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“Well, I keep thinking about how you hate hot cocoa and how miserable your life must be without it.” While talking, she poured a drink into the cup, then used the can of whipped cream to add an obscene pile atop the brown liquid. “So I wondered if you just had a more bougie palate than everyone else. To test my hypothesis, I brought a few different flavors and toppings for you to try out. This one’s dark chocolate.” She passed me the cup with shining, expectant eyes.
I stared at her. She was like a puppy following you around the kitchen, not realizing its food was in the dog bowl in the corner. “I think I’ll pass.”
“If you try it, I’ll get out of your hair,” she tempted me, wiggling the cup.
“I don’t do sugar unless it’s in alcohol or off a woman’s body.” I folded my arms across my chest, eyeing her up and down. “Maybe we could try a body shot?” I arched a brow.
Della’s cheeks flushed red in a way that made me want to touch her skin and see if it had heated. But I shook the thought just like she shook her head at me. “Stop trying to rattle me,” she said. “I’m not leaving until you try this.”
“So if I drink this, you’ll get out of here?” Why did I feel like this was a trap?
“This... and the four other flavors I brought.” She nodded resolutely.
I groaned, knowing her well enough to know she wouldn’t be giving up anytime soon. That’s why she and my sister-in-law were such great friends.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a sourpuss. I’m trying to help you.”
I dragged my hand over my face, about to explain that she could help me by leaving, but I had a feeling that would fall on deaf ears. “Fine, I’ll try it, and then you’ll leave.”
“Great.” She handed me the cup and watched eagerly as I took a cautious sip.
The bitterness of the dark chocolate actually improved the flavor a lot, but there was no way I’d give her the satisfaction of saying so. “Next,” I said.
She frowned. “Really? I thought that would do it. Okay. Next one...” She opened another thermos, and I took a covert taste of the first one while her back was turned. Dark chocolate was really growing on me.
But I set the cup down when she had another one ready. This time, she handed me a drink topped with foamy milk and a grid of caramel sauce.
“This one is salted caramel,” she said. “So good.”
I took the cup and sipped it, maintaining a poker face. It definitely was a level up from regular cocoa, but dark chocolate was still in the lead.
She rubbed her hands together, a light shining in her pale eyes. “Tell me you love it.”
“Want me to lie to you?” I murmured.
“Ugh.” She turned and had to dig through the cooler. My eyes trailed to her backside, the jeans gaping at her waist and revealing a thin strip of black lace.
That had my eyebrows rising with appreciation. Curiosity. The dark fabric was such a contrast to her pale skin...
But then she turned back to me with another cup. This one had a mint leaf atop a swirl of whipped cream. “Mint hot chocolate,” she explained.
I absently wondered if it would taste like Thin Mints as I drew it to my lips. That was my favorite Girl Scout cookie. The only one worthwhile, really, if you asked me.
My lip ring butted against the cup as I sipped the best fucking hot chocolate I’d ever tasted. But I was careful not to drink for too long before handing it back with a bored expression. “Do I really have to suffer through another one?” Damn, I should have gone to acting school. I was that good.
Undeterred, Della said, “That’s okay. I know you’ll like this one.” She bent over again, and I took a moment to appreciate her curves without her looking. Without my sister-in-law reminding me that her best friend was strictly off-limits.
I bit down on my lip ring to keep myself from reaching out for her round waist before Della turned back around. My eyes trailed the constellation of freckles across her cheeks as she said, “Irish cream.” Her eyebrows waggled like I was in for a treat. As if I hadn’t just gotten one.
I took the drink from her, a frothy light brown color, and drew it to my lips. The whiskey was strong, just like I liked, but the hot chocolate didn’t really add anything. “Better with coffee,” I muttered.
“It’s decided then.” She folded her arms across her chest, and it took all I had not to stare.
“What’s decided?” I asked.
“You’re from another planet. Are you sure your house isn’t secretly a spaceship?” she deadpanned.
“Come home with me. I’ll probe you on my ship.” I was only half teasing.