Page 38 of The Senator: Raphael

“Why don’t we try?” I wink at him, and they all seem entertained by the idea. Even broody resting bitch face.

I gather as much as possible from the liquor cabinet, grab a bucket of ice from the freezer, and start to do what I know best. Fortunately, Raphael seems to own a bar; he not only has the best liquor, but almost everything I need to make cocktails. He even has passion fruit in his fridge. Who buys passion fruit?

“Shirley Temple for Dakota.” I put the glass in front of her.

“Thank you!”

“Why a Shirley Temple?” Harrison asks.

I look at him, curiosity written all over his face. “Because she is refreshing, genuine, and has a smile only a child-like person can pull off.”

He nods and Dakota blushes.

“Cosmo for Lola. I cheated with this one. I know her favorite.”

Lola sips from her glass and moans.

“For Cindy, a vodka tonic, sparkling like her personality.” I put the glass in front of her and she nods.

“My favorite!” she confirms.

“Aaron, Scotch. Neat. A glass of water on the side.” I give him his glasses.

He smirks at me and Harrisons gasps. “How did you know that?”

“He’s wearing a polo, khakis, and sneakers. He wants something easy, not fancy, colorful or pretentious,” I explain.

“Why not a beer?” Harrison challenges me.

“He’s wearing a sixty-thousand-dollar watch. He has too refined taste for a cheap beer.”

Dakota gasps and looks at Aaron’s watch, then at the smirk he’s giving me. He didn’t expect I would actually get it right.

“What about Leonard?” He points to resting bitch face. So, he has a name.

“Old-fashioned for him.” I put a glass in front of him and he almost smiles. Almost. “He showed up in black trousers, elegant shoes, and a perfectly ironed white shirt. He probably ditched the tie and jacket before getting out of the car, after he saw what you all were wearing. He likes expensive things, like Aaron, but he wants you to put an effort into making his drink.”

This time he actually grins.

Harrison’s mouth hangs open.

“For you, my dear, a Pornstar martini. It’s refreshing, frivolous, and over the top with a bit of exotic that you love so much,” I say, putting half of the passion fruit into the glass and handing him the cocktail and the shot of champagne that goes with it.

Everyone laughs and Harrison grins and sips it, winking at me.

“Matthew, I just saw you down an antacid. I’m guessing you’re not doing alcohol today, right?” I smile and he waves at me.

“I’m sticking with water. Thank you.”

“What about Raphael?” Leonard asks, speaking for the first time, and everyone seems to hold their breath.

“He’s a shot of tequila, salt and lime.” I give him his shot, but he doesn’t touch it.

His arms are crossed over his chest, an amused smile dances on his face. “Why am I tequila?” There is a challenge in his tone.

“Because you’re good at making people do the unthinkable, even the most stupid things. But, if you have too much of it, you end up hungover in some Vegas hotel, married to a guy you barely know and with no memory of how you got there in the first place,” I explain and his amused smile morphs into a full belly laugh.

He grabs my hand and drags me to him. A mischievous glint burns in his green eyes. My breath catches in my throat when he lowers his lips in the crook of my neck and licks it. An audible moan almost escapes my lips as my heart hammers in my chest. What the hell is he doing in front of everyone? He grabs a pinch of salt, puts it on my damp skin then licks it again. He downs his shot of tequila and then suck at the lime without his burning gaze ever leaving mine.

---