Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(112)

Leaning her head against his cheek, she said simply, “I decided before.”

His face tightened skeptically.

“I did. Ask Xoey. I woke her up the morning of the explosion to talk. Of course, when I told her about us moving in together, she went on and on, reminding me about all the other gorgeous fish in the sea.” She giggled at the annoyance flitting across his face.

He caught Dani’s chin to look into her eyes. “Why? What changed your mind?”

“I woke up alone.”

The hope he was feeling crumbled. “And I’ll live with that for the rest of my life. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I never should have left you after our fight.” He dropped his head into his hands. “If I’d just stayed in bed with you last night, you wouldn’t be lying here like this in the hospital—”

“Stop.” Dani smoothed the agony from his face with gentle fingers. “That blast was an accident waiting to happen. Plus, it was my day to open; I would’ve gotten hurt no matter what.”

He shook his head. “The explosion happened well before you normally go in to open and you know it. You would’ve been safe if you hadn’t headed in early to arrange that surprise for me.” With hands that trembled, he traced the deep bruises on her face and neck, the lacerated skin all along her chest and arms. “Face it, I’m the reason you almost died.”

“Luke, no. I was there because I wanted to be. I wanted to show you the two new brews I’d made from your chocolates. They’re the first of six different chocolate beers we’ll be selling as Ocotillos’ inaugural bottled beer set.” His utter shock lit a smile on her face. “That’s why I knew all about bottling equipment when Derek mentioned it for his winery the other day.”

Luke simply had no words. After her horrible history with bottling their beers, the fact that she had been willing to do this for him…

“I was planning to split the profits with your shop but now that you’re going to be fine lease-wise with Derek partnering in, I decided to have the money go to Quinn for Coop’s surgery expenses.” She cradled his face in her hands. “So, yes, I had something to show you that morning. And maybe if I hadn’t been all crazy in love and wanting to surprise you with this whole ‘look how good we can be together’ metaphor, I’d have just told you without this whole romantic gesture thing at the brewpub. A few months ago I would’ve. With anyone else, I would’ve. But no, for some reason, I find myself wanting to do things differently now with you.”

A slow smile overtook his lips.

“Instead of just simply telling you, I find myself wanting to show you how I feel. I’m constantly thinking of ways to make those two dimples of yours appear.”

His smile turned into a full-blown fool-in-love grin.

The corners of her lips lifted. “Yeah, like that.” She sighed with mock despair. “Okay, alright? My name is Dani and I’m a complete and utter romantic. My vice of choice is fluffy feelings. And apparently, my boyfriend brings it out of me in a flagrant fashion because I’m so dang in love—wait, wait, stop,” she laughed, covering his lips. “Don’t go kiss-crazy just yet.”

She cocked her head to the side. “You didn’t let me finish. I didn’t mean I was upset that I was alone that morning. I meant I felt alone as a whole. Like something was missing from my life. So, I closed my eyes and found my mind wandering over to those dreams we talked about once.” Her gaze met his. “And the more I dreamed, the more right I felt. All I could think about was how much I wanted to reach that life in my dreams—really live, you know?”

He did know.

“Luke, I’ve never really thought of the future because there was never one there in front of me that I wanted to dream about. But with you... When I think of you, I see a future, not the other way around. That means something, doesn’t it? That I don’t just picture a fantasy future with any Joe Shmoe edited in, but rather, I can’t see a future unless I think of you first?”

She looked down, embarrassed.

He immediately extinguished that embarrassment with an all-consuming kiss that burned with every emotion he was feeling. Not until she looked sufficiently dazed and as high as he felt, did he finally stop to answer, “That’s a yes, by the way. Yes, on us moving in together.”



*



TO LUKE’S CONSTERNATION, after just two weeks out of the hospital, Dani’s stubborn-ass bullheadedness was back and badder than ever.

“You’re being unreasonable,” bit out Luke, obstinately. “Just wait a few more months to brew. The brewpub is doing fine without it.” He stood his ground. “I know you don’t fully believe in the Dobson curse, but I sure as hell do. You were in here last month trying to make a new spring beer and your brewery blew up. Uh, hello? So, again, I repeat, NO.”

“First of all, the chocolate beers weren’t spring beers. Secondly, I’m not asking for your permission you lug nut,” Dani folded her arms and glared at him. “I’m NOT waiting!”

“Why now?” he exploded. “Why do you have to make this beer now?”

“It’s a spring beer,” she shrugged matter-of-factly.

“Make it a summer beer.”

“No.”

He fumed in frustration. “Why? Why can’t it be a summer beer?”