Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(116)

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 bought out a quarter of my share. And effective immediately, Rylan will be going in as a managing partner as well with the half of Derek’s share he bought, 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. Not anymore.”

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.”