Alison shares ... too much?

“I guess...” Riya doesn't sound 100% sure, but Alison doesn't let her new friend's hesitancy bother her one bit.

“Perfect, a deal sealed with a kiss.” She leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Come on, Riya,” Alison leans across me take Riya's perfectly manicured hand in hers and pulls her close. “A deal sealed with a kiss is even more binding than a handshake.” What the fuck is Alison playing at? I've just got my prize to agree and now she's going to scare her off!

“You don't have to -” My protests are cut short when Riya stretches over and kisses my other cheek with her full lips. I catch a wisp of star anise and wonder if that is Riya's soap that I'm smelling or something that she had for breakfast. When she sits back down Riya has a self-satisfied grin on her face that makes me wonder if she is as shy as she pretends to be.

“There. Now you can't change your mind, Mr. P.” Alison leans over again and plants another kiss on my cheek and before she pulls away, she whispers in my ear. “Maybe it won't take that long after all.” Apparently, Alison has noticed the same change in Riya that I have.

We sit at the table nibbling at the remains of our entrees and chat about Riya's life in India. She tells us that her near perfect English is the result of attending a posh private school where Marathi was strictly forbidden. “I really only speak Marathi to the servants,” Riya explains, “My family and I speak almost exclusively in English, if for no other reason than it helps keep the help from eavesdropping.”

“Be careful, Riya,” Alison teases her playfully. “You are the 'help' now.” The look on Riya's face makes it clear that she hadn't fully considered this change in her status. “Come with me to the lady's room, that way Mr. P can take care of the check without any help from us sweet li'l things.”

I watch the two young women disappear back into the main room of the Crab in search of the lady's room while I wave over our waitress. Alison takes Riya's hand in hers giggling like they have been friends for years and not newly met just an hour ago. They are gone longer than I expect, I have more than enough time to pay for out lunch and get most of the way through a refill on my coffee before I see them returning. Riya is no longer giggling; in fact, she looks decidedly nervous.

“I told Riya about our arrangement, Mr. P.” Alison tells me without any preamble. I stare at her in a mixture of frustration and surprise. The young woman who moved into my house over two years ago would never talk so openly about sex. Especially not to a practical stranger. My gaze switches to Riya who clearly has something she wants to say.