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“I should have known.”
Erik’s serious expression broke into a playful grin, and he chuckled as he shook his head.
“No, I can do a little better than that. Besides, this isn’t much of a step up. I make big batches of dough and then freeze it.”
“So, technically, I’mstillgetting a frozen dinner,” Wendy teased.
“Yes, technically.” Erik laughed as he oiled up a baking dish. “Can you forgive me?”
“For now,” Wendy agreed, smirking.
Erik drew his forearm across his forehead to wipe away imaginary sweat, and he let out “whew!” as if relieved.
“Thank goodness. So, how did you feel about today? I noticed that you didn’t seem quite as ‘gung-ho’ about the event as everyone else.”
Wendy took a moment to take another sip of wine. She had enjoyed their banter but was glad they had made it to a more personal conversation. Still, his accurate observation of her was startling, and she was a bit caught off guard.
“You could tell that from my body language?” she asked.
Erik shrugged nonchalantly. “And other things, but mainly yes.”
“Okay,” Wendy agreed. “Well, yes, I do feel a little off about it. Not the offering of free services, I mean, but just that this is happening because of a contest. These types of services should be the normal, not the celebrated.”
“Point taken,” Erik replied, cutting the dough in a crisscross fashion. “And the fact this wouldn’t even have been put together if the pools hadn’t been vandalized.”
“Exactly,” Wendy agreed, happy they were on the same page.
“Have any thoughts on who might have done it?” he asked, setting the dish of rising dough on the back of his stove. He grabbed a large metal dome-like lid from the counter, and slowly lowered it atop the circular dish.
“Maybe,” Wendy murmured, taking another sip of wine. “What about you?”
Erik shook his head. “I don’t understand why the police are turning a blind eye to all of this. It’s obvious this is beyond harassment. I think Birgit and her sisters have been great at getting ahead of almost everything thrown at them, but this is going beyond them now. What if there had been guests in the pools? I know you have signs up for closed hours, but people break the rules all of the time. They could have gotten hurt and sued the pants off those ladies. It’s opening them up to all kinds of trouble.”
Wendy wasn’t sure as to why, but she was fascinated with Erik’s ability to relay his thoughts. Most men she knew struggled to have even the most basic conversation without trying to look at her chest or backside. Yet here Erik was, breaking through that wall. She felt a stir of emotion go through her, and she squirmed a little in her chair.
“Eloquently put,” she replied. “So, how do we stop this before it goes any further?”
Erik lifted a lid off of a simmering pot, and the savory aroma of the Bolognese sauce grew thick in the room. Wendy took a deep breath and sighed.
“That smells amazing,” she praised.
“Good,” he replied, grinning as he gave it a stir. “As for your question, I think we can gather proof. Catch them red-handed, and make them stop.” He paused, then added, “In the nicest way possible, of course.”
“Of course,” Wendy agreed. She watched as he got some ice cubes from the freezer and placed them on a baking sheet before sliding them into the hot oven. He then lifted the lid from the dough, which had risen considerably, and then slid it onto the rack above the baking sheet.
“And we have the perfect setting,” Erik continued. “We’ve got one more day of this thing, and we have eyes everywhere. If something goes down, we can catch it if we’re quick enough.”
“Sounds like you’re recruiting me as a spy.” Wendy laughed. Erik paused what he was doing to look at her with a brow raised and a smirk on his lips.
“And if I am?” he asked. “What would you say?”
Wendy’s smile widened, liking this turn of events. “I’d say I’m in.”
* * *
“That was absolutely incredible,” Wendy praised, her stomach happily full, and her face tired from all of the smiling. She and Erik had spoken about all kinds of things after the talk about the Strauss sisters. They talked about what they thought life was, and what their passions were. She’d even shared with him her news about her inheritance, which she hadn’t expected to do. But he had made her feel so comfortable and safe, it just came right out.
“I’m glad you gave me a chance,” Erik replied, smiling back at her, “and glad you had a night off from your TV dinners.”
