, and Cal felt his heart thump in response.Damn. If he wasn’t careful, he risked having some sort of Grinch reaction where his heart grew three sizes or some such thing.
“Not only do I come bearing sweets,” she said, brandishing the pale blue Pie in the Sky box. “I come with some afternoon pick-me-up coffee as well.”
Cal just about lunged for the box. “Bless you.” He opened it inhaling deeply and without thinking sighed, “I think I love you.”
Awkward silence descended for an hour, or at least that’s how long it felt to Cal. When he glanced over, Rachel’s eyes were wide and her mouth open.Oh boy. He’d done it now.
He cleared his throat and looked in the box, deliberately examining the contents. “I see you have a variety. Oh wait,” he tilted it slightly. “Is that a peanut butter fluff blondie?”
“Yes,” she replied, stepping closer with her hand raised. “That one’s for me.”
Cal moved the box away from her. He was getting suspicious. “And the cookies?”
Rachel dropped her hand. “There are two oatmeal raisin for you and Mrs. S sent test cookies along. If you have one of those, you’re required to provide feedback.”
Cal squinted. “So, you show up, unannounced, and bring me,” he peered at the side of the cup in her hand. “An Americano coffee?” His eyes widened. Now he was almost positive something was up. His favorite coffee and his favorite cookie? Oh yeah, she was up to something. But also, she remembered his favorites, and that struck a chord.
“And not one, but two oatmeal raisin cookies,” he continued. “And a test cookie to try?”
Rachel’s smile was weak, and she knew it. He saw it in her eyes. She was hiding something and was trying to butter him up with pastry. He would not admit it would totally work, but he would not make it painless on her either. He had a reputation to uphold. Besides, he didn’t want to seem easy.
“Would you care to tell me what’s going on now, or after I’ve been bought with coffee and cookies,” he laughed.
Her answering smile did things to his insides he refused to dwell on.
“How about during,” she offered.
“Fair enough.” He glanced down at his desk and the clutter that had made its way onto the chairs and onto any available flat surface. “Let’s go sit in the sunroom and eat. It’ll be nice to get away from all this for a little while.”
He indicated to Rachel to precede him out of the office, but they then fell in step walking down the hall. As good as the bakery box smelled, it was nothing against Rachel’s perfume. It was delicate and had a note of citrus that he liked.
Rachel started talking, forcing him to stop thinking about leaning in and taking a long breath so all he smelled was her.
“So obviously, I made a stop at Pie for reinforcements.”
