by Violet Duke
Dani was practically bouncing in her seat. “My newest creations.” She showed him the two levels of beer in the light—the top one was tinged deep red while the bottom had a white cast to it. “A spin-off of the Black and Tan, only I’m dubbing it a Red and White. Try it.”
He took a sip. The first layer was richer, more dynamic than the stout in a Black and Tan.
“It’ll be a once a year thing—Red and Whites on tap every March 14th to celebrate Red and White Day,” she grinned, “and our anniversary. Sort of like green beer on St. Patty’s Day.”
His eyes softened with emotion. Whatever his brain wanted to say in response, however, got lost en route when the flavors in his mouth hit him fully. Assailed him, more like. His eyelids dropped to half-mast and a hum radiated past his lips. “Wow,” he murmured reverently.
“You like?” she asked, eyes dancing.
“I love. That’s the best chocolate stout I’ve ever tasted. It’s even better than the one you made for the bottled variety pack last year.” He took another taste. “It’s so different.”
“I call it the Red Velvet Stout, an ode to my favorite cake. It’s a twist on a chocolate stout with some red bock brew characteristics for depth, and red spices to give it more of that bright coloring and kick. Also, instead of chocolate, I used rich Dutch cocoa powder and added some creamy elements so the head is like the cream cheese frosting on the cake.”
While he was savoring all the tastes she’d just described, Dani grabbed his glass and pushed it back up to his lips. “Drink. You have to get to the next layer for the combined effect.”
How the woman made impatience look so adorable, he’ll never know. “Ah, hence this mini portion size.” Bemused by her near-frantic enthusiasm, he put the little glass normally reserved for whiskey back down and asked, “So why Dutch baking chocolate?”
Now his glaring bride knew he was just stalling to mess with her. “Oh, c’mon,” she growled, sounding like a ferocious kitten with just the cutest pout ever.
“Alright, alright,” he laughed, drinking a bit more to get to the midline of the glass where the dark beer ended and the light beer began. His next sip consisted of just the second layer.
And it rocked his socks off. His eyes widened in surprise. “Is that juniper?” He inhaled deep to prolong the effects of the complex beer on his palate. The sweet, woodsy juniper notes were almost paradoxical—brisk yet creamy, effervescent but deep. A smoky sound of appreciation curled out of him as the pale brew mingled colorfully with the red velvet flavors still lingering in his mouth. He licked his lips in satisfaction. “What was that?”
She beamed. “My new White Chocolate Juniper Altbier, made with your white chocolate and juniper berries from your folks’ tree. This is the first altbier I’ve ever made, a sort of hybrid that begins brewing like an ale, but finishes aged like a light lager. Hoppy and malty, crisp but smooth, it’s the best of both worlds.” Her eyes turned wistful. “I think my dad would be proud.”
He brought her hand to his lips. “I’m sure he is, sweetheart.”
Taking another drink of the unique brew, Luke shook his head in amazement. “Two new spring beers this year? You making extra sure the Dobson curse is dead and buried?” he teased.
A ludicrous question, really. Dani plain demolished the curse last year, as Luke well knew. The fruit lambic beer Ocotillos released last spring had been an out-of-the-park hit. For Dani, brewing a beer her mom had loved but her dad never brewed had been a milestone. And her first step off that stone was to introduce the new beer on Mother’s Day. The curse never stood a chance. Moreover, due to the lambic’s raging success, Dani decided she would be inducting it as a returning seasonal brew next week, slated to be on tap every spring.
“Nope, I didn’t brew the beers for any silly curse.” She smiled. “There was this thing I heard about some hopelessly romantic guy and his crazy idea for women to give chocolate to the men they were sweet on. I figured since I’m spending the rest of my life with you and all...”
God, he loved the woman to pieces. “So you’re saying you hijacked this genius man’s brilliant idea and beer-ified it?”
* * * * *
DANI GAVE HIM a lopsided grin. “Sort of.” She ran over to the dessert table to snag a piece of Desert Confections’ newest creation, a decadent bonbon-in-a-truffle that Luke had made especially for the reception. Luke looked at her questioningly when she held it up to his mouth.
“Humor me,” she said, slipping the sweet morsel past his lips.
A culinary descendant of the red and white chocolate he’d created last year, their wedding day red and white bonbon-in-a-truffle was a stunning masterpiece. Biting into the velvety rich truffle outer layer would reveal the surprising candied snap of the hidden bonbon inside, and the smooth liquid gold filling of honeyed beer imbued with passion fruit at the center. The truffle layer of fig-infused white chocolate was dusted with a bright red cocoa powder, ground poppy, and cardamom mix and topped with a colorful artistic arrangement of delicate rose petal salted, crystallized saffron to marry all the components of the chocolate together beautifully.
She raised the glass of beer to his lips. “Now try the beer again.”
Curious but silent, he tipped the glass and swallowed the remaining sip of the altbier. Instantly, his lids drifted shut. “Holy Hefeweizen,” he muttered, stealing her favorite expletive.
Dani watched him shiver slightly, knowing exactly what he was feeling. While beer and chocolate was always a great pair, in this specific combination, they were sublime. She recalled when she’d first experienced it a few weeks back. It had been indescribable. Almost like—
His quiet groan split the air right on schedule.
Dani knew Luke had reached the point where the flavors were blissfully heightened in a blended ride different from the high notes at first taste. Deeper and more lasting, the second rush of flavors revealed the subtle, refined tastes hidden under the surface of both beer and chocolate.
Undetectable on their own, incomparable together.
Finally, he opened his eyes and flutters scuttled her tummy.
“Sweetheart, that was—” He stopped, as if simply unable to find the words.
She beamed. “See, I knew you could get it too.”
His slightly unfocused eyes turned to hers dazedly. “Get what?”
“A multiple tastegasm.”
He blinked, then grinned slowly. “That’s definitely what that was. My first.”
Love lighting his gaze, he leaned over to kiss her, pausing only when her smile took on a mysterious new quality. “Okay, now what are you smiling about?” His eyes instantly turned hot. “Sweetheart, a man can only take so much stimulus on his wedding day.”
“How about one more?” negotiated Dani, barely containing the emotion in her voice.
She handed him the little envelope she’d tucked into her chair earlier.
“What’s this?” He opened the envelope—a photo of a picturesque farm greeted his gaze. He didn’t recognize the farm or the massive acreage it was on, but he was instantly drawn to it. After studying the photo appreciatively for a bit, he raised a silent eyebrow at her. “Dani?”
“I’ve been thinking about our future,” she began. “For a while now, I’ve wanted Xoey to take part-ownership of Ocotillos. Just last week, she finally agreed. And effective immediately, Rylan will be going in as a managing partner as well with half of Derek’s shares, allowing me to step back even more since those two can fully run the place without me.” At the alarmed look on Luke’s face, she took his hand. “Don’t get me wrong, Ocotillos will always be a part of my life, but I no longer want it to be my whole life.”
She stuttered past the beat of her now nervous heart on full display. “This photo is of a property for sale up north on a gigantic agricultural lot.” Affected by a love so deep, her words trembled. “I was thinking it could be our new farm.”
He swung his eyes from the photo and then back to Dani, speechless.
“It would fit our needs—and dreams—perfectly,” she detailed in a rush, feeling a sudden need to remind him of the dream that had only grown bigger in her heart since they’d first discussed it. “You could even add a small vineyard for Derek’s wines as well. There’s space for it…” She was babbling. She could hear it, but she was powerless to stop it. Geez, grand romantic gestures were crazy stressful. How the heck did that husband of hers do it all the time? “If we put the vineyard off to the back, the pick-your-own crops and eatery would be front and center for guests—”
Luke wrapped her up in his arms. “With chocolate sales on one side and a small home brewery on the other?” His voice was a rough whisper, filled with love and wonder.
She smiled. “And our family at the center of it all.”
EPILOGUE
“VETO,” CALLED OUT LUKE. Geez, their wedding reception was still hours from ending and they were already having their first marital spat. Must be some sort of record, Luke thought wryly. “Dani, a huge bash for beered-up and wine-sloshed folks partying on both our rooftop decks is a massive riot waiting to happen.” He shook his head stubbornly. “Scale it down.”
“But it’s supposed to be big—it’s a grand opening. Besides, Derek and Quinn already signed off on it and you gave them all decision-making rights for promotions, remember?” This past January, an outrageously emotional Dani had watched Derek finally achieve his dream of having his own winery when Desert Confections Chocolate and Wines, the partnered business venture of her brother and her husband, officially opened its doors to the public. “C’mon, I promised the town an official celebration and everyone’s been waiting two months for it.” She blinked prettily.
“Wow, sneaking a guilt reference to our wedding in there. Impressive, but still no.”
She sighed. “Okay, what if I promise to order ridiculously unnecessary security?”
He refused to be baited. “How many?”
Huffing out an exasperated curse, she started actually thinking about it then. “Well, my good friend is my regular bouncer for the rowdy nights like concerts and playoff games, and her brother is a cop so I’ll just hire him and a few of his friends from the force to come in off-duty.”
Luke frowned. “Wait, you have a bouncer? How come I never knew that?”
“Only on event nights. And what do you mean? I talk about her sometimes.”
“Her?”
Indignant female offense clouded Dani’s face. “Yes, her. It’s Lia. And she’s a damn good bouncer. One of the scariest fighters you’ll ever see. Best of all, since most guys don’t want their ass kicked by a girl, most times, she can diffuse a situation with no violence at all.”
Luke threw his hands in the air. “Don’t give me that look! I’m not sexist. She could be the best fighter in the world and I’d still hate the idea of anyone smaller than a linebacker being caught in a drunken brawl; even the biggest dudes get roughed up during bar fights.”
She rolled her eyes. “Remember the fight I told you about during the last AFC playoffs? And that brawl on Cinco de Mayo with the four guys who all found out they were screwing the same chick?” Dani flickered her eyebrows up with pride. “All Lia. All by herself.”
Luke’s jaw fell open in awe. Dani grinned as he immediately scanned the crowd of guests for the woman in question, the stunning, albeit quietly sad, Asian woman chatting with Aidan near the stage. “I’d never have guessed by looking at her. How’d you even know to hire her? Did she audition or something?” he asked, still shaking his head in disbelief.
“In a manner of speaking. Lia has an antique arms shop nearby, a spin-off of her family’s business. She used to come around to eat after work. One night, she stopped a huge fight for me, which got us talking. She needed extra money since her shop was just starting out and I needed muscle on the rowdy nights. We’ve had this perfect arrangement ever since.”
“I always thought she was just your friend who hung out at Ocotillos a lot. I can’t believe I never knew she was your bouncer.”
Dani shrugged. “Most people don’t. Lia keeps a low profile. She mostly just sits in the corner by the door reading. Things rarely escalate to the point where we need her.”
“Huh. Interesting.”
“What’s interesting?” She followed his gaze. Luke wasn’t even looking at Lia anymore.
“Did I ever tell you about my friend who I’d always thought of as a big brother?”
“The one who used to protect you from getting bullied in middle school?”
“Yep. Hudson was the big brother I never had. After seeing some bullies beating me up in sixth grade, he watched out for me until I was big enough to handle myself. And he always let me hang out with him on the weekends, even though I was a few years younger. I completely idolized him.”
Dani looked over at the gruff, totally ex-military guy sitting in the corner with a gorgeous blond woman who looked vaguely familiar.
“Who’s his date?”
Luke squinted. “Oh, that’s the actress. They dated in high school and somehow stayed friends through all the years he was in the military—surprising since he was in some intense stuff with the Rangers and then Special Forces.” Shadows filled his eyes in remembered agony then. “Last year, Hudson lost almost all his men on a mission that he barely survived himself...only to have a part of him die anyway when he found out the damage to his fine motor function was too extensive for him to return to his unit.” Clenching his jaw, Luke shook his head in frustration. “I tried to get him to move back here after his discharge but he said he just...couldn’t. He chose to start fresh in California instead.”
She watched the pain in Luke’s gaze gradually ebb away and soften into...hope.
Puzzled, Dani looked over at Hudson again and then saw it too.
Hudson, the quiet epitome of a wounded warrior, was politely listening to his date talk on and on, even as his eyes kept covertly flickering over to Lia. With more than mild interest.
Even more fascinating was the fact that Lia was glancing at him in the exact same way.
Watching their hidden attraction grow, Dani asked idly, “What’s he do in California?”
“Actually, he’s moving over to Arizona in a few weeks. Temporarily. Apparently, that actress got him a consultant gig for the movie she’ll be working on down in Southern Arizona.” Luke’s smile was slow and meaningful. “He’ll be consulting on fight scenes and weapons.”
Dani’s eyes rounded, darting between Lia and Hudson before slowly turning back to Luke.
“Nooo way.” Luke gave a hell-no headshake and scooted his seat away from her.
Her eyes softened and became pleading.
Ruefully, he shook his head again. “Honey, Hudson would kill me if I meddled in his life.”
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Dani sent him a quietly forceful glare that grew more intense as the seconds passed.
“Yowza.” His eyebrows shot up. “Woman, stop hanging out with Quinn! I’m pretty sure that’s what Rylan calls the wife glare. And you’ve already mastered it,” he complained. “I am so screwed.” Though his voice was teasing, it was also turned on. Her being in a snit could always get him going, mostly because he loved being able to turn her all buttery and sweet again.
Knowing that wonderful weakness of his, Dani purposefully slid over onto his lap, stubborn pout firmly in place. “Where’s the harm in introducing two friends who obviously—”
Luke halted her guerrilla tactics with a counterstrike, an incendiary, heart-tripping kiss. “Why don’t we stop thinking about our friends who, even without our help, all seem hell-bent on hooking up?” He put his forehead against hers. “And focus on our wedding bliss instead?”
That made her smile like a sap. “Alright,” she said softly, meaning it too. “But, you better believe we’re having this conversation again right after our honeymoon, buster.”
He chuckled, clearly not expecting any less. “Hey, that reminds me, are you ready to tell
me what you planned for our honeymoon yet?
“Nope.” She flutter-clapped lightly in delight. “I want it to be a total surprise.”
“You hopeless romantic.” He grinned. “Wanna bet I can get the secret out of you?”
Her face lit up, adrenaline spiking at the issued challenge. “You’re on.”
-- THE END –
COMING SOON
If you haven’t guessed, the next novel in the Cactus Creek series is Hudson and Lia’s story.
And it’s a doozy.
Be on the lookout for:
LOVE, SIDEARMS, AND ARMBARS
Coming May 30, 2014
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. When she's not arguing with her story characters or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, she enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools while trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first and cooking 'special edition' dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. Violet lives in Hawai'i with her two cute kids and similarly adorable husband.
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http://www.violetduke.com
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