Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek) (49 page)

Luke rolled his eyes at that. “So how’d you finally get her to cave?”

“I
tricked
her.” She beamed. “I got her to come to one of the Meddling Cupid mixers, and paired them off. After dominating in all the cooking competitions, Angie and Eric went on to
decimate
everyone in the couple video game rallies. It was one of my most successful pairings of the night.”

Luke burst out into laughter and pulled Dani in close. “You are something else.”

“Why thank you.” Dani preened.

At the sound of the two gorgeously twined voices coming over the sound system in perfect harmony, Luke and Dani looked up onto the stage where Rylan and Quinn, aka Mr. and Mrs. Grey, were performing the beautiful duet they’d composed for Luke and Dani’s first dance.

“Married life suits them,” said Luke, looking at the happy couple singing on stage together. “I didn’t even know Quinn could smile like that, let alone sing like that.”

Dani chuckled. “Rylan’s taking credit for the smiles but he said the singing is all her. He’s even complained that the guys have written him out of a few songs in favor of her singing lead.” Those two really were a match made in heaven, with an exciting new future ahead of them that she was ecstatic to watch unfold. With a content sigh, Dani rested her head against Luke’s chest and listened to Rylan and Quinn’s perfectly harmonized voices weave fairytale-ending magic all around them.

Just one more thing to add to make this a true happily ever after…

“Come with me,” she said eagerly, the moment the song ended.

* * * * *

LUKE SMILED
at the excitement flittering across Dani’s expression as the waiter brought over a small glass. Yep, his romantic little bride had something planned, alright. His eyebrows arched in amusement as he looked at the little lowball glass she’d slid in front of him with the two-layered liquid in it. “Is this a Black and Tan?” He picked it up. “In a kiddie cup?”

Dani was practically bouncing in her seat. “My newest creations.” She showed him the two levels of beer in the light—the top one was tinged deep red while the bottom had a white cast to it. “A spin-off of the Black and Tan, only I’m dubbing it a
Red and White
. Try it.”

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—

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.”