Holy crap, I have a thing for the indecisive, kind of obnoxious patisserie chef.
‘That’s ridiculous,’ I say for the benefit of no one other than my sanity. I like brunettes, for a start. Tall, leggy brunettes. I like women who are less interested in bickering with me and more interested in getting laid.
I close the lids on passion and silk and head back to the shower. This testosterone has got to go. Now.
* * *
As I stand on the sidewalk outside Lexington Tower, I’m feeling better. A heap more rational now that my right hand has straightened me out.
I consider avoiding Fabio’s altogether. I definitely don’t need anymore to eat for breakfast after those cakes. But I do want a coffee.
Marty opens a car door and steps onto the sidewalk in front of me. I break my pace to allow us to walk in sync. ‘Fabio’s?’ he asks.
I nod. ‘You look rough.’
‘I call this look Veronica.’
‘Veronica for the third time in two weeks. Are you sure she’s still just a lay?’
‘Are you keeping tabs on my sex life now, Harrington?’
‘No. But I am keeping tabs on your impending matrimony.’
He chortles. ‘No chance. I’m like the Dean Martin of the circuit.’
I scoff. ‘The hell you are.’
‘Actually, let’s go with Sinatra. Still a notorious ladies’ man but more classy about it than Dean Martin. That’s me. Classy bachelor.’
This time, my scoff turns to a laugh. Fabio waves a hand at us from his truck. ‘The usual?’ he shouts.
I tell him just coffee for me. Marty gets his standard turkey bacon bagel and a coffee.
As I take my first mouthful of caffeine, Fabio leans on his forearms and asks, ‘What happened yesterday, my man?’
‘Fabio, you need to ask? I won the case,’ I tell him.
‘I know you win your cases. I meant with the girl. I could feel that chemistry from my truck. Could have fried bacon on that heat.’
Marty’s eyebrows are raised as he wipes crumbs from his mouth.
‘I bought the woman breakfast. You two need to calm the hell down.’
Fabio holds up his hands. ‘Whatever you say, my man. Whatever you say.’ As I’m shaking my head, I take a look over my shoulder. Am I making sure she isn’t here or wishing she was?
Dismissing the two assholes trying to get a rise out of me, and my own wayward thoughts, I change the subject. ‘Did you get that mess straightened out with your street license, Fabio?’
‘Yeah, thanks, Drew. Got the new one here.’ He holds up his mobile food vendor license with pride. ‘You fixed me right up. Are you sure I can’t pay you?’
‘Forget it. Just keep making the best coffee in the city; that suits me.’
‘I appreciate it, Drew. Really.’
I nod, not wanting to give Fabio a chance to get all sentimental on me, and make my way to the office.
* * *
I’m standing behind my desk, waiting for my laptop to boot, when Sarah steps inside.