Page 35 of Score on You

She dips her chin and offers him a quick wave.

“Always a mood booster when you’re at the cock den,” he squawks.

Callie nods in gratitude but doesn’t speak.

Meanwhile, I snort at his antics. “Is there a problem?”

“Nah, got it sorted.”

Just then, a pained yelp comes from his section of the rail. “Ow, ow. Shit. That stings.”

Garrett whips around to face his fiancée. “What’s wrong?”

“Got squirted in the eye,” Grace whimpers. There’s a freshly squeezed lime in her grip that appears to be the guilty offender.

He chuckles. “Aww, shucks. We’ve talked about you getting too close to the splash zone, soulmate. Didn’t you learn your lesson on my birthday?”

She tries to glare at him, but the watery side effect just looks pitiful. “Not funny.”

“Let me assess the damage.” Garrett wanders off to tend to her, which allows me to complete my task.

I turn my attention back to my concoction. Vanilla syrup is a must. Three mint leaves join the party, chased with two pumps of grenadine. An orange slice slides onto the sugared rim. The end result should taste like a trip to the Caribbean.

Callie’s giddy satisfaction bounces between me and the finished product. “That’s too pretty to drink.”

“I beg to differ.” Otherwise, I won’t be able to gobble her cobbler or whatever gibberish Harper spewed earlier. “Beauty like this shouldn’t be wasted on simple admiration. It’s meant to be consumed. Ravished. Devoured. Feasted on until the insatiable cravings are content.” I pause to cool the fire that’s incinerating my filter. “It’s all about moderation, of course.”

“Um… okay.” She tilts her head while pondering my ranted nonsense. “What do you call this masterful creation?”

I chuckle at her praise, but a suitable name fails me. Garrett’s romantic ass already claimed several titles for the signature cocktails he regularly whips up for Grace. Not only that, but the concoction I’d originally considered might be a bit too strong for her to swallow. For several reasons. I’ll play it safe for now.

“How does Neighbor Material sound?”

Callie’s gaze leaps to mine. “Rather familiar.”

“As it should.”

“Have you made this before?”

“Never. That label belongs to you. Exclusively,” I rasp. “Please try this liquid version and put me out of my misery.”

Our fingers brush as she reaches for the smooth stem. A zap travels through me from that brief touch. She gasps and her gaze leaps to mine. It seems I’m not alone in this madness.

After another stuttered exhale, she picks up the glass in her delicate grip. The smallest sip passes her lips. A delectable moan follows. Her eyelashes flutter shut as if she’s in ecstasy from suckling at this extension of me. My mouth waters as I imagine her tongue sliding along mine while she swallows.

Warmth pumps into me at a feverish rate and I grapple at the counter for support. “You like it?”

“Mhmm. It’s fresh and fruity and different from anything I’ve ever had before.” Callie takes a generous pull, her throat bobbing with the effort. “Delicious.”

“Does this mean I’m corrupting you?” My question gets the desired reaction.

Her cheeks turn redder than the rarest ruby. “If you are, then I approve.”

Before my thoughts lead us to the gutter, a suggestion that’s appropriate for public strikes me. “Did you bring your camera?”

“I never leave home without it.”

“Should we capture this special occasion? Maybe it’ll be memorable enough for your scrapbook.”

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