Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Holy hell, this man is hot.
His eyes lock on mine. “Welcome to Midnight,” he says with a sweep of his arm, and I know he’s mimicking my greeting when he’d come to my office. He’s not mocking me, he’s grinning and winks as I laugh.
“The floor is yours,” Lucas tells Mak, sliding onto a barstool beside me.
“Okay, let’s get this party started!” the pretty bartender says. She reaches below the counter and suddenly music surrounds us. Not too loud like a normal night, but just enough to give us ambiance.
“I waited for you so I could make each drink fresh,” she says, taking out three drink glasses.
An idea strikes me, and I decide I’m going to order engraved glasses with the Thunder logo and 50th Anniversary etched on them.
“I’m going to make all three and leave you to taste at your leisure,” Mak tells me. “And if you don’t like one, I can come up with something new.”
“Thanks! I can’t wait to taste your creations.”
Mak gets to work and Lucas leans close, one elbow on the bar. “So, how was the rest of your week?”
“Busy as usual. Yours?” Because I’m much more interested in what he has to say than my week of phone calls and appointments, forced smiles when I didn’t like ideas, and real ones when the vendors were easy to work with.
He shrugs. “The same as yours. Busy. Your brother enjoys the hands-on part of the business, and I prefer… watching over the business. But with Jack out of town, I’m dealing with people.” He shudders, making me laugh.
“Who knew you weren’t a people person?” I ask.
He sobers a bit, and his shoulders stiffen, his easygoing manner turning to a more withdrawn one. “I used to be a people person. Hung out with a big group of guys.”
“And you don’t anymore?” It’s my turn to prop an elbow on the bar and lean close. I didn’t expect to learn about him today, and I’m all in.
He shakes his head. “I discovered that big groups can lead to bigger problems.”
“I see…” I don’t, but I want to. “What happened?” I ask.
“So let me tell you about the first drink,” Mak says, interrupting whatever I might have learned about Lucas, but I tuck away the information to ask again at a more appropriate time. “I named it The Touchdown.”
“I like it already,” I tell her, excited to taste.
She laughs. “What makes this drink special is also what takes the longest to prepare. I toasted black sesame seeds ahead of time. You do them over medium heat until they’re fragrant and begin to pop.” She brings a container from beneath the bar to show me. “Then, while they’re cooling, I combined equal parts Jamaican rum and a rye blend, leaving some space for the seeds. Seal it and shake well. Then leave it for three to five days so it infuses.”
My eyes are wide as I listen to the preparation that’s gone into the drink. “Thanks for explaining. I’ve never thought about what goes into mixing drinks, but I admit to being fascinated… and impressed.”
“Mak here is a Western US Speed Rack Champion. It’s an all-female high speed bartending competition,” Lucas says, pride in his tone. “We’re lucky to have her working for us.”
Mak waves off the compliment. “What’s most important is that the competition raises money for breast cancer charities. But winning is awesome too.” She laughs. “Now, as for the drink, I combine the ingredients in a mixing glass, including the seeds.” As she pours, she names each ingredient: banana liquor, demerara gum syrup, orange bitters, a pinch of salt, and lemon and orange expression. “Add ice,” she says, as she does just that, continuing to explain the process while she works. “Stir until chilled and diluted, strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, and garnish with lemon and orange peels.” She adds the topping. “Here you go!” She pushes the dark brown drink toward me.
Picking up the lowball glass, I take a sip and the nutty yet tropical taste explodes on my tongue. It’s a bit sweet along with the depth of the rum. Delicious. “Your talent is incredible to watch and taste,” I tell her. “This is perfect for a signature drink!”
“I know,” she says with a grin.
“She’s modest, too.” Lucas laughs.
I take another sip. “I could finish this whole glass, but I know we have two more drinks to go, and I don’t want to drink and drive.”
Lucas leans in close once more, the warmth of his body and spicy scent of his aftershave a reminder of all the ways I’m attracted to him. It takes all my restraint not to lean back against his broad chest.
“I’ve always got you,” he says in a gruff, rumbly voice. “But in this case, I think you’re right. Let’s move on to drink number two.” He straightens his posture and I miss his closeness.