LYDIA

 

“Tiramisu.”

“Tear-a-me-what?”

“Tiramisu. It’s Italian.”

“Italian. I don’t know much Italian. I don’t think anybody in Ivory knows any Italian.”

I giggled at Gina’s response. Despite her puzzled face, I pushed on.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “All that matters is that it tastes good.”

“Okay. But what is it exactly?”

“It’s a dessert.”

I pointed at all of the ingredients laid out on the counter.

“I put all of this together and we’ve got some tiramisu,” I said.

“Are you sure people will like it? The folks in Ivory can be picky.”

“Trust me. Once they get a taste of this, I’m sure they’ll like it. And they have to give it a chance because it’s Amy’s.”

“If you say so,” she said with a shrug. “Amy gave you the green light, so I’m with you, too.”

“Thanks. Start pouring out some of that wine for me.”

“Right… These ingredients look kind of expensive. What if they really like it? You can’t afford to make it very often.”

“That’s just it,” I said. “I only have to make a few servings. If they don’t like it, it’s not much of a waste. If they do like it, then they’ll be coming back for more.”

“And what if we don’t have any?”

“They’ll still be here. You can’t come to a bakery and not get something. Maybe we can introduce something new every month or so. Keep the customers interested.”

“I see… Kind of like a tease.”

“A tease,” I said, laughing softly. “That’s one way of putting it, I suppose…”

Gina put her head down and the two of us got to work. While I prepared the dish, I noticed Gina staring at me.

“I guess you picked this up back when you were working in the big city,” she said.

“Actually, I got it from my mother,” she said. “It’s not a big secret or anything but mother always made it from time to time. I did end up cooking it a few times at the restaurant I worked at but it was never anything official.”

“I bet the people up north really ate it up.”

“They liked it, sure. But there’s plenty of things to like up there. The competition is tough.”

“What’s it like?” she asked.

“What’s what like?”

“The city. You didn’t really tell me much about it.”

“Well… It’s interesting. There are a lot of things to do and places to go. Lots of interesting people. They’re different. Not like here in Ivory.”

“What are the boys like?”

The look on Gina’s face told me everything I needed to know. Even in the middle of the afternoon, the obvious was always at the front of her mind.

“They’re… They’re something,” I said, laughing as I tried to figure out an answer.

“Are they like the guys in Ivory?”

“Oh, no! Not at all! The guys up north. They’re different. A lot different.”

“How?”

Gina was so distracted that she’d stopped working. I pointed down at the counter and she yelped at the amount of sugar she was pouring into her mixing bowl.

“Guys in the city are different,” I said. “They’re real pretty boys. They’re always wearing fancy suits with expensive watches, driving luxury cars.”

“That sounds nice. Rich and successful. Sounds like my kind of man.”

“Sure. But these men, they’re constantly telling you how rich they are. It’s not enough just to be rich, they have to let everybody know. It’s like a constant struggle for power.”

“You ever been with any of them?”

“What?”

“Have you slept with any of these guys?”

I blinked my eyes at Gina’s blunt question. I suppose I should have been used to her candidness by now. And it wasn’t a secret that I was already sleeping with someone in town.

I snickered then shook my head as I recalled the details of memories that weren’t that interesting.

“I haven’t slept with any millionaires,” I said. “But I’ve been with some guys who were successful. I dated a guy who worked for a big company. He was pretty rich.”

“How did that work out for you?”

“Well, I’m here in Ivory now, aren’t I?”

We shared a laugh. I kept my head down and worked but Gina was lackadaisical in her approach. She was distracted by something but I wasn’t about to ask her about it.

“It’s strange,” she said.

“What’s strange?”

“I’ve lived in Ivory for so long. It’s all I’ve ever known. The way you talk about the city, it’s just so interesting. But you left and came here. I think that’s strange.”

“It’s not strange. Maybe you’ll go to the city and live up there one day. Different people like different things. That’s just how it works.”

“Maybe you’re right. I’ll be sticking around in Ivory for a long time though. I hope you like it here. It’s nice having you around. It’s nice to finally have someone to go out to Finn’s with.”

“Thanks, Gina. I’ve gotta tell you, it’s nice to have someone to go out with, too. I thought I would be stuck in my apartment when I got here.”

“Well, now that you’re all aboard with Brash, I figure you’ll be stuck in your apartment now.”

I felt my face blushing as soon as she said it. I kept my head down but from the corner of my eye, Gina was clearly smirking at me.

“What’s going on with you two?” she asked.

“It’s nothing,” I said with a shrug.

“Nothing? You don’t really expect me to believe that. I saw how you two were acting when you were at the bar.”

“All right,” I sighed. “It’s not nothing. But it’s not serious either. I’m just… I’m just trying to get settled in and have a little fun. Is that a crime?”

“No. No, it’s not. I’m proud of you, Lydia.”

“You’re proud of me?”

“Yeah. You picked a hot one to hook up with.”

She stuck her tongue out at me, teasing me and forcing my cheeks to blush even more. I shook my head at her and showed her how to prepare the ingredients for the dessert.

Gina looked at me like there was still something on her mind.

“That was crazy, wasn’t it?” she said.

“What was?”

“The guy that confronted Brash at Finn’s the other night.”

“Oh… Right. Do you know what that was all about?”

“I don’t know exactly. It’s mostly rumors. From the way he was shouting, I’m guessing he was related to the guy Brash killed.”

“What do you know about what happened? I mean, I figure Sean killing someone and going to prison was pretty big news all over town.”

“It was big news, all right.”

Gina’s eyes widened as she told her story.

“The cops were pissed when it happened. A biker killed another biker. Right after it happened, they cracked down on bikers all over town. They weren’t allowed to wear their cuts out in public. They weren’t allowed to ride around in groups bigger than two. It was like all clubs had been banned. They weren’t having it.”

“So, what happened?”

“Nothing happened,” she said with a shrug. “Clubs are a part of this town. There’s nothing the police can do to make them go away. As soon as Brash got locked up, things died down eventually. Everything went back to normal and it was business as usual.”

“Right… Say, Gina.”

“Yeah?”

“Why did he kill that guy? Do you know the details about that?”

Gina shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I wasn’t there. I’ve heard all of the rumors. Every one of them seems believable. The only people who know for sure what happened are Brash and Razor.”

“Razor… Did you know Razor?”

“No. I think he was a Winter Cobra. I’m not really the one you should be asking though. There’s plenty of people who know the real story. Maybe you should ask Brash yourself.”

I shook my head at the thought. Even though I was getting closer to Sean, the last thing I wanted to do was ask him about a man he murdered.

“Maybe I will,” I said. “One day. It’s not that important to me.”

“Listen…”

Gina walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

“He did his time,” she said. “He killed someone. Sure. I get how that makes you uncomfortable. But you shouldn’t hold it against him too much. From what I know, he’s a good guy.”

“I’m sure he is. Though it is a little hard to look at him that way when his name is Brash.”

“Hey, the name just makes him even hotter.”

Gina winked and I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help but shake my head at her.

The bell on the front door rang.

“I’ll get it,” I said. “Just keep prepping it like I showed you then put the layer of cream on top. As soon as you do that, stick it in the fridge.”

“Piece of cake. I mean, piece of tiramisu.”

She gave me a wink when she said it. I giggled at her then made my way out to the front.

Sean was there, his hands in the pockets of his baggy blue jeans. He looked just as handsome as he always did. His leather vest proudly displayed his club’s patch along with his name underneath it.

“Hey,” I said, fighting an uncontrollable giddiness in my stomach. “What are you doing here?”

“Just here to pick up some desserts,” he said with a grin.

“Desserts?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Then you’ve come to the right place.”

“Yeah, I’m in the mood for something… sweet.”

He leaned across the counter. It was hard to fight it but I managed somehow. His face drifting toward me, I teased him by pressing an index finger up against his lips.

“Fresh donuts,” I said. “Amy made them herself.”

He pulled his face back and sighed.

“A donut,” he said. “Sounds good.”

“What are you up to?” I asked.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?”

“Sure,” I said as I looked in the back room. “Gina seems to have everything under control.”

I grabbed a donut for Sean then sat down at a table with him. I watched him take a bite out of it. He chewed on it with a look of satisfaction.

“Good as always,” he said.

“So… What’s up? You wanted to talk to me about something?”

“I was wondering if you had any plans this weekend.”

“This weekend? Right. I was packing my things.”

“Packing?”

“I’m moving back up to the big city. I’m leaving Ivory for good.”

I stared at him. After a few seconds, I couldn’t fight the smile from coming to my lips.

“Don’t even think about it,” he said.

“Oh, yeah? And what would you do if I did?”

“Well, then I’d just have to chase you down. As part of the Ivory welcoming committee, I haven’t finished giving you the tour.”

“All right. I’ll stick around a little longer. What’s next on the tour list?”

He took another bite of his donut and nodded.

“The club is having an event this weekend,” he said. “Not a big thing. Just a small club gathering. I want you to be there.”

“Sure. No problem. It sounds like fun.”

“It will be. The club is full of good people. I want you to meet all of them. This will also give you a chance to talk to Garnet. Maybe you can convince him to help Amy’s out a little bit.”

“Okay. That’s a great idea. I don’t know what I can say to convince him though. I’m guessing the club is looking to make a lot more money than selling donuts and coffee.”

“It’s an investment,” Sean said. “Just like I told him before. Once you tell him what you’re doing to help Amy’s business, I’m sure he’ll change his mind.”

Sean finished the rest of his donut, raising his eyebrows at me. Despite his rugged exterior, he always seemed to have a calm demeanor when he was around me.

“…I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “I want to thank you.”

“Thank me?”

“Yeah. For everything you’re doing, or trying to do, at least. I hope this works. If I can help Amy out, I’ll be able to stick around in Ivory a little longer.”

“I’m sure things will work out for the best.”

He reached across the table and took my hand in his. His thumb rubbed over the top of my hand.

“You know,” he started. “If you really want to thank me…”

He leaned across the table.

Now wasn’t the time for teasing.

I sighed and closed my eyes, waiting for my lips to touch his.

“Hey, Lydia!”

Gina’s voice interrupted us.

I giggled and pulled my face away then turned to my coworker.

“It’s in the fridge,” she said.

“Great. Just give it a few hours and it’ll be all done.”

“A few hours?” Sean said. “What are you two doing back there?”

“Tiramisu,” I said.

“Tear-a-me-what?”

“Trust me. You’ll love it.”