Spicing Things Up

by Judi Lynn

  Daphne patted her lap for Tuppence to come over, but the cat ignored her. “I ate a jalapeño burger tonight and fries.”

  Miriam’s jaw fell. “With your parents?”

  “Mom didn’t approve.”

  Miriam rolled her eyes. “What does she approve of?”

  “Don’t start.” Daphne grinned. With Miriam, she could be herself, warts and all. “I drank two glasses of wine, too.”

  “You rebel, you.” Miriam stared at her friend. “The professor got to you, didn’t he?”

  “Not so much. I don’t miss him. More than anything, I’m mad at myself.”

  “Really? What for?”

  “For telling myself I’d be happy if I settled for less than I wanted, less than I deserved.”

  Miriam tilted her head, studying her. “Settling’s never good. Maybe you should give up on men. We could become a couple, except I have no sexual interest in you at all. And I don’t have anywhere for your sewing room.”

  Daphne laughed. “We’d make horrible lesbians. We’ll just have to stay friends.”

  “Perhaps that’s best.” Miriam leaned forward, curious. “I met your chef friend, Tyne.”

  “You did?” Daphne pulled a face. “He loves to push me, dragged me to a hiking trail with him.”

  Miriam stared, astounded. “Did he piggyback you so that no snakes or poison ivy could harm you? You’ll never go with me. You’d think the national park was Snow White’s forest, where the tree branches reach for you. I haven’t met any evil spirits in the woods around here.”

  “Very funny. No, he mostly mocked me into keeping up with him. I have to admit, the scenery was beautiful.”

  “I mock you, and you ignore me.”

  “He’s harder to ignore.”

  “Good for him.” Miriam leaned back again to stroke her cats. “So what are your plans now? You need to meet another guy.”

  “Screw that.”

  Miriam laughed. “You are in a mood! But no one wants to screw me. Too long and bony.”

  Daphne shook her head. “I’m done with men. No more. I’m going to be like you and enjoy being on my own.”

  “We’re not the same. You won’t like it. I do.”

  “I’ll learn to.”

  “Maybe.” Miriam glanced out the side windows as the sun lowered over the water, painting it a rosy orange. “Lick your wounds for a while, and then get out there again, find somebody.”

  Daphne looked at the stacks of papers beside Miriam’s chair. “Looks like you have a lot of homework to grade tonight.”

  Miriam looked at them, too, and sighed. “That’s what happens when you assign essay questions.”

  “You’re a damn good teacher.” She’d never use the word damn around her mother, only with Miriam.

  “I know, but teachers are under attack these days. If our country doesn’t change, we’ll become extinct. Who needs the grief that politicians and hostile parents give us?”

  Daphne smiled and stood. “I appreciate you, and so do your students. I’ll get out of here. Good luck with those. And thanks for listening to me.”

  “Anytime, and don’t push this Tyne guy away. He’s going to be good for you.”

  Daphne wrinkled her nose. “Who likes something that’s good for them?”

  This time, Miriam gave a wicked grin. “It’s possible he’s a pain in the ass you might learn to enjoy.”

  Daphne shook her head. How did you respond to that?

  Chapter 9

  It was all hands on deck for Sunday brunch at the inn. After having done it so often, Tyne, Paula, and Steph worked together in synchronized harmony. Steph stood ready to carve the ham at the buffet line. The lemon crepes were filled and on the serving dishes. Paula was on omelet duty. Tyne worked the Belgian waffle station, and Cody—the dishwasher—kept all of the trays filled with bacon, sausages, and bacon, caramelized onions and mushrooms, and the traditional sides of fresh-fruit salad, breads, and muffins. Lox and bagels sat ready, as did the potato pancakes with smoked trout. Guests came and went until the dining room cleared at one thirty.

  When brunch was over and the cleanup finished, Tyne and Paula stayed to make the appetizers for Harley’s party. They started with stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, and fancy deviled eggs. They went on to creamy crab-and-bacon endive boats, roast beef and beets in filo cups, chicken satay with peanut sauce, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Finger foods took a while, but when they finished, Paula drove home to Chase and her kids. Tyne drove the food to Harley’s.

  A new woman stood behind the bar with Kathy. Harley introduced her. “Tyne, meet Vicki. We’ve gotten busy enough, we needed to hire someone else. Vicki, Tyne. He’s a chef at the resort.”

  Tyne took a second to measure her up. Probably sixty. Attractive, with pure white hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Gray eyes. She looked intelligent and classy. She’d make a perfect addition here. She gave him a brief smile before helping Kathy line up more wine glasses for the tastings.

  Harley helped Tyne unload food, and his dad came to help them set up. When he noticed Vicki, he stopped to stare. “You hired the person we talked about?”

  Harley nodded. “She said she’d be happy working part-time when it’s slow and full-time when we’re busy. That’s not easy to find.”

  Gino thought about that. “Most people need a steady income.” He stopped to stare at her for a moment. She felt his gaze and looked up. Their eyes met, and Tyne swore chemistry buzzed between them.

  Harley blinked. He’d noticed it, too. He elbowed his dad. “Nice. Mom’s been gone a while.” Tyne and Harley often visited her grave at the end of their motorcycle rides. “I know she’s not here,” Harley once told him. “But it makes me feel close to her.” Tyne understood. He liked cemeteries.

  Gino gave his head a quick shake. “It will be nice to have an extra hand around here. We won’t be so pressured.” He went to set up more tables and chairs.

  Harley worked with Tyne to arrange the food in a few different locations, so there’d be a good flow. When they finished, Tyne drove back to his apartment. After a quick shower, he dressed in khaki pants and a dark-green, button-down shirt. He pulled a tan sweater over it. It was going to be chilly tonight. Then he drove to pick up Daphne.

  They couldn’t have picked a better night for the event. The air was crisp, but not cold. Autumn leaves glowed when the last of the sunlight hit them. Lights beamed in the windows of Daphne’s log cabin with its green-tin roof, sitting snug in its small clearing with the park as its background. Tyne bounced up its front steps to the wide porch and knocked on the front door.

  When Daphne opened it, he stared. Her light brown hair curled over her shoulders. She’d lined her hazel eyes with brown liner and applied a bronze shadow. A soft blush highlighted her high cheekbones. She wore a long, brown skirt with a pumpkin-colored sweater belted at her narrow waist.

  Words blurted from his lips. “Hell, if you can’t find a guy when you’re this damn gorgeous, you’re going after men who don’t have pulses.”

  Her cheeks turned an even deeper pink. “Thank you.”

  “Come on. We’re cutting it close.” He led her to his Jeep, and they raced to the other side of town. Soft background music was playing when they entered the Spanish-style building that held the tasting room. The relaxed atmosphere encouraged people to mingle as they ate and drank.

  Daphne spotted Miriam sitting with a gray-haired man near the dance floor. She and Tyne stood in line for appetizers, grabbed glasses of wine, and went to join her. Miriam looked up, surprised.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here,” she told Daphne. “Have you met our school’s principal, Albert Snyder? His wife’s playing piano in the jazz quartet.”

  After introductions, Miriam looked Tyne up and down. “You clean up pretty good.”

  “Yeah, no apron. I can blend in when I have to.”

  Daphne frowned at them. “How did you say you two met?”

  Tyne enjoyed watching Miriam sq
uirm. He had a feeling it didn’t happen very often. “Miriam came to deliver some goods at the inn.”

  “What kind of goods?”

  “Don’t ask.” Miriam waved it away.

  Daphne studied her friend, alarmed, but Tyne laughed it away. He nodded at Miriam’s wide, tweed trousers, white blouse, and red sweater. “You’re dressed like Kate Hepburn.”

  “You’re too young to know much about her.”

  “I’m thirty-one. What about you, oh wise one?”

  Miriam’s eyes glinted when he mocked her. “Thirty-six, like Daphne. But we’re film buffs, love old movies. You don’t strike me that way.”

  “I got hooked when I saw Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby.”

  “With Cary Grant? I love that one!”

  Tyne shrugged. “Bet you love her with Spencer Tracy more.”

  Miriam arched an eyebrow at him. “Be cautious, young Skywalker. You’re wading into hallowed grounds now.”

  “Sounds like I’ll need my lightsaber to protect myself.” He popped a stuffed mushroom into his mouth.

  “You might.” She raised her chin.

  Daphne watched them spar and smiled. She turned to Miriam. “There aren’t too many people who can keep up with you. Tyne can.”

  “He does all right for a snot nose. And he cooks. I love every bite.” Miriam reached for more bruschetta.

  Albert nodded approval. “The boy makes a mean crab dip.”

  The boy. Tyne got a kick out of that. The musicians stopped playing, and Albert’s wife came to claim him. Harley came over to say hi to Tyne and the women. “We’ve raised enough money to install both piers and a dock close to the winery. This has been a bigger success than we expected.”

  “The winery will be even busier,” Tyne warned him.

  Kathy called for Harley at the tasting bar, and he gave Tyne a light punch on the arm before leaving. “Thanks for all the help.”

  “No problem.”

  Daphne gave him an odd look. “You helped Maxwell make the focaccia for the other party, too, didn’t you?”

  “India was too sick to help in the bakery. That was for a charity Harley was supporting, not as much work.”

  “But you pitch in where needed?” Miriam asked.

  Time to be wary. Miriam sounded too pleasant. “I don’t cater private parties.”

  “But you’re a good friend.” Miriam motioned toward Daphne. “My girl needs a friend right now.”

  Daphne glared. How interesting. She didn’t monitor herself when she was around Miriam. What was she like when she wasn’t on her best behavior? Tyne wanted her to have a good time tonight, though, so smiled. “Lucky for her, she has two of us.”

  Music started up again, this time old-school style. Tyne reached for Daphne’s hand. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

  She yanked away from him. “I can’t.”

  “Can’t, or won’t?”

  “I’m not a good dancer.”

  Tyne took her elbow and heaved her to her feet. “Who cares? We’re not the entertainers. We’re here to have fun.”

  “Go for it!” Miriam cried.

  When Daphne tried to hold back, he wasn’t about to let it happen. He pulled her into his arms and swirled off with her. At first, she went rigid, stumbled, and stepped on his feet, but that wasn’t going to save her. He just kept going. Soon, she not only kept up, but she got into the music’s rhythm and flow. He loved to dance, and she was a natural. He had her dipping and twirling until a hand tapped on her shoulder. What the hell? Who cuts in at an event like this? Daphne turned her head to see who was there.

  Chantelle stood ready to take her place. Tyne glowered at her, was about to tell her to take a hike but Daphne, beet red, pushed away from him and headed back to Miriam. Son of a gun! He thought about calling her back, but she’d looked too embarrassed. He’d make the best of this, even though he wanted to throttle Little Miss Lust.

  She gave him a predatory smile. So, she thought she’d won, huh? She didn’t know him very well. With arms stiff, he held her a foot away from him and moved in place, putting his weight on one foot and then the next. She stared at him.

  “What are you doing? I watched you dance. I love your moves.”

  “I didn’t appreciate your last move at all, so guess what? Keep your distance.”

  “You’d really rather do this than hold me close? I’m awfully good in tight spots.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it. This is as close as you get.”

  When the dance ended, he returned to their table. Miriam tried to keep a straight face. “Were you trying to defend your honor out there? You did a good job.”

  “That girl should be on a leash.” Tyne reached for his glass of wine. “A muzzle might not hurt either.”

  They sat out the next set, but when the music started for the last one, Tyne reached for Daphne’s hand again. She shook her head. “I’m too tired.”

  He couldn’t bully her, he could tell, so he yanked Miriam to her feet instead. “Your turn.”

  To his surprise, Miriam had moves that could match his own. He’d never danced with a woman who was almost as tall as he was, so their first dip was a little sloppy, but then they found their groove. Miriam was getting into the music and rhythm, but when she tried to lead, he had to put his foot down. “Nuh-uh, I’m the guy. You might be my equal, but on the dance floor, you follow me, not vice versa.”

  “You’re such a traditionalist.” She laughed at him. “Come on, pretty boy, keep up.”

  They finished out the last dance, then returned to Daphne. She stared at her friend. “I didn’t know you could dance like that.”

  Miriam shrugged. “I took dance aerobics for a few years to stay in shape.”

  “You did? When?”

  “When I asked you to go with me, and you turned me down. No biggie.”

  The last guests started drifting to the doors. Time to leave. Tyne went to say good-bye to Harley and Kathy. Harley’s dad was helping Vicki wash wine glasses. Then Tyne came to collect Daphne and drive her home.

  Miriam walked to the parking lot with them, and Tyne held her car door for her. “Thanks for the dance, ET,” he told her.

  Her blue eyes sparkled. “ET?”

  “English Teacher.”

  “Any time, PB.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You are, Pretty Boy.” With a grin, she rolled up her window and pulled away.

  Chuckling, Tyne led Daphne to his Jeep and helped her in. On the drive to her place, he asked, “Did you have fun?” She’d sat out the entire last set. Tonight might have been a mixed bag for her.

  “It was wonderful.” She leaned back against her seat and hummed the last song.

  Good. She’d enjoyed herself. He was curious. “Why don’t you go to Chase’s on Fridays or Saturdays? He has a band. Lots of guys would dance with you.”

  The humming stopped. She stared at him. He’d pushed her too far. “They all know me,” she said.

  “That’s a bad thing?”

  She sidestepped his question. “I ordered a jalapeño burger at Chase’s on Tuesday.”

  “You?” He couldn’t hide his surprise. “I could hardly get you to eat curry.”

  “I liked it. Chase said you helped him with the recipe.”

  “It’s spicy.”

  She nodded. “I needed two glasses of wine to cool down my mouth.”

  He laughed. “You might enjoy lots of things if you try them.”

  She looked doubtful, retreated again.

  He let it slide. They’d taken a step forward. That was enough for tonight. He’d think of more things to push her envelope, and a month from now when she thought of Patrick, she’d yawn.

  Chapter 10

  Monday morning, the alarm went off, and Daphne woke with a headache. Her muscles ached, too. When was the last time she’d danced, had so much fun? And drunk three glasses of wine?

  She stretched her legs under the blankets, and Shadow pounced on one of them. She
wiggled her toes, and the cat swatted at them. She moved her fingers under the sheets, and he chased them. Why hadn’t she gotten a kitten before? Shadow was wonderful!

  She padded to the kitchen to feed him before stepping into the shower. The hot water felt good. It cleared her head, soothed her body. When she toweled off, her stomach rumbled. She was hungrier than usual so tugged on her robe and opened the refrigerator with hope. Obviously, false hope. When was the last time she’d gone to the store? When she went with Tyne? She had a crust of bread, a little milk, no eggs. The cat had a wider selection to choose from than she did.

  She opened the cupboard. An empty box of cereal. Why did she put it away empty? And then miracle of miracles! She found one packet of Pop Tarts. She toasted and ate those. She really needed to stop at the store. That, or starve.

  Shadow wanted some attention. She sat at the kitchen table and flicked paper clips for him to chase. The cat had a whole condo thing going now. When she’d gone to the pet store, she couldn’t resist the three-tiered play area with a cat bed at the very top. She filled his bowl with dry cat food and refreshed his water. She’d bought lots of toys and a kitty litter box that cleaned itself. Mom considered the expenditures a waste of money, but Daphne loved seeing the kitten happy.

  She picked up Shadow and nuzzled him. Purrs hummed in her ears. His soft fur invited her to stroke it. Too bad she couldn’t take him to work with her. A kitten in a stained-glass studio? No, maybe not a good idea. What did he do with himself all day? On weekends, afternoons meant nap time. The kitten curled in his new penthouse bed and snoozed for hours. She knew where she’d find him when she came home. He’d be perched on one of the deep window ledges that overlooked her back yard. A blue jay called at the peanut feeder, and Shadow squirmed for her to let him down. He raced to the window ledge to see it. She left to drive to Mill Pond.

  No matter how many times she looked at the leaves, she couldn’t soak in all of their beauty. The sky was so blue, the puffy clouds looked pasted on it—like a picture kids would make in grade school. Art’s grocery store was already open when she passed it, and Grams was pushing a cartload of groceries to her car. She waved at Daphne when she saw her. The aroma of fresh bread wafted to her as she passed Maxwell’s bakery, making her mouth water. There was something about the smell of fresh bread. Either that or Pop Tarts were a crappy breakfast.