Page 64 of Offside Rules

"You went quiet."

"It’s nothing… It’s just been a long day," I say instead of something stupid about how I might be able to jump on the last flight of the night back to Seattle if she promises to be in the bathtub when I get back. I have a feeling she’d hang up. I settle back against the pillows, keeping the ice pack in place. "Is it working for you?"

"The tub? Yes. Very much. I’ve been standing all day, and I’m finally not."

"Good."

She makes another small sound, and I hear water move. I have no idea what she’s doing. That isn’t stopping me from picturing her leaning back, hair piled up to keep it dry, phone in one hand. I’d like to know whether she used one of my towels or has her own folded beside the tub. I’d like to be close enough to find out without asking.

"Did you settle on the flavors?"

She tells me what she’s finally decided on. Chocolate caramel, lemon, banana caramel, brown butter with brown sugar frosting, blueberry honey, and dark chocolate chip with mint. She’s bringing two kinds of cake pops too, with quantities she can adjust after Juliet chooses the desserts. I listen while she explains which ones travel well and what she wants to serve in smaller portions.

When she stops, I realize I’ve been looking at the same spot on the wall for several minutes.

"Wolf?"

"I’m listening."

"Thanks. For the kitchen, and the bathtub… and answering a girl's neurotic late-night questions after you flew all day and played a full game and are now icing your shoulder. I know I’m still supposed to hate you… But thanks for everything anyway."

"You’re welcome."

"Get some sleep, Wolf."

"Good luck tomorrow."

"Thank you." Her voice softens on the last two words, and I keep the phone against my ear until the call ends.

I look at the screen afterward. We talked for twenty-three minutes. About frosting, hockey, and a bathtub I’ve been thinking about since the first time she saw it.

I take the ice pack off when it’s time and set it aside, then pick up my phone to send one more message.

Me: Call me after the tasting. I want to hear how it goes.

Chapter Eleven

Baylor

Juliet takes a bite, looking down at the menu I brought. "And these would all be this size?"

"For the gala, yes. People can try a couple without having to carry a full-size cupcake back to the table. I’d bring them out in smaller batches and keep the rest boxed until we need them."

"Who handles that?"

"I do, with an assistant. That’s included in the staffing line." I turn my copy toward her and point to it. "Delivery, setup, replenishing the display, and packing up afterward."

She nods and makes a note. I try not to read it upside down. I know the cupcakes are good. I sell them every day. But selling someone a lemon cheesecake cupcake on their way to work is different from sitting across from a woman deciding whether I can feed five hundred people with a thousand desserts, without embarrassing her.

"What about the cake pops?" she asks.

I slide the sample box toward her. "Chocolate and vanilla. I can match the coating to the event colors. I brought these plain so you could taste them without eating a pile of decorations."

"I appreciate that." She picks up a chocolate one. "My last meeting involved fondant."

"I’m sorry."

She laughs before taking a bite, and I finally loosen my grip on my pen. There’s a dent in my finger. Wonderful. At least I haven’t broken it and gotten ink on her table.