Page 95 of Make My Heart Malt

“And he wasn’t lying. I’ve tried several. The Backseat Smash is one of my favorites.”

My cheeks flame red hot. I don’t know if it’s from the alcohol or because the CEO of a major vodka distillery tried one of my drinks and loved it. “Thank you so much. It’s such an honor to receive a compliment from someone with your accolades.”

Over the next hour, we chat about the various drinks from my book. Rebecca made a couple of them using Northwest Vodka, and they were incredibly smooth. It was a little dance party for my taste buds.

Rebecca clears our empty glasses and uses a rag to clean off the bar. “I’m glad you could come here today because a great opportunity has come up, and you would be perfect.”

My brows pinch together, and I turn to Garrett, hoping his expression gives something away, but all he does is shrug.

Rebecca continues, “We’re trying something new at the distillery by creating a line of flavored vodkas, and with that, we would like to launch a series of signature drinks to go with each flavor.”

My anxiety spikes. “What does this have to do with me?”

“Garrett was very convincing that you would be perfect for the job.”

Oh my god. If I was told this was going to be a job interview, I wouldn’t have had all those drinks. My brain is currently doing a leisurely backstroke in vodka and cranberry juice.

“Chatting with you solidified my decision. We would love for you to create those drinks for us.”

I blank. I forget all the words in the English language. I possibly forget how to breathe.

“Of course, we’ll work out compensation. We can even arrange for a condo for you in the city and moving expenses.”

“The condo won’t be necessary,” Garrett interjects.

Finally, everything she says sinks in. She’s offering me a job. Offering me an opportunity to be closer to Garrett. All of this while doing something I love. “This is an amazing opportunity. Do you need an answer right now? I would like to think about it.”

“It’s a big decision. I’d expect you to take time to think it over. I’ll let you two finish your drinks. It was so wonderful to finally meet you in person, Dessa. I hope to talk soon.”

“Yes. We will.” I shake hands with Rebecca, and before she leaves, she passes me her business card. Once she’s out of sight, I turn to Garrett. “I can’t believe you blindsided me like that. A heads-up would’ve been nice.” I playfully smack his arm.

He laughs. “If I told you beforehand, you would’ve gotten in your head, and I just wanted you to be one hundred percent yourself. Remember in high school, you had to give a presentation on molecular biology. You spent an entire week preparing and organizing, and when itcame time to give your presentation, it was bland. I was ready to fall asleep.”

I spit out a laugh. “Thanks for that. But I got through all my bullet points.”

“But what’s the point if everyone was sleeping? It made the entire presentation stiff and robotic.”

“I didn’t want to miss anything.”

He swivels in his stool to fully face me, clasping his hands with mine. “Then there was another time at lunch, someone asked about mixing different flavors of soda, and you animatedly talked and talked about it. That was engaging. That was you.”

“It’s a lot easier when it’s something I’m familiar with. But how do you remember that?”

“I remember everything when it comes to you.” He lifts our linked hands and places a kiss on my knuckles. “I’m sorry I caught you off guard, but I’m not sorry I did it. I knew you’d thrive.”

I blow out a deep breath. “This is an amazing opportunity. This is something I could envision myself doing.”

“And it would bring you closer to me.” His hopeful green eyes meet mine.

“That is a huge bonus.”

“And we could take the next step in our relationship.”

Maybe it’s time to take a play out of Nora’s handbook and carpe diem the fuck out of my life.

FORTY-ONE

BETWEEN THE RED STITCHING

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