Tina gave her a small smile. “So I’m butter? Or truffle-based finishing sauce?”

Celine laughed lightly. “Uh huh … sounds gross, I know but the others we’re looking at are knock-off olive oil to me. Or stale marinade. Who’d you rather be?”

Tina shook her head, still smiling. “Hmm … sounds like lunch is the next order of business, what with all the food analogies!”

Shared laughter.

“Ok, next – I want to know more about you. I want to know who I’m getting into business with.”  Tina removed her sunglasses again, and looked at each in turn.

“I’ll have a few things emailed to you immediately, to start with,” Celine responded, first again. “I trust I can count on your discretion?”

Tina nodded. Celine looked and sounded like she was prepared for anything, when it came to this conversation. Probably when it came to anything. She and her husband must have the most interesting conversations. And “cook-offs!”

“Umm…” Gavin started to answer, haltingly, after a minute. Not so quick on the draw this time.

The women looked at him with bemusement. “Ok, now: what have you got to hide?” Tina asked, head cocked to one side.

He frowned a little. “After decades in this business, probably a lot.”

They chortled. “I wasn’t asking about your sex life, Mr. Hollywood,” Tina said in between snickers.

A harrumph from Celine. “Oh, I wouldn’t pass this chance up, Tina. I bet there isn’t a woman alive, gay or straight, who hasn’t been curious about what goes on between the sheets with this guy, at one point.”

Gavin had a full-on blush now. This drew more giggles from the women. “How about I man the grill, and treat you ladies to something I use only for …um… those special occasions? And we conveniently forget those kinds of questions?”

“No way are you getting out of this, Gavin! As you said, time we evened up!” Tina answered with a teasing laugh. She pointed a finger at him, and then crooked it slowly towards her, as if drawing him in, using a feminine version of how he’d motioned to her earlier when he’d asked her about Bette. She mouthed, “your turn!” and grinned back at him triumphantly, to his chagrin.