“Technically, that’s not what he says.”
“Doesn’t make it any less true.” I shrugged my shoulders.
She stared at me.
“I see some bread on that table.” I steered us toward a table with about four people already around it. The sign read that the offerings were thinly sliced turkey breast, fontina cheese, sliced baguette, apricot jam, and pear slices. I handed Soleil a saucer then took one for myself. We both added food to our plates while the other guests asked informed questions about the wine.
Without even taking glasses of the clear liquid, we shuffled away from the group. We found an empty high-top table. A few of them had been scattered sparingly around the room.
“Ooh, this is good,” she said after taking a bite of her quickly composed sandwich.
“What’d you do?”
“I spread some of that jam on the bread, then added the turkey and the cheese. I might have to try to recreate this at home.”
I made my mini sandwich the same way she said she did it then took a bite. “Damn. This is good as hell. That jam adds a sweetness, and the cheese is?—”
“Creamy, right?” she jumped in.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m thirsty. You think we’re gonna have to break down and get some wine?”
“Nah, they have water.”
I walked over to the area where they had stationed oversized galvanized buckets filled with bottled water on ice. I grabbed each of us a bottle, then rejoined her.
She glanced up at me as she took a long sip. “I’m so wishing that I would’ve just gotten in your line at the meet and greet. It would’ve been so much more of a pleasant experience.”
“Wilcox rubbed you the wrong way?”
“His mouth is reckless. I really didn’t like what he said to me. You’re more my speed.” She practically choked, coughing while I lightly rubbed her back. “Oh my gosh,” she said when shefinally caught her breath. “I’m as bad as Wilcox with the reckless mouth. I didn’t mean that the way it came out, Spencer.”
“Call me Spence. And what did you mean?”
“I didn’t mean you’re more my speed. I meant that you probably handled the women in your line with common courtesy and manners. You probably weren’t sexually suggestive or rude.”
“I wasn’t. I try my best to make my mother proud.”
She giggled.
“She stayed on my neck. She was always like, character is what you do when I’m not around.” I mimicked her slight island accent.
“She sounds like a good mom.”
“She is. But I’m kinda glad you didn’t come to my line this morning. I probably would’ve held it up, trying to learn more about you. I held it up as it was staring at you in Wilcox’s line.”
She wiped her mouth with a small napkin. “Staring at me? What?” Her cheeks colored with a slight blush.
I shrugged. “You looked like class and elegance.” I took her in again. “You still do. Even though you traded your sandals for sneakers, you still look like class and elegance.”
“Thank you.” Her words were practically a whisper.
A voice broke out over the chatter of the room. “We want to thank you for stopping by this tasting of wine and cheese with us, sponsored by the good folks over at Ellis-Morgan Vineyards. The sommeliers will be available for questions and tastings for the next thirty minutes. Please enjoy.”
“Damn, an hour and a half went by quick.”
“In the words of Janet Jackson, it’s funny how times flies when you’re having fun.”
I smiled at her. “Thanks for hanging out with me.”
