Page 6 of Snow Much Trouble
“Well, technically, they’re round. You break them off from the log. But with snowmen in red inside standard dough.”
“That sounds charming as hell. Are you hungry? I brought a couple of steaks to throw on the grill.”
“Feed me and you’ve made a friend for life.”
Lauren steps the few feet back over to me in the kitchen and hands me her glass. “Top me off.”
“My pleasure.” I turn and set her glass down. I lift the bourbon bottle.
“To be honest with you, I don’t get the hype around this stuff,” she says. “It tastes like burnt caramel and poor decisions.”
I almost drop the bottle, which set me back two grand. “What? You’re joking, right? Do you know how much this costs?”
Lauren shrugs. “A fool and his money…”
But her eyes are sparkling. She’s goading me.
I’ve poured her another two fingers and I have every intention of giving it to her. But I still want to tease her a little. And further express my horror because I actually think she’s serious about not liking the taste. “Do I need to educate your tongue before I give this to you?”
“Educate mytongue? Are you for real?”
“I keep it very real when I talk about bourbon. It does not taste like burnt caramel. You have to let it rest in the back of your throat before you swallow.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “What the fuck?”
I actually start laughing. “I’m sorry. That didn’t sound right.” I cap the bourbon bottle and hand her the glass. “Just do what I tell you to do. Take a very small sip and let it roll over your tongue. Then rest it on the back of your tongue. And swallow.”
“That didn’t sound any better than what you said before.”
“Trust me.”
“Why would I trust you? I just met you.”
I’m fighting a smile again. “Beautifulandsmart. You’re the full package.”
“Don’t push it,” she says. But she does take a sip and attempts to hold it in her mouth but she starts to cough andswallows. Her eyes are watering. “Nope. No. Jesus.” She pats her chest.
“Do you have any chocolate with you?”
“Do I have any chocolate? That’s like asking if a baby has a pacifier. I never leave home without chocolate.”
“Eat a piece and we’ll try again. Chocolate can really draw out the flavors of the bourbon.”
“Did I sign up for a free bourbon tasting class? Is that what this is?” Lauren shakes her head in amusement.
“You’re the one who asked to be topped off when you know you don’t even like it.”
“That is a problem I have. Fine. I’ll go get the chocolate.” She turns to rifle through some bags on the kitchen counter.
Resolutely, I head back to the front door to collect my overnight bag and my groceries so that I won’t check out her ass again.
Outside, the snow continues to fall, and I can't shake a feeling of…excitement, maybe? Or hell, downright giddiness. I’ve been so bored and exhausted lately. Stuck in the grind. Lauren intrigues me.
And I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a very, very bad thing.
I guess I'm about to find out.
Lauren
