I could have just a bite and save the rest for later. Happy with my decision, I reached for a chocolate one.
“Yes,” she said, and took a sip of wine. “I started it with a guy I used to work with at another firm. We’ve done pretty well for ourselves.”
Her statement was modest, but I had a feeling she was underplaying it. I’d seen the way she was dressed the other night and the way she carried herself in general. Anyone could tell that Alex was a successful, high-powered businesswoman and probably worth millions. She would be the alpha dog in any relationship.
Her submissive friend Jason would probably agree.
Meanwhile, I was having a hard time concentrating on the conversation after taking a bite of the cupcake. I considered myself a chocolate aficionado, but nothing I’d ever tasted could come close to this flavor.
“I work really hard,” Alex was saying, and I had to focus to hear her words above the buzzing in my ears. When was the last time chocolate had caused me to temporarily lose my hearing? I swallowed the bite and the buzzing decreased.
“I don’t have a lot of friends,” she said, “except my work-related associates. All they ever want to do is talk shop, so when I come home at night, I want to shut out the world and relax, bake something, or just read. I feel the same way about dating. I don’t like to go out with the domineering alpha types. I much prefer men like Jason, who’s sweet and submissive and—”
I raised my eyebrows and she held up both hands in retreat. “That’s all I’m saying on the subject. My point is, I don’t have many girlfriends.”
“My friends are mostly work-related, too,” I said, and tried to ignore the image of Jason in handcuffs. He had looked happy. To each his own, I supposed. Where was I? Right. Girlfriends. I took a quick sip of wine and continued. “My best friend, Robin, used to live in the city, but she moved to Dharma last year and lives with my brother Austin. And my sisters are my friends.”
“That’s nice,” Alex said wistfully. “I don’t have any sisters.”
“I have three, but they all live up in the wine country.”
“I could be your friend,” she said, then cringed. “That sounds so pathetic. But I’d like to be friends—unless what happened earlier has completely soured you to the possibility.”
Rather than dive back into that odd little quagmire, I waved it aside with a smile. “I would love to be friends.”
“Good.”
I couldn’t imagine Derek ever having this conversation with another man. It was definitely a girl thing. But having made our decision to be friends, Alex and I were able to relax a little. After a sip of wine, I asked, “How does someone so busy have time to bake such artistic cupcakes?”
“It’s just something I’m good at,” she admitted. “My job is so frenetic sometimes that I enjoy coming home and baking. Especially cupcakes, because they’re so small and cheerful and fun. Plus, you make a dozen at a time, so if you make a mistake frosting one, you have eleven chances to fix it.”
“Good point.”
“And if you’re fond of frosting, like I am, you’ve probably already noticed that the frosting-to-cake ratio on cupcakes is truly outstanding.”
“No wonder I love them so much,” I said. “And I’m impressed by your use of mathematical formulas when making desserts. You really are smart.”
She laughed, then asked me about my family. I told her about Dharma and my parents and my brothers and sisters.
“I don’t have much family,” Alex said. “Just an aunt who lives back east.”
She didn’t say much more about her past, just talked about the brokerage firm and some of the charity work she enjoyed.
“Shall I open another bottle of wine?” I asked.
“No, I should be going.” She glanced down at the floor. “And who’s this little darling?”
I followed Alex’s gaze and saw my kitten tugging at her orange shoelace. “Oh, that’s our newest resident. We haven’t named her yet.”
“She’s adorable.” Alex tweaked the kitty’s nose, then glanced at me. “Kittens should have happy names.”
“I agree.” I was pretty sure Alex could carve and slice up a business opponent with almost no effort, but I had a feeling that she was also cursed with a soft marshmallow middle. I could relate, and it made me like her even more.
With my friend Robin living so far away, it would be nice to have a new friend close by. Although I couldn’t help but wonder how Alex would react when my mother got ahold of her and tried to read her aura or tickle her chakras.
I reached out to pet the kitten, who batted my hand with her tiny paw. “What do you think of the name Cupcake?”
“I like it.” Alex laughed.
? ? ?
Alex insisted that I keep the entire tiered tray of cupcakes for Derek and me to enjoy. That was how awesome friendships were created and nurtured.