Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(38)

Oh wow. She had to hold the door handles to keep from melting into a puddle.

“So, movie or dinner first?” he asked roughly, after finally taking a breath.

Eyes half-lidded from being so thoroughly kissed, she was sure the answer of what she wanted was written all over her face, and it wasn’t one of the two choices he’d listed.

Her very responsible mouth answered, “Dinner,” however, and his visible disappointment matched hers. She kept her resolve though. Just a few more of these friendly pre-date dates. She could do it. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. “I need food,” she told him firmly.

“You mean to tell me you didn’t get enough to eat in class?” he teased then, planting one more soft kiss on her lips before taking her hand in his and walking them over to his car.

Her cheeks reddened. She’d been quite literally a big kid in a candy store throughout class, nibbling on all the ingredients they’d worked with as if the world’s supply of chocolate were going to disappear. “I was hungry! You try cooking for eight hours straight.” Since her head cook was playing merry-go-round with his hours due to personal matters—aka love life drama—Dani had spent all day on the grill covering his shift. On the bright side, the flip in her schedule had finally given her an opening to squeeze in another long-awaited pre-date with Luke.

“I’m still bummed you didn’t tell me earlier. I would’ve come in for lunch,” said Luke with true disappointment in his voice. “Nothing against Javier or Dave but I always thought my lunches on Fridays and Saturdays at Ocotillos tasted just a little bit better than the ones during the week.” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “Turns out you were that difference.”

Dani grinned proudly at the praise. Back when Ocotillos had been her dad’s cozy craft brew tavern, Dani had learned to be a good pub and diner cook. She’d enjoyed it immensely. Truth be told, if she hadn’t taken over the brewpub, she would’ve tried opening an eatery with the same mixed-ethnic menu Ocotillos had. Maybe a bar and grill. Definitely not a restaurant though. Pretty, tiny-portions-on-giant-plates variety of metro fusion cuisine simply wasn’t her.

That’s why being the brewmaster and cook of Ocotillos was the best of all worlds in her book—rustic, family-style dishes made with the beer she brewed. What more could she ask for in a dream job? “Bet you didn’t think a gringa was making your favorite food in the kitchen, huh?” she teased, eyes twinkling. Customers often flattered her with that remark. Though the Latin American flavor profiles of her cooking was a mismatch with her fair, mostly Irish skin, she cooked the pedigree of food she grew up loving, courtesy of her dad and his favorite aunt, the two people responsible for most of the skillsets she possessed. Unlike a majority of her peers, Dani had neither a brew science degree nor formal culinary training, but she more than made up for both by pouring her heart into everything she made. It was how her dad had always done it for both his family and his customers—and how she assumed mothers did for their kids.

Not that she’d know firsthand.

“Un-classically trained gringa or not, Dani, you’re amazing at what you do.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” She smiled as her taste buds began humming over the remembered taste of his chocolates. “Your Juniper Whip is seriously the stuff of fantasies.”

His dimples flashed as he curled her closer to him. “That’s my favorite too. It’s not my fanciest or best creation but it’s the one that first made me believe I could open my own shop.”

The layered emotions in his voice did funny things to the rhythm of her pulse. Lately, just being near Luke could get her to this utopic place where smiles came for no reason and heartbeat irregularity was a constant state of being. As wild as it was comforting, it just...fit.

She faltered a step then, tripping over what was very likely her heart.

Luke caught her. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah.” She jerked back and tried to school her features before they betrayed her emotions. “Guess my leg just gave out there for some reason.”

And it was a big reason. In a word: Luke. Luke, who regularly dropped off chocolates for the residents of a nearby retirement community and care home…just because. Luke, who was great with children, generous and loving without limits or expectations, and so unbelievably patient with her that it boggled her mind sometimes. Luke, who made her weak in the knees from a kiss, sane after just a quick chat, and as safe as she’d ever felt with a simple hug. Luke, who had her seeing tiny glimpses of something she never allowed herself to see with anyone anymore.

A future.

If she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall heartbreakingly in love with the man.

Damn it.





CHAPTER FIVE


“I AM OFFICIALLY in love with Dani.”

Frowning, Luke walked into Quinn’s office after hearing that bizarre announcement from her. “Why are you declaring your love for the woman I’m dating?”

Holy crap. He’d just barely checked the impulse to insist she not steal his line.

That couldn’t be right.

Sure, he and Dani had been talking on the phone every night for weeks now, but with their hectic schedules, they’d only been on two dates. He couldn’t really be starting to have serious feelings for the woman could he? This soon?