Page 31 of The Dating Prohibition
“Since you’re not wanting brown liquor, let’s avoid the extra aging and go for reposado.”
“Okay,” Kendra agreed and turned to the server. “Two each, please?”
The server nodded. “Lime and salt?”
They both bobbed their heads in response.
“Great, I’ll have those for you momentarily.” She sped off and within moments, jamón and manchego croquetas were laid on thetable as an amuse-bouche, compliments of the chef.
“These smell so good,” Kendra murmured, snatching her phone to take a quick photo of the presentation before it was destroyed.The round croquetas each sat on a shallow mound of smoked pimiento aioli. She picked one up carefully, the contents of thefried ball hot against her fingertips. “Be careful, these are piping hot.”
BJ followed her lead but pulled back as if the croqueta had singed his skin. “You say that as you handle something straightout of the deep fryer.” He pressed the pads of his thumb and forefinger against the condensation hugging the outside of hiswater glass.
“Poor baby,” she teased with baby talk, widening her eyes as she mocked him. “Did the little hot treat give you an ouchie?”
BJ glared at her while she took her first bite. She had to blow out a breath with half of the croqueta in her mouth because the ham and cheese mixture was so hot. The crunchyouter coating slathered in the aioli added a creamy savoriness to the experience of flavor exploding on her tongue. “Oh my god, so good,” she breathed.
“Mmm-hmm, you gonna kiss it and make it better?” BJ retorted.
Kendra’s eyes bugged as she choked on the half-chewed morsel, her hand flying to her chest as she coughed, her mind shootingthoughts and images to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes teared up as she reached for her glass of water, picturing herselfkissing his fingers before taking them into her mouth. She chugged the cool liquid to quell the thirst building between herthighs. “Sorry, you caught me off guard there.”
“Apparently,” he smirked.
The server returned with their shots. The glasses were rimmed with flaky salt and wedges of lime were laid across the tops.They each grabbed their first glass.
“So what should we toast to?” BJ asked.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure that there’s really anything to toast. Don’t you toast when you’re celebrating?”
“Well, then, let’s say that we’re toasting to you being another step closer to realizing your dreams. You’re going after it,and it takes guts to take the leap and try. Some people never get past that dream stage.”
“Hmm. You really believe that?” Her breath caught in her throat.
“Of course I do. Don’t cry, Kenny. Listen, this was a minor setback, but your major comeback is right around the corner. Onenodoesn’t close every door.”
“I’m not gonna cry, I’m not gonna cry...” She blew out a breath, looking to the ceiling as she fanned her eyes. “I just—You really believe that?”
He nodded.
She inhaled deeply, nodding as she dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Okay, well, then . . . cheers!” She smiled brightly, pushing her fears aside.
BJ shook his head as his lips pulled upward. “Salud.”
They clinked their glasses together. Kendra ran her tongue along the side of the glass collecting salt on her taste buds beforedowning the shot and biting into the lime wedge.
“Well, that was smooth.” She nodded, noticing that BJ had taken his tequila straight—the salt and lime untouched. She immediatelyreached for the second glass.
“Whoa, you don’t want to slow down a little bit?” Concern etched BJ’s face as he leaned forward.
Kendra bit her lip. “I—I need this tonight.”
He searched her eyes before sitting back in his seat. “Okay, well, bottoms up.”
They shot their second glasses and BJ’s eye twitched slightly as they both swallowed the spicy liquid.
“Doesn’t burn it too bad, right?” She crooked a brow.
“No. Do you have work tomorrow?”
