Page 8 of Don't Hurt Us
Grabbing two bottles of water, I offer Sydney my comfortable chair and take one of the crappy ones I have set up on the other side of the desk.
“This looks amazing.”
We talk about the town and some of the strange interactions we’ve had with customers.We discuss changes we both want to make to our businesses and talk about our personal lives.It’s so easy to hold a conversation with her.So simple and relaxed.So effortless.
“Ok, I’ve been trying to think of pairings all day and I'm coming up empty.”I sigh and lean back in my chair once I’ve cleaned up from dinner.“I'm hoping you have some amazing ideas.”
“Actually, I do.”Sydney scoots to the edge of her chair and smiles like she’s proud of herself.
“Well, don’t go holding back on me now, beautiful.”I grin and watch her carefully.
“How about I give you a list of drinks to make and then I’ll surprise you with the pairings?”She rubs her hands together like she’s up to something.I love how excited she is for this.
“I'm at your mercy.Tell me what to make.”
She hands over a sheet of paper and I chuckle.She planned for this all along.I stand and head back into the bar.It only takes me a few minutes to whip up the first half of the list of drinks.If Sydney can really help me make these many pairings, this could be amazing for both of our businesses.
When I reenter the office, Sydney has a few boxes lining the far side of the desk.She has three small plates in the center of the desk with one dessert on each one.
“The first seven drinks.What do we want first?”I carefully place the tray on the filing cabinet and arch a brow in Sydney’s direction.
“The black Manhattan.”
I grab the drink and place it in the center of the desk.I’ll let her try everything first.I have no problem drinking from the same cup as her, but I'm not sure how she feels about it.
“What are we pairing this with?”
“A walnut brownie.”She moves that plate closer and splits the brownie into bite sized pieces with a knife.
I motion for her to take the first sip and then follow her lead.My brows draw together as I realize how perfect this drink goes with the rich brownie.
“This is amazing,” I mumble around the brownie.“What are we pairing with the hot toddy?To be honest, I don’t make these often.It’s difficult to have a hot drink at the bar.”
“I was thinking of that.But what if you have one of those coffee dispensers filled with everything hot and you just have to mix in the alcohol?It would be perfect if you only want to have a limited number of them available per a day.Make people feel like they need to jump at the chance to order before you run out.”
“That’s an amazing idea.”
“Ok, so with the hot toddy, we’re having an apple fritter.”
We split the drink and dessert, and again, it’s amazing.Sydney did so much work and research to make sure this is a success.I don’t know how I’ll ever thank her for it.
We slowly go through the rest of Sydney’s list.Matching champagne with lemon bars, shortbread cookies with white Russians, lemon drops with crém brûlée, peach cobbler with whiskey sours, grasshoppers with chocolate cake, daiquiris with pineapple upside down cake, coffee beer with donuts, raspberry martinis with cheesecake, apple cider margaritas with apple crisp, molten lava cake with an Irish coffee, dark chocolate cake with Chianti wine, and salted caramel vanilla cake with spiked apple cider.
“Ok, I have one item left.I just need a bottle of beer for it.Nothing special.”
I nod my head and grab a bottle of beer from the bar.I pop the top as I hand it over to Sydney.
“This cookie is a little different.It’s called a Welsh cookie.It’s kind of a mix between a cookie and a biscuit.It pairs really well with beer of any kind.This is an old family recipe that’s been passed down through the generations.”
The soft smile playing on her lips makes me fall a little harder for her.I know the chances of anything happening between us are pretty slim, but I can't stop thinking about this woman.She’s so proud of something simple like having a family recipe for something most people have never tried.
I just can't believe she’s willing to let me sell these cookies at my bar.
“Wow,” I mumble around a bite of the cookie.She’s right, it’s completely unlike any other cookie I’ve ever tried.It’s delicious.“This is amazing.Do you sell these at the bakery?I’ve never seen them there.”
“No.They’re fairly labor intensive to make,” she says softly.“You have to cook each one like a pancake.You can't just stick them in the oven and set a timer.”
“Then I don’t want you to make them for the bar.It’s too much.They are delicious with the beer though.I wouldn’t object to you surprising me with some just for me.”I grin.
