Epicurean Delights

by Renee Roman

  Hudson was a pleasant distraction, too, able to divert her attention to more intimate thoughts, along with turning her center to liquid fire. Heat rose to her cheeks. She was grateful Rhonda didn’t know what she was thinking.

  “I’d love to, but I have to leave early and wasn’t planning on taking a lunch.” Ari saw Rhonda’s disappointment. “Can I have a rain check for next week?”

  Rhonda’s eyes rolled in exasperation. “Girl, you work too much. Do you ever have fun?”

  Ari couldn’t remember the last time she’d relaxed and had fun before Kara’s visit. She knew she couldn’t continue to ignore being good to herself and enjoy life more. She didn’t want to drive herself into an early grave.

  Rhonda patted her hand and stood. “It’s okay, honey. Next week is fine.” She turned to leave and paused. “Don’t run yourself ragged. Everyone deserves a break, including you.”

  * * *

  Ari didn’t understand her disappointment. There wasn’t room in her life for a relationship. It made no sense to look for Hudson. Then why do I keep doing it? She stepped into the water after deciding all she wanted was a friend. Everyone needs friends, and Kara isn’t here anymore. She swam lap after lap and tried to concentrate on her strokes. Every time she found her rhythm, Hudson’s warm smile filled her vision.

  A few minutes later, she gave up, knowing she was only kidding herself by thinking the only reason she was there was for the exercise. Ari rounded the lockers, her head down, and collided into someone. Arms shot out to steady her.

  “Oh, my God,” she gasped. “I’m so sorry.” Gray eyes locked with hers, a mischievous expression quirking one corner of Hudson’s mouth.

  “We really need to stop meeting like this.” Hudson’s hands slid down the length of her arms before breaking contact and taking her warmth with her.

  So much for making a good second impression. “I seem to have a knack for making a fool of myself.” Ari wrapped her towel around herself, self-conscious of her outdated suit and less than perfect body. Hudson didn’t have an ounce of fat on her, and she imagined how the ripple of Hudson’s muscles would feel under her hands.

  “I don’t think you’re a fool. I’d wager you’re anything but.”

  Hudson raised an eyebrow when Ari looked up, as though waiting for Ari to respond. Her legs turned to spaghetti under the intensity of Hudson’s gaze.

  “Sorry,” Ari mumbled and brushed by. All she wanted to do was grab her stuff and run.

  Hudson caught her hand. “I have a class in ten minutes, but I’d like to reciprocate that cup of coffee sometime.”

  Warning signals went off in Ari’s head. She didn’t have time for someone new. Especially for someone who caused such a primitive reaction. Maybe Hudson would think twice if she gave her a reason to recant the offer.

  “You’re not afraid I might knock you down next time?”

  “I’m pretty tough. I’ll take my chances.”

  Against her better judgment, Ari gave in. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She went to her locker and Hudson followed. She was too close and the space around her felt thick and cloying.

  “Do you have a cell phone or a pen? I seem to be without either.” Hudson gestured at her one-piece suit.

  “Uh, sure.” Ari unclipped the key from her strap and fought to get it in the lock. Closing her eyes, she took a steadying breath and prayed it would open. She almost shouted when she heard the click. She rummaged in her bag and finally produced her phone and shoved it at Hudson.

  Hudson stared at her. “If you’d rather not…”

  “No. I mean yes. Coffee. Coffee would be great.” Ari leaned against the lockers, hoping the awkward moment would end soon. Hudson handed her phone back.

  “Call me whenever. For coffee.” A brilliant smile lit up her face.

  “I will. I work a couple of jobs and I’m house hunting so it may be a few days.” It sounded like a brush-off even to her. Maybe that was okay.

  Hudson raised her hands in surrender. “No pressure.”

  Ari saw the disappointment, but it didn’t linger. Why am I being rude? Hudson hadn’t done anything to deserve being snubbed. She chewed her lower lip.

  “Hey.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Would Wednesday be good for you?” Ari asked.

  “Call me. We’ll figure it out.”

  * * *

  Hudson walked to the edge of the pool and dove in. Her long strokes allowed her to cover the length in a matter of seconds. Confusion reigned over her emotions. She could have sworn Ari wanted to spend more time with her. Now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe Ari was like all the others. Women who were drawn to her looks and didn’t bother to find out about her as a person. She had always wanted someone who would love her for the things they couldn’t see. The things that mattered most in a relationship, such as strength of character and honesty. Making a “cute couple” only went so far. She longed for the depth of love her parents shared. They’d found it, so why couldn’t she? She needed to talk to them. Find out what were some key elements in their loving, supportive relationship. Pam had been a mistake. She’d read the cover and the blurb, but the inside pages had missed the mark.

  Was Ari another Pam? Maybe she’d misread Ari’s intentions. It was a stupid move on her part. She should know better. If the past had proven anything, it had shown she couldn’t trust her instincts. Maybe Ari wouldn’t call, and she’d save herself from worrying about more heartache. There wasn’t any way in hell she was ready for another relationship.

  She broke the water’s surface and found her students lined up at the edge of the shallow end. Some yelled greetings and others were stretching to warm up. How long had they been waiting? There’d be time for deep thinking later. She had a job to do. She stood and put the whistle to her lips, blowing a short, strident blast. What followed was a mass of uncoordinated arms and legs, splashing and spraying water in their attempts to be first at her side.

  * * *

  Well, that wasn’t unpleasant at all. Not. Ari flipped off the water and shook her head. She’d sent so many mixed messages that she was convinced Hudson had no idea if she’d ever call. One minute Ari wanted to know her better, the next she was convinced there was no room in her life for a relationship. Which was it? She needed to address things one at a time. Someday there’d be room for a special woman in her life. It wasn’t tomorrow. Still, it would be nice to have a friend to talk with about important things, but building a close rapport took time. Time was the one thing she didn’t have a lot of. And Hudson, with her perfect body and handsome features, was a big distraction. One she couldn’t afford right now.

  Chapter Six

  Ari double-checked the address and pulled up to a large Victorian on a quiet street. An old-growth lilac bush out front was in full bloom and could benefit from a pruning. An elderly couple sat in rocking chairs on their porch a few doors down and stared in curiosity. She wondered how long the house had been on the market and if the owners still lived there. Sally’s enthusiasm gave her hope this might be the one. Kara had been calling every few days to lend moral support. Excitement fluttered in Ari’s stomach.

  Sally waved from the front steps, and Ari took a deep breath. Nervous energy coursed through her body. Every house she’d looked at so far had left her crestfallen. The kitchen was too small, the house, tiny. The neighborhood was wrong. It needed a total renovation.

  Sally hooked arms with Ari and led her up the front stairs. “I just know you’re going to love this one,” she said. “It’s been on the market for a while, but…well, see for yourself.” She entered the code on the lockbox, retrieved the key, and unlocked the front door.

  “So, as you can see,” Sally began, “there’s a good-sized living room, a lovely dining room, and the best part of all is the partially renovated kitchen.”

  Ari gawked at the spacious kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a Wolf five-burner stove with a double oven. The owners had invested a small
fortune in them. Upper and lower wooden cabinets lined three of the walls and provided plenty of counter space, but they would need refinishing. The huge center island screamed “use me,” and she imagined the surface covered with trays of delectable treats. Closing her eyes, she could smell the aromas swirling around her, tempting the neighbors to her door. Continuing the tour, she opened another door that led to a walk-in pantry and pictured all the equipment and goods she would be able to stow inside. Whoever owned this house loved to cook.

  “I hope the rest of the house is this impressive.”

  “Come with me.” Sally pointed out a small but functional bathroom, two modest bedrooms, and the master suite. Aside from needing some patchwork and painting, it was in good shape. Walking back to the kitchen, Sally pointed to a thick oak door with a double deadbolt.

  “That leads to the upstairs apartment over the garages in back. There’s a separate entrance on the side.” She opened the door, flicked the light switch, and led the way.

  Another door at the top opened into the apartment. The living room was a decent size. It also had a well appointed, eat-in kitchen, full bath, and a large bedroom. The closets were spacious with a stacked washer/dryer tucked behind louvered doors. A small covered porch faced the postage-sized yard. The grass was sparse and could use attention, but it was cute. It had everything she wanted. The one caveat—it had to be way out of her price range. Her earlier optimism began to fade.

  Her heart hammered in her chest. “How much do you think I could rent this for?”

  “I looked up comparable apartments and you can get as much as nine hundred a month, if you included one of the garages.”

  She started crunching the numbers.

  “Let’s head back downstairs.” Sally locked the door.

  “What’s the asking price?”

  Sally gestured to the table and opened a folder. “The asking price is two hundred eighteen thousand, but they’re motivated to sell. I think they’d accept a lower offer.” She leaned forward as if sharing a well-guarded secret. “I found out they’re paying three mortgages and they want out in a hurry.”

  Red flags went up. “What’s wrong with the house?”

  “As far as I can tell, it’s in great shape.” Sally shrugged. “Not many people want to be landlords these days.”

  “Can I run my business from here?”

  “As long as you don’t hold events on the property, you can have a home-based business.” Sally handed her an official-looking printout entitled, “Zoning Laws in Albany County.”

  Ari picked up the house flyer and stared at it for a long time.

  “Do you want to make an offer?” Sally asked.

  “Hell, yes! And we’re going to shoot low and hope for the best.”

  “Great. I’ll send them an offer. They may counter, but I have a feeling they’ll take what they can get.”

  * * *

  Ari paced behind the hostess station, unable to focus on the dinner customers waiting for their table to be cleared. The house she’d looked at earlier was foremost in her mind. She’d dared to go as far as picturing a scene in the kitchen—every space occupied by dishes prepared for her first catering order.

  “Ari?” Ralph, the owner, called out to get her attention. He pointed to the table in the corner.

  She grabbed menus and turned to the patrons. “Sorry for the wait. Right this way.” On her way back to her station, she mouthed an apology to Ralph and refocused. Sally told her it might be as long as a week before she heard if the sellers would accept her offer. One that was fifteen thousand below the asking price. It was a risk, but one they both hoped would pay off. Now she wondered if it had been a wise move. She loved the house, and the extra income from the apartment would go a long way to putting her mind at ease about being able to afford it. As long as she could find a reliable tenant.

  A group of six patrons walked in. It was going to be a long night.

  * * *

  Two days later, Ari rushed out the back door. Sally had delivered the signed contract at the start of her shift, so this was her first chance to take a break.

  I’m going to be a homeowner.

  “Hello?” Kara barked into the phone.

  “I know it’s that time, but I had to share the news.” Kara would be binge watching CSI. “I got it.”

  “You got what?”

  “The house. They accepted my offer.”

  “Holy shit! For real?”

  Ari laughed. “Yes, for real. They were so happy to unload it they agreed to pay for the inspection and my closing costs.”

  “That’s fantastic. When’s moving day?”

  “I have no clue, but I should close in a few weeks.”

  “You know I have a million questions, right?” Kara laughed.

  “Yes. So do I.” She took a breath before asking, “Do you want to move here and rent the apartment?”

  “Honey, you know I’d love to, but I love my job and being in New York City.”

  “I know. It was silly of me to ask.” It had been wishful thinking on her part.

  “You must know someone there who’s looking for an apartment.”

  A scene flashed in her mind. It was crazy. “I might.”

  “Good.”

  “Hey, Kara?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you. Thanks for letting me interrupt your show.”

  “Anything for you. I love you, too. Call soon, okay?”

  “Will do. Bye.” She headed inside, glad she had a short shift tonight. She prayed the next two hours would fly by.

  When she got home, Ari sat on the edge of the couch holding the contract in her hand. She scrolled through her contact list. There it was. Hudson Frost. Biting her lower lip, she looked at the clock and wondered if it was too late to call. She wouldn’t sleep a wink if she waited. If Hudson didn’t answer, maybe she’d call again tomorrow. For some strange reason, she didn’t want to leave a message. Here goes nothing.

  * * *

  Hudson watched the flash of screens as she flicked through channels. Bored, she debated going out for a drink, but it was getting late, and she had to work in the morning. The vibration of her phone caught her off guard, displaying a number she didn’t recognize. She almost let it go to voice mail before swiping the screen.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi. Is this Hudson?”

  “Speaking.” The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

  “It’s Ari.” Ari paused before saying more. “The woman who has a habit of running into you. Literally.”

  Hudson sat up. It had been almost a week since she’d seen her, and she expected to never hear from her again. “Glad you clarified. I know so many Aris.” She was being a smartass, but Ari seemed like the type who wouldn’t mind some good-hearted ribbing.

  “Ha ha. You’re funny.” Ari’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Sorry.” Maybe she’d been wrong about Ari’s sense of humor.

  “Gotcha.” Ari giggled into the phone.

  “Now who’s the smart aleck?” She settled back against the couch.

  “I was calling to see if you were free tomorrow for our coffee date?”

  A date. Hudson’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t want this to be a date, did she? That was why she was surprised when she said yes. What the hell am I doing? Too late now. If she changed her mind, she’d sound like a confused teenager, which was exactly how she felt.

  “Tomorrow works.”

  “Great. How about six o’clock at the Dark Side Bistro on Main?”

  Hudson ignored the voices running amok in her head. “I know where that is. You’re serious about your coffee.”

  “Uh, if you—”

  “Ari?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ll see you there.” Hudson pressed end. Whether she’d meant for coffee to be a date or not, it certainly felt like one. She picked up the remote and resumed her search for something that could hold her interest.

  Ar
i certainly did. She laughed out loud thinking about the times Ari had tried to appear calm without success. Like their first meeting when Ari had whipped cream at the corner of her mouth and Hudson had resisted wiping it with her finger. And when she’d literally run into her and Hudson had held her for too long. And then at the locker, when she’d closed the distance between them and could see Ari’s hand tremble.

  Yes. Ari had her attention. Now she needed to decide what to do with it.

  * * *

  Ari had agonized over the location. She hadn’t wanted Hudson to think they were on a date-date, but she wanted to be able to have a serious conversation without the din of a college coffee bar. The Dark Side had a sophisticated atmosphere and was a little more expensive, meaning the students tended to be few.

  “This is weird,” Ari said as they stood outside the Bistro.

  Hudson’s head cocked. “What do you mean?”

  “I haven’t dropped anything or run into you. I’m not sure what to do.” She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her jeans. This wasn’t how she planned to start the conversation. Whether or not Hudson even wanted to hear about the apartment was just the tip of the iceberg. She couldn’t imagine talking about rent, boundaries, or all the other things she’d thought about since last night. Hudson’s easy nature helped her relax a bit.