One month later the neighborhood has embraced scones and tea.

Thankfully, Beckett’s business is off to a decent start. The novelty of the place has not worn off, but the frenzy of the first week has disappeared. The place has gotten great reviews on internet restaurant sites and a lot of my customers have mentioned that they really enjoy something very different. He and Charlotte are making a profit, but at the rate they’re going it will be a long time before they build up the funds to finish Beckett’s apartment.

The downside? Our pastry business has taken a hit. (Yeah, I know, I sent people across the street. Small price to pay for seeing his business survive. Fine, I have an ulterior motive. So sue me.)

Anyway, the pastry thing is not a major concern since the lunch and cold cuts trade is our bread and butter, so my brother has cut back a bit on his baking duties. Of course, since he’s been spending every day working across the street, he’s making up for it. He’s clearly smitten with Charlotte and the feeling is mutual. It’s really wonderful to see my brother falling in love and they make a gorgeous couple. He also gets along well with Beckett, which is important.

As for a certain other couple I’d like to see fall in love, well, we’re in a holding pattern like a plane over La Guardia. With no idea when we’ll get cleared to land.

We’ve settled into a routine as far as the living and shower arrangements go. I see him at lunch and he sees me for an afternoon scone. I’m up and gone while he’s still asleep, I’m often in bed when he gets home.

Home.

It sounds so strange to say that. But it feels like we’re one of those old married couples that have turned into roommates.

And it’s time I fixed that. How I do that is another story. But I have to do something.

My friends obviously notice me pushing my food around the plate during Friday night dinner. “A.J. is obviously in contact with the mother ship right now,” says Madison.

I look up from my plate. “Sorry, guys.”

“Tired, frustrated or both?”

“Frustrated. I never thought living with a guy would be so... I don’t even know how to describe this. But knowing a man I’m really attracted to is sleeping in the guest room is pure torture.”

Rory slowly nods. “Beckett still in a funk over his wife?”

“I guess. And of course he’s so damn tired from working himself to death across the street. Even with my brother and cousin helping out, he and his sister are exhausted. All they do is work, eat and sleep. I hear the poor guy snoring every night through the heating vent. We’re basically like roommates.”

Tish reaches across the table and refills my wine glass. “Sounds like the ball is in your court. You need to break him out of that routine if he’s stuck in it.”

“And how do you propose I do that? I’m open to suggestions.”

Madison looks at the couples at the bar for a moment, then turns back to me. “Well, for one thing, you need to get him out of the house. Remind him that he was originally attracted to you in a romantic way. If he’s looking at you as a roommate, remind him that you’re a smoking hot woman.”

“You threw away my seductive wardrobe, remember?”

Suddenly Rory’s eyes light up. “I’ve got it. And all you need is a towel.”

***

BECKETT CLOSES ON SATURDAY afternoon as we do, and I’m already set to go when I hear him trudge up the stairs. I open the door for him and flash a big smile. “How was your day?”

“Very busy, thankfully. But I’m worn out, as usual. At least I can rest tomorrow.” He enters the apartment and tosses his keys on the counter, then starts to take off his jacket.

I grab his hand. “Hang on, I have a surprise for you.”

“Can it wait?”

“Nope. And put your jacket back on.”

“A.J., I really don’t have the energy to go out.”

“Sorry, you have no say in the matter as the surprise is already paid for and we have an appointment.”

He furrows his brow. “An appointment?”

I pull him toward the door. “Yep. C’mon, I’ll drive.”

***

I TURN MY HEAD AS WE’RE both lying face down under a sheet on the massage tables. “I thought you could use this. And, to be honest, it was a good excuse for me to get one too. Plus, you get a discount when you book his-and-hers massages.”

He smiles at me. “Very thoughtful of you. And you’re right, I could use this.”

The massage therapists arrive, a muscled hunk for me and a buff blonde for him. (In case you hadn’t guessed, they’re both friends of mine.) They both ask us what kind of massage we like. Beckett is still looking at me as my masseur removes the sheet, revealing me in a string bikini. His eyes widen like saucers.

His therapist gently takes his head and turns it so he’s looking straight down through a hole in the table. I do the same and smile.

He noticed.

***

AN HOUR LATER THE MASSAGES are over. Of course I’ve thrown in a few moans along the way and a couple of “oh, yeahs” while being rubbed, just for effect. The therapists pull a curtain between us and leave the room so we can get our robes on to make our way to the showers. Of course, my friend has conveniently forgotten to leave a robe for me.

A minute later a gentle tap on the door is followed by, “You guys decent?”

“Never!” I yell, which gets a laugh out of Beckett. “Come on in.”

Both therapists enter and the woman pulls back the sheet, revealing me wrapped in a towel which barely covers my ass.

Again, his eyes go wide.

The masseuse feigns surprise. “Oh, A.J., I’m so sorry we forgot to leave you a robe.”

I shrug. “No problem. This will do fine.”

“Okay, guys, the showers are right this way and you also need to drink lots of water today to flush out the toxins.” She then hands each of us a brochure. “Oh, you might be interested in this... we started offering classes to couples on basic massage therapy, so you can work on each other at home.”

I take the brochure and nod as I look at it. “Sounds good. Sign us up.” I turn and smile at Beckett. “I’m sure you could use a daily massage since you put in such a long hard day at work. And I know I’d love a back rub once in a while.”

I can tell I’ve caught him off guard, but he doesn’t put up a protest. “That will be fine.”

***

BECKETT IS DEFINITELY in better spirits as we arrive home. “I must say, A.J., as surprises go, that was inspired. I feel like I’ve had an entire bottle of wine.”

“Hey, you needed to relax as hard as you’ve been working. Nothing is as refreshing as a massage. And the beauty of the timing is that we’re both off tomorrow, so the relaxation continues.”

“Excellent point.”

We take off our jackets and I look at the clock. “Watch a movie with me? The satellite company gave us free pay channels this weekend.”

“Sure.”

“Want a glass of wine?”

“Since I just had a figurative bottle, a real one would be nice.”

“I’ll get the wine and meet you on the couch. You see what’s on TV.”

I open a bottle of wine and pour two glasses as I see him grab the remote and start searching for a good movie. “Do you have any particular preference? Comedy? Action?”

“You pick. I can go either way. Laughs or explosions.”

I bring the wine over to the couch and note a movie I wanted to see on the guide. “Oooh, I heard that one was good.”

“I did as well. Sounds like a winner.” He clicks on the channel just as the movie is starting.

I hand him a glass of wine, sit next to him, then lean into him. I grab his free hand and wrap it around my waist as I lay my head on his chest. “There. Now I’m perfectly relaxed.”

I can’t see his reaction but I can feel it.

He pulls me a little closer.

Gypsy walks into the living room, looks at Beckett, pauses a moment, looks at me.

No kitty. Please, pleeeeze don’t jump on us now...

She then continues to the kitchen.

It’s as if she knows what I’m up to.

Hopefully by the end of the movie he won’t be thinking of me as his roommate any longer.

The film gets off to a good start. I drink my wine pretty quick and it goes right to my head.

What the hell. I pour another glass. I’m already in the mood and this will help. I look back at him. “Need a refill?”

“Please.” He holds out his empty glass and I fill it.

Hope it will get him in the mood as well.

***

SOMETHING FURRY TOUCHES my face.

I crack open one eye and see Gypsy. We’re nose to nose. “Hey, sunshine.”

Sunshine. The real stuff. It’s pouring through the window.

It’s morning?

Wait a minute...

I yawn as I stretch my eyes open and see that I’m no longer on the couch.

I’m in my bed. I throw back the covers.

I’m wearing the clothes I wore yesterday.

What the hell?

Oh, you gotta be kidding me... I didn’t...

I get up and head toward the kitchen, Gypsy following me, and hear the gurgling of the coffee pot. I find Beckett reading the newspaper. He looks up and flashes a smile. “Good morning. Sleep well?”

I look at the clock and see it’s past ten. “Like a ton of bricks.”

“I did as well. Nothing like a massage and wine to send one off to la-la-land.”

“Apparently I was really out of it. I don’t even remember walking to my bedroom.”

“You didn’t. You fell asleep during the movie.”

“So how did I get there?”

“I carried you.”

And I wasn’t awake for that? Sonofabitch!

“A.J., I tried waking you up but you were dead to the world. So I gave you a lift and tucked you in.”

“You actually carried me down the hall to my bedroom?”

“It wasn’t very difficult. You don’t weigh anything.”

“Well, thank you for that. So then you took off my shoes?”

“Yes. As for the rest of your clothes, I generally prefer women to be awake before engaging in that activity.” Sly smile.

“You truly are the perfect gentleman, Beckett.”

“Oh, I recorded the movie so we can watch it at another time.”

“And you think of everything.”

“Anyway, I slept like a baby and feel completely refreshed. All thanks to your wonderful surprise.”

“Glad it worked for you.”

Damn it, it worked too well for me.

The coffee machine beeps. Beckett pours two cups and slides one toward me. “Well, while you’re off at your regular Sunday brunch, Charlotte and I will be decorating for Christmas since it’s a week away. We completely forgot about it with all the scrambling trying to get the place open.”

I realize I’ve totally forgotten about the holidays.

And I realize I also need a Christmas present for Beckett.

I want it to be me.