by Amy Andrews
“I hadn’t planned to,” he whispered then rolled on top of her and kissed her until she was panting and moaning and locking her legs around his waist and demanding he show her what he had planned in every dirty, intimate detail…
Chapter Five
Monday morning Viv was back at Delish with a renewed sense of purpose. It was a fresh week with a clean slate and, after a smorgasbord of sex over the weekend, she was invigorated. She should have been exhausted what with working all day Saturday and Sunday and not a lot of sleep going down. But it was as if the sheer indulgence of long nights spent entirely naked, really getting to know his body and vice versa, had refilled her well.
It had certainly put a bounce in her step as she entered the shop. And a smile on her face as she thought about Reuben’s rather hasty exit from her cottage this morning after he’d slept past his alarm. It had gone off but the phone had fallen down between the couch cushions and its location had apparently been the last thing on his mind as they’d finally drifted off to sleep at about three a.m.
He’d assured her though, as he’d thrown on the uniform he grabbed from his place on Sunday when Viv had been at work, that even oversleeping his alarm like he had, there was still ten minutes before he would be officially late for work and the sheriff’s office was only a brisk five-minute walk from Viv’s end of Bramble Lane. So it had been really bad of her to walk him to the door naked and press herself against him like she had and kiss him goodbye with quite that much gusto.
Probably letting her hand slide down to cup his erection had been very bad.
But his groan had told her otherwise and when his utility belt, which he’d had in his hand, thunked to the floor and he pushed her up against the door and slid his hand between her legs, what else could she have done other than go with the flow? Although how her legs hadn’t given way as he’d made her come like that, Viv had no idea.
The man was becoming some kind of sexual ninja. He knew all the right buttons to push in just the right order to get her over the line with astonishing speed.
But, even so, stopping to get her off like that had made him late and Viv guessed it made her an even worse person that it made her feel just a little bit giddy.
A little bit naughty.
What had he told his boss when he’d finally arrived at the station? What excuse had he used? Sorry, Boss, I overslept? Sorry, Boss, I got a flat. Or sorry, Boss, I stopped to get someone’s cat down from a tree?
They were probably all more palatable than sorry, Boss, my horn dog libido got out of control again and I was busy doing debauched things against a door with the town pariah.
God…she should not be smiling about this. She knew the step they’d taken this weekend would probably have repercussions. But Viv was still on a sexual high and she felt too freaking wonderful to let the busybodies and the gossips bring her down.
This week she was kicking Marietta ass. And she finally knew how she was going to do it!
The idea had come to her as she’d walked past the Java Café this morning and three people left carrying steaming to-go cups of hot chocolate. She’d known it was hot chocolate as opposed to coffee because two of them were arguing with the other one about Sage doing much better hot chocolate than the Java because she specialized in all things chocolate and the idea had pinged into Viv’s head like the flick of a light switch.
She knew exactly how she was going to drum up interest in the shop and get people through the door because she kicked hot chocolate ass.
Delish kicked hot chocolate ass.
It would probably put the fox back in the henhouse again but it wasn’t like that ship hadn’t already sailed.
Putting her idea on hold for a moment, Viv went through her morning routine and opened the doors on the dot of nine. Of course, there were no hordes to greet her so she was able to get on with planning her campaign.
Flicking through her phone contacts, she found what she was looking for and tapped on the number. It rang three times before picking up. “Good morning. This is Copper Mountain Chocolates. Sage speaking.”
“Sage…it’s Viv. Can we talk?”
*
By the end of the day, with a lot of time on her hands given there’d only been a half dozen customers—no Reuben either, he must have been busy—Viv had pretty much set everything in motion for the Marietta Hot Chocolate Wars to commence in the morning. It wasn’t called that officially but there was going to be a competition between her and Sage and she wanted to win.
There were to be two categories. The first was the most popular, which would be a simple ballot paper count and everyone in town could vote multiple times if they wanted. Viv had no hope in hell of winning that one. But the second category was the best hot chocolate, which was to be judged by a professional in the field and Viv was totally gunning to come out champion.
Edwin Vidal, the new head chef from the Graff, Marietta’s poshest hotel, was suggested by Sage as someone who’d be a good judge. Not only impartial—professional ethics and all that—but with a trained palate for quality dining. He was apparently French born and French trained although he’d mostly grown up in Boston.
Viv had agreed readily and they’d set the date of the judging to take place during the famous Marietta Stroll on the first weekend in December.
Sage had been an absolute trouper about it. She’d loved the idea right out of the blocks and was already gearing up for some healthy competition. She’d even suggested that rather than them both carrying voting forms that they only be available from Delish and that people would only be given a form once they’d purchased a hot chocolate from Viv. This would force locals into buying from Delish, if they wanted to vote for Sage.
Which of course they would.
It was a win-win for Viv. All she needed was to get people through the door and the product sold itself.
After all the details had been hammered out with Sage, Viv printed up a couple hundred ballot papers then spent the rest of the day in a Delish apron, making the hot chocolate stirrers that were her secret weapon.
Well…not so secret really.
Anyone who had been to a Delish store anywhere in the country in December would know about them but Viv, who had already tried Sage’s and the Java’s hot chocolate, doubted they’d ever had anything like this around here and she was all about the wow factor.
Wow factor created buzz and word of mouth was what she needed.
Viv was confident people would come through the door begrudgingly because it was the only way to support Sage and then they’d see how Delish did hot chocolate and she’d have them hooked.
The stirrers were easily created in the commercial kitchens that were installed in every Delish store directly behind the counter during fit-out. They weren’t big kitchens as the vast majority of Delish merchandise was prepackaged, but big enough to make the odd specialty items for in-store promos. And every Delish kitchen ran red hot during December!
It was five minutes to closing and Viv was sampling the brandy hot chocolate stirrer in the kitchen when the bell dinged. She came out to find Reuben striding toward her looking better than any chocolate she’d ever eaten. Looking at her like she was better than any chocolate he’d ever eaten, too.
“Officer Price. To what do I owe the honor?” she asked as she stood at the counter idly stirring the spoon through the hot milk, his singular focus as he drew nearer giving her goose bumps.
“I haven’t had my fix today.”
Viv popped an eyebrow. “Did the boss ground you because you were late this morning?”
He chuckled as he pulled up, the counter the only thing between them now. “Quite the opposite—bastard ran me ragged all day with every nuisance call and piece of paperwork he could throw at me.”
Pressing her lips together so she wouldn’t smile, she murmured, “Sorry about that.”
Removing his hat, he placed it on top of the brushed pewter then slid his elbows on top. His gaze dropped to her mouth and lingered
for a few seconds before returning. “It was worth it.”
Viv’s breath hitched. Guys didn’t say that kind of thing to her because she’d never stuck around long enough. But it was very nice hearing it from Reuben. Knowing she was worth it suddenly felt like the biggest compliment in the world.
“I totally concur,” she agreed, smiling at him as she remembered how his fingers had slid between her legs.
He smiled back and neither of them said or did anything for a beat or two. “So…” His eyes dropped to her mouth again. “About that fix?”
Viv’s heart did a funny little jig in her chest at the intensity of his gaze. Her girly bits did a different kind of dance. A much sluttier one.
“I believe you have had that kind of fix today.”
One big male shoulder lifted in a careless shrug. “What can I say? I’m greedy.”
And didn’t that bode well for her? “Well…if you’re hungry?”
“Ravenous.”
“Why don’t you go flip the sign on the door and lock it.” She flicked a glance over his shoulder. “Then get your butt back here.”
Reuben straightened and tipped his hat at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Viv smiled to herself as he scooted to the door, his very fine ass taut as a drum in those snug trousers. But perving on him was not putting her plan to feed him into action. Slipping through the door to the kitchen she put the apron back on as she set some more milk on to boil.
“Vivian?”
“In here,” she called as she grabbed a couple of trays of chocolate stirrers out of the fridge and set them down on the stainless steel prep area. “Come around the counter.”
She was getting two more trays out of the fridge when Reuben appeared in the doorway. “So this is your lair?”
Viv laughed. “Where I lure unsuspecting local Marietta men and turn them to the dark side?”
He groaned a little as he leaned his shoulder into the jamb. “Sometimes I swear you deliberately say stuff like that to turn me on.”
Dropping her eyes briefly to the front of his trousers Viv was pretty sure she could detect discernible bulge. “Moi?” she asked with faux innocence.
“And that apron…does it make me some kind of unevolved Neanderthal douche to say you look hot in an apron?”
Only if it made her an unevolved Neanderthal to be aroused by the compliment. “Come in,” she said. “Take a seat.” She tipped her head at the stools on one side of the central bench. “I want you to try something.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said with a grin as he pushed off the doorjamb and strode to the indicated stools. He tipped his chin at the trays. “What have we got here?”
“These are hot chocolate stirrers.”
Viv told him all about her chocolate wars idea and how Sage was on board as the milk heated. When it was done, she poured the steaming liquid into a Delish mug. “Okay…” She brought the mug to the bench, placed it down and said, “Which one would you like?”
Rows of chocolate stirrers sat on their trays. Viv had made them from melting Delish brand chocolate and pouring it into half-inch round, two-inch-deep professional chocolate molds. She’d pushed a disposable, eco-friendly wooden teaspoon down the side of each one and placed a marshmallow on top then popped them in the fridge to set. The chocolate was released from the molds a couple of hours later to produce the stirrers.
It was then stirred through boiling milk until it all dissolved and the marshmallow disintegrated to make the most delish hot chocolate. No extra added junk on top—no whipped cream or sprinkles or powdered sugar. Just the milk, chocolate and marshmallow working in perfect symbiosis.
A beautiful three-way!
All kinds of things could be added, though, to the chocolate base—from herbs like mint and chili or even citrus zest to spices like cardamom and cinnamon to candy like caramel and honeycomb. And, of course, booze.
Nothing like a boozy hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day to get things all warmed up!
So, they looked good, they tasted amazing and they had novelty value to burn. Kids loved them as did adults and Delish stores all over the country made record profits in December and that was purely down to their hot chocolate.
“What are my choices?” Reuben asked.
“There’s plain, raspberry-vanilla or Pop Rocks. The kids love that one. Or you can go for the boozy ones. Brandy, Baileys and Frangelico.”
He cocked one thick eyebrow. “How boozy is boozy?”
“Just enough to taste. Not enough to get you drunk or—” she smiled “—in trouble with the law.”
“Enough for you to take advantage of me?”
“Puh-lease.” Viv rolled her eyes. “Like I need booze for that.”
He laughed. “Yeah okay, you got me there.”
“So. Come on.” She waggled the tray closest to her. “Pick.”
“You had me at Pop Rocks.”
“Good choice!”
Picking up a Pop-Rock stirrer by the spoon, she inserted it in the hot milk then pushed it across the bench to Reuben. “Stir it around until it’s all dissolved.”
Reuben did as he was told and they both watched as the chocolate oozed into liquid releasing the Pop Rocks and the marshmallow melted into a puddle of pink. Viv nodded when the process was complete. “And now you drink it.”
He blew on it for a beat or two then took his first sip and she held her breath while he sampled it, ridiculously invested in what he thought. She knew the hot chocolate was good—tens of thousands of Delish customers were evidence of that. But she wanted him to like it.
“Mmm.”
That mmm was deep and appreciative and rubbed in places that were already hypersensitive. He licked his lips as he placed the mug down like he was some kind of connoisseur truly savoring the taste.
“That is seriously good.”
“Yeah?” She took a few steps toward him because she wanted to kiss him for the compliment but also felt foolish for wanting it as badly as she did.
Ugh! What the hell was happening to her?
“Yep.”
He took another sip or two and shut his eyes on a sigh and damn if that wasn’t one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen. And she’d seen Reuben Price stark freaking naked. He opened his eyes again and their gazes locked. “The Pop Rocks are inspiring.”
“Thank you. They were my idea when the company was looking for suggestions of candy to pair with the hot chocolate.”
He grinned. “Give me a ballot paper now and I’ll vote. I’ll come in and vote for you every damn day.”
Viv laughed and she did cross to him this time, sliding her arms around his neck and kissing his mouth, reveling in the groan that rumbled from the back of his throat and the way his arm slipped around her and drew her closer. His knee nudged at the juncture of her thighs and she opened for him, his leg sliding between hers and pressing hard against her most sensitive flesh.
Her tongue stroked along his, savoring the taste of him and the way he stroked hers back like he couldn’t get enough of her taste was dizzying. Her pulse was a little fast and she was slightly breathy when she pulled away, pleased for his arm around her as the whole room seemed to rock on its foundation for a beat or two.
“You know there’s no way you’re going to win the popular vote, right?”
Viv laughed. “Of course not. I fully expect Marietta to be loyal to Sage. But—” She stroked her index finger along his lips, which shone with moisture from their kiss. “I’ll have customers! And, I will take the crown for best hot chocolate because Delish’s is simply better.”
Maybe it was ballsy to be so damn sure about her own product and she had no doubt some would see it as biased. But Viv was only telling the truth. There could well be a better hot chocolate out there somewhere in the world but she hadn’t tasted it yet. And she was willing to bet Delish’s reputation on it especially given the fact there would be a professional chef judging the winner. No one with a trained palate could take a sip o
f Delish’s hot chocolate and not declare it the winner.
“Mmm.” He nuzzled her throat. “You are very sexy when you’re being righteous.”
His warm breath stirred goose bumps up and down her neck and farther south to her nipples, which tightened and rubbed erotically against her lacy bra. Up until Reuben had walked into the store, Viv had been eagerly plotting her hot chocolate domination of Marietta but the only thing she was plotting now was getting him naked.
But not here. This was a commercial kitchen with strict health rules about the exchange of bodily fluids no matter how much she wanted to do him on the central prep area bench…
*
The next morning, Viv launched the opening salvo by placing a sandwich board outside the store boasting in her best and boldest chalky calligraphy that Delish sold the best hot chocolate in Marietta. At the same time, Sage was putting another outside Copper Mountain Chocolates. It didn’t proclaim anything, just gave details of the competition between Marietta’s two chocolate shops.
Viv braced herself for the town’s reaction. Which was swift. The outrage at such a cocky suggestion was palpable. Who did this big-city upstart think she was, blowing into town and picking a fight with Sage? Sage!
How dare she.
Two days after the sandwich boards went out, the Courier ran an article on the competition, which meant even those in Marietta who had been hiding under a rock were suddenly talking about it—hell, everyone was talking about it—and taking sides.
But…it got people through the door. It got the cash register humming and sales ticking over and people talking about the variety and selection on offer and how cute those stirrers were—even if they were loath to! There were some hours of the day Viv even had a little queue of three or four people waiting to purchase their beverage because the rules were, you didn’t get a ballot paper until you’d purchased a hot chocolate and, all the better to ensure that Sage won the popular vote, every time you purchased one you got another chance to vote.
