Page 36 of Driving Beats

Her cell phone alarm goes off again. “Bread’s done.” She moves next to me and drops off the matching earring. Like a caged kitten, she scampers toward the doorway. “C’mon. You don’t want to miss the first piece hot out of the oven. It’s the best part.”

“How can I resist?” I stand, turn off the projector, and follow her up the stairs. In the hallway, I put in the second earring.

When I enter the kitchen, she’s placed one loaf on the quartz counter. Oven mitt covering her hand, she walks toward the oven. “Get a bread knife. You know, with a serrated edge. What do you want on it? Butter, honey, cinnamon, jelly?”

It’s endearing the way she speaks—does she ever take a breath? After getting the knife—I am aware of what a bread knife is, thank you very much—I approach the fridge. “I’ll bring all four. Then we have options.”

She removes the second loaf. “Oh, I like how you think!”

The loaves perfume the kitchen with their enticing aroma. I grab two plates while she cuts her masterpiece into slices.

“You go first,” she offers.

“No. You did most of the work. Chef gets first taste.”

She shrugs. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

She butters her bread while I choose cinnamon. I bite into my piece a little after her. “Oh my. Nese, this is really good.”

Cheeks filled and distended like a chipmunk, she nods. After swallowing, she moans, “This is the best. I’ve made other breads before, but this is the all-time winner. My new cookbook is the bomb.” She does a jig.

I refrain from joining her, but the bread does warrant a second slice. This time with honey. By the point we can’t eat another bite, we’ve decimated over half of the first loaf.

Should I bring up the kiss? Will she make fun of me? Does she even remember it? While I debate my options, Nese puts some foil over the remainder of the bread. The other loaf is already covered.

“Tomorrow’s Sunday,” she says. “Do you know a good dim sum place around here? It’s on the Restaurant Bingo card, and it might be an excellent time to collect this space. I can go with others from the app, if you point me to a good spot.”

I should give her the name of my favorite Chinese restaurant. Not insert myself into her life more than I already have. “There is a great place not too far from here.”

“Perfect.” She waits for me to tell her the restaurant’s name. Finally, she asks, “What’s the name?”

Let her go on her own, Coop. I shouldn’t do this. My eyes close. “Since I’m not going to the Meditation Retreat, seems like my day is free. I can take you.” I glance at her. “Unless my stylist-slash-drill sergeant wants to do another shopping trip, that is.”

“Hey.” She puts her hands on her hips. “I am not a drill sergeant. You were the one who said he wanted to buy an entire wardrobe in a week.”

I parry. “Until you opened my eyes to the rigors of what ‘purchasing everything’ means.”

“I’m so glad you realize Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

I chuckle. “Unless Río was in charge.”

“Getting kicked out of Italy has to be for the record books. The man is wild, for sure.”

“Hayden’s settled him.” She has. Not a moment too soon.

The stylist nods. “True. So, what time should I be down here for our dim sum date?”

Date.

Not a date.

I correct her, “Two coworkers enjoying a meal.”

“Whatever.” She flips her hand. “I’ll be down here at ten. Does that work for you?”

I stuff my hands in my pockets. “Sure.”

“See you then. I’m off to clean up my kit, then going to bed. It’s been a long day.”