Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(115)

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—