Free Trigger by Carol Jean Page A

crashing into
him. She keeps a sharp eye on traffic.
    “Diet Coke.” A pretty girl, younger than she is,
puts it on the table along with a generous stack of napkins. “My
husband is working up something special for you. I thought you
might need these.” She smiles big and dashes away.
    Waiting for the chef husband to bring her something
special, she calls Franklin and asks if she can come over in about
an hour. He says they’ll be home, but doesn’t ask any questions.
He’s a good man and she feels privileged that someone of his
experience and reputation works with her.
    The chef husband comes to the counter carrying a
huge cardboard box. It smells delicious and she guesses that it
must be the carry-out order. “If he doesn’t show up, I’ll kill him.
This order has just about cleaned me out for today, but that’s
okay, I close at four Sunday’s.” The chef husband smiles at her and
shrugs.
    She’s startled wondering if he’s going to kill the
cat to feed her. That would be special. She’s finished her Diet
Coke, not realizing that she was really thirsty. She sucks on some
ice and plays with her straw while she waits for something
special.
    It’s huge and the smell is amazing and her mouth
waters just looking at it.
    “Smoked ham, thick sliced bacon from Julie’s Dad’s
farm and my newest creation a cheese and roasted pepper sauce
served on a freshly baked Julie bun. What’s your name?”
    “Judy.”
    He goes to the blackboard and adds a menu item --
Judy-Judy-Judy w/Julie Bun $15.50. “Julie, come and see.” The chef
husband’s wife, who’s name must be Julie, comes out to see the
board and they stand looking at her.
    Oh, taste it. It takes a minute to figure out how to
pick it up without spilling the sauce all over the place. She gives
up and crouches over the plate and lets it fall. It’s heaven on a
crusty outside, soft inside bun that melts in her mouth and leaves
the crispy bacon and tender ham to play together with the
sauce.
    It’s so rich and delicious; she immediately thinks
of asking for a spoon so she can eat all it. They’re still watching
her. She turns and smiles with sauce dripping down her chin. The
husband chef and Julie the baker wife, high-five each other and
disappear in the back.
    Totally immersed in her sandwich, she didn’t see a
vehicle pull in and didn’t even notice that someone walked in.
She’s licking her fingers and putting the last of the sandwich in
her mouth when she looks up to check on BB and is face to face with
Simon Perry. He’s sitting at her table and watching her eat.
    “That looks delicious. What is it?”
    She points to the blackboard, unable to talk with
her mouth so full.
    “The Judy-Judy-Judy? I’ve never known anyone who had
a sandwich named after them. You must be really special.”
    Simon picks up a couple napkins and wipes the Chef
husband’s sauce off her chin.
    “Hey Richard, can you make me a Judy-Judy-Judy?”
Simon calls out to the back.
    “If you didn’t show up Simon, I was going to kick
your ass. Your order is ready. You really want one?”
    “Are you kidding? If it’s nearly as good as what I
can see on Miss Mason’s chin, it’s something I have to try.”
    “Okay, but I’ll pack it to go. Your order is going
to get cold and I won’t be happy.”
    She’s still chewing and staring into Simon’s eyes
laughing at her.
    Simon jumps up, leans over the counter and then
hands her spoon and keeps one.
    “Richard is an incredible chef. His sauces should
never be wasted and should be served in a bowl.” Simon scoops a
spoon full off her plate, puts in his mouth and groans with
pleasure. His eyes never leave hers.
    “Is that your car?” Simon nods toward BB.
    She blinks.
    “Nice.”
    She looks at his. A mud covered ancient something
that has been seriously modified complete with huge tires and a
roll bar.
    “I call her Jelly Bean. She’s sweet but tough and
I’ve never figured out what color she really is.” His laugh