Billionaire With a Twist 3(13)
“Like…different amounts of hops?” I asked.
“That, of course,” Hunter said. “But beer is so much more than hops. I’ve been fermenting different fruits and herbs here too, distilling their essence to use in flavoring different brews.” He shrugged, scuffing his feet a bit. “I haven’t exactly had many taste-testers besides myself, but I think the aniseed and dandelion are probably the most successful. And the black pepper is surprisingly good too.”
I made some notes on my tablet. “Can I taste some of these?”
Hunter looked delighted. “Of course!”
He hurried over to the back and brought out a crate; the bottles were labeled with Hunter’s scrawl on plain masking tape, which made me jot down another note—obviously that wouldn’t do for the actual packaging, but there was still something there we could use, something in that do-it-yourself aesthetic that would definitely appeal both to the older, proudly self-reliant crowd, and the younger, less self-reliant (and insecure about it) millennials.
Hunter brought the cold glass bottle to my lips, and I closed my eyes to better appreciate the flavor.
“Mmmmm.” Hints of caramel, a touch of cinnamon, and was that…nutmeg? I licked my lips. “Tastes like autumn.”
“Next,” Hunter said softly. There was a clink as he set down the bottle, and another as he picked the second one up. Then that cool glass was against my warm mouth again, and I shivered as I felt his breath ghost against the back of my neck. I could practically feel the heat radiating off his body behind me. A drop of condensation slipped down the neck of the bottle, rolling down the fevered skin of my neck.
Oh, right, the beer. I took a gulp, hoping the cool liquid would calm my disordered thoughts. No such luck—but it was delicious, strongly hoppy this time, notes of lime and orange and vanilla, with a peppery finish. “Damn, that’s good. It’s like spring!”
“I’m glad you like it,” Hunter murmured. His arm encircled my waist—no, he was just reaching for another bottle, no, that was his other hand, this one was definitely resting on my waist, lightly, just above my hipbone.
I didn’t dare open my eyes, for fear I would find I was only dreaming.
“Another?” Hunter invited.
“Yes please.” My voice was a whisper, hoarse with desire I hoped he couldn’t hear.
And there it came, his gentle hands guiding it to my mouth, the smooth glass with its beads of moisture kissing my skin, and that ambrosia sliding slowly down my throat: brown sugar and anise and a hint of…chocolate.
“Ooooooh,” I moaned in appreciation. I licked my lips.
And heard a sharp intake of breath from Hunter. “You like that?” he whispered.
“So much,” I replied, feeling the heat in my body gather itself tight and low.
Even with my eyes closed I was vividly aware of how close he was standing to me; I could smell him, hear each breath he took. His hand on my waist seemed to grip a fraction tighter, wrinkling the fabric of my dress—the hand holding the bottle seemed to tremble slightly, I could feel his breath ruffling my hair as he bent closer, those warm lips only inches from—
My eyes burst open and I almost leapt away from him. We didn’t have time for sexual tension! That was what had gotten us into trouble in the first place. My mind fluttered rapidly over possible topics of redirection.
It was difficult. It mostly wanted to think of Hunter shirtless.
Maybe pantsless too.
Yeah….definitely pantsless.
Focus, Ally!
“Well, I could just sit here sipping these all day, but I’m not really qualified to help choose the official flavors,” I said, trying to sound practical and not at all like my panties were on fire. “How about we set up a tasting event to help pick the best?”
Hunter grinned, giving no indication that he was aware of my inner struggle to not bang him on the floor of his janky distillery shed. “That’s perfect! I could invite—”
He started pacing and rattling off names, only a few of which I recognized, but which were probably all off some insider’s list of Who’s-Who in the liquor industry. His face glowed with delight, with the joy of setting a plan in motion.
I just gazed at him, happy to see that energy lighting him up again. That power, that passion. All the things that made him Hunter Knox, the man I—
“What are you smiling about?” he asked, stopping and turning to look at me, a puzzled expression on his face.
“What, starting a brand-new company isn’t enough?” I asked with a little laugh.
I shrugged and looked down at the floor, scuffing my feet in what I didn’t realize ‘til after I’d done it was an unconscious imitation of his own movements.
“I’m just…really happy for you.” I looked back up at him, wanting to make him understand. “Do you see? This is what they can’t take away.” My voice grew impassioned. “Chuck and all his cronies think that Knox is just a name on a label, but it’s your passion driving the company, and that’s why it’s failing without you at the helm. So let them keep the name. You have everything you need right here.”
Hunter enfolded me in a hug that warmed me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, his strong arms crushing me against his broad chest. I basked in the sensation of being held by him. I wished it would never end.