They worked straight through till closing and then afterward to finish up the cleaning. Bill and Marie were both relieved when Lillian rolled em up, took her dinner and left the kitchen.
Bill was thinking funny how “roll em up” had different meanings. Here in the kitchen it meant Lillian rolling up or folding the kitchen towels she used to keep the dupes in order. In the workhouse it meant you were getting out, to roll up your mattress for the next inmate who would occupy that bunk. That one, the workhouse one, was infinitely better.
“We made a fortune,” Lorraine said when she stopped to talk. She brought Bill a beer and lingered a moment. “You guys did great. You kept pace and we didn’t have to wait. We just kept turning them over.”
“All I got was soaking wet,” said Bill.
“Yeah. You guys have it rough.”
” It is what it is.”
“Well, what can I get for you?” Lorraine made a little suggestive face.
“I’m good,” said Bill.
Lorraine said, “Yeah, you are baby.”
Lexi was next into the kitchen and then Victoria. They were helping the busboys clear the tables. No new customers were being seated, but the dining rooms both still had plenty of people in them. Marie was doing pie and coffee all the while she was cleaning up. The downtown van had come a few moments ago to take the dishwashers. Tomorrow morning they would have plenty to do before the restaurant opened.
When he was able to, Bill ran down to take a drink of bourbon. He brought some up for Marie in a coffee mug and gave it to her with his beer as a chaser.
“My panties are still soaked,” she said. “I’m horny too.”
Bill took her hand right there behind her counter in the kitchen and slid it down his pants for her to feel him. He was already semi-aroused.
She said, “You’re all wet too.” Then she laughed and let her hand linger on him. “Let’s smoke a joint and get us some.”
Bill said, “I still have a lot of work. But I could see us together later on.”
“Cool,” said Marie. She looked at Bill a little apprehensively. “Why you being so agreeable?”
“You kidding? I’m hot as hell. And this wet, I could jump your bones right here.”
“I’m so wet you slide in and all over.”
“That sounds good.”
“We need to try some oil sometime.”
“You like it like that?”
“Yeah. You?”
“I’m game for almost anything.”
“Just almost?”
“Okay. Anything.”
Marie stepped close to Bill as if to whisper in his ear. But she licked it, ran her tongue deep inside and all around. Then she whispered something to him.
“Later,” he said. “I promise.”
“I got extra panties downstairs,” said Marie.
But then it was back to work.
One good thing about automatic doors was that you could hear them open before they actually did. So Bill and Marie were able to separate before Victoria actually stepped into the kitchen.
“Just came in to give you a beer and tell you we don’t have any more tables getting seated,” she said. “Looks like we’re gonna be here a little longer but not really that late. Almost everyone has eaten.”
Victoria came around the knife-sheath end of the line and stepped on to approach Bill. She reached out to hand him the beer bottle she carried. Bill took it from her and helped himself to a nice drink. Then he offered her the bottle but she declined.
“Think I could have a piece of pie?” she asked.
“Don’t see why not,” said Bill. “Go on and asked Marie for what you want.”
“Thanks,” said Victoria. Then she winked at Bill. “And don’t think I didn’t see you and Marie all up close and personal,” she said.
