Page 29 of For the Promise (The Raider Brothers #2)

“I did warn you.” ~ Jaxon

Jaxon

I drum my fingers on the table in my office. This new flavor profile for the whiskey Buccaneer’s is planning to debut for the holidays isn’t working. I don’t know where I went wrong.

I carefully selected the grains. I combined them for a unique flavor. I kept a close eye on the fermentation process. After much consideration, I decided which portion of the distillation to use in the final product. I used a bourbon cask and regularly checked on the aging whiskey.

The blending has to be the problem. I’ve tried different barrels and batches of whiskey to finely tune the final product but I’m not there yet.

This whiskey should give the drinker a taste of Christmas spices, ginger, coffee, and dark chocolate.

A rich yet balanced taste that goes down smooth at a holiday dinner.

But it doesn’t .

I scan the table. It’s covered in various whiskey samples as well as my notes from each blending attempt. I gather the notes together. I will carefully review them to figure out the issue.

Once I’ve disposed of these blends, I’ll start over.

The door bangs open and slams into the wall. “What the hell, Jaxon?”

I frown at Blossom. She can’t possibly be upset I’m pouring whiskey away. She knows enough about whiskey distilling to understand I’m not wasting the whiskey. Unlike my brothers who think any liquid from the barrels is drinkable. It’s not.

“These are the blends I didn’t approve.”

She fists her hands on her hips. “I don’t give a shit about the whiskey.”

“You’re angry?”

“What was your first clue?”

“The door banging open.”

She shakes her head. “I wasn’t being literal.”

I grimace at yet another example of my social awkwardness. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Answer your phone.”

I’m getting more confused as this conversation progresses. “Sorry?”

Her nostrils flare. “Stop saying sorry.”

“I’m sorry.” She growls. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” I trail off and inhale a deep breath. “I don’t understand what’s happening. Why are you mad?”

She points at the clock.

“It’s seven p.m.,” I read .

“And?”

“And…” I search my mind for why she would be angry at me for working at seven p.m. I work late most days. She knows this. Except for when I have plans.

“Oh shit,” I mutter when I remember. “We were going to dinner.”

“And you forgot.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Enough with sorry! It’s bad enough you forgot we were having dinner today but you didn’t answer any of my texts. I was worried. I didn’t know if you were hurt. If something happened. If you were lying dead in a ditch with your face being eaten off by a seal.”

I open my mouth to tell her seals don’t eat human faces but then I notice her sniff and a tear leaks from her eye. Her tears slay me. Fortunately, I know what to do because she taught me how to handle this situation. I wrap her in my arms and sway her from side to side.

“I’m so sorry, Petal. I didn’t think. I always switch my phone on silent when I work. I didn’t hear your messages.”

She fists my t-shirt. “You don’t know how it feels to get a call telling you the worst has happened.”

I wipe her tears from her cheeks. “I wish you didn’t know how it feels either.”

“But I do.”

Her eyes, normally a brilliant whiskey brown, are red and puffy. It breaks my heart to see her this way.

“Tell me how to make you feel better. ”

She smiles but it doesn’t light up her face the way it usually does. “You can’t make it better. I’m grieving their loss. I’ll probably always grieve the loss of my parents.”

I nod. I understand. I grieve the loss of my father. Except he’s not dead. He’s a mainlander, who ditched the island, leaving my mom to raise six children on her own.

“Is this one of those situations when chocolate and wine helps?”

“One of those situations?”

I shrug. “I’ve been researching how to be a good partner.”

“You have?”

My cheeks warm but I ignore them. “I thought it would help me make less mistakes. I guess I need to research more since I messed up today.”

She grasps my hands. “You messed up but it’s okay. No one’s perfect, although I am pretty close.”

I grin. “Yes, you are.”

This time, when she smiles, it does light up her face. “It’s good you realize how perfect I am now.”

I can’t resist those lips. I meld my mouth to hers. She sighs and I thrust my tongue inside. Her taste of cherries hits me, and I growl before pulling her near until her chest hits mine.

I palm her neck and tilt her head so I can dive deeper into the kiss. I want to explore every inch of her mouth. I want to memorize her taste. I want her taste on my tongue.

I grasp her hips and place her on the table. She wraps her legs around me. My cock – already hard and heavy – presses against my zipper in an effort to reach her .

In one weekend, we had more sex than I did with my previous girlfriend over a six-month period. And yet, I can’t get enough of her. I’m afraid I never will.

I thread my hand through her hair before gathering it at her nape and tugging to expose her neck to me. I nibble and lick my way down her neck until I reach the junction with her shoulder, where I bite down.

Blossom moans as her legs tighten around my waist and her fingernails dig into my arms.

“I love your cherry taste,” I murmur against her skin. I draw a finger along her neck and shoulder and enjoy watching the goosebumps explode in my wake.

“Cherry?”

“Mh-hum. Cherry.”

I love the taste of cherries. Sweet with a slight hint of tart. It would be a great addition to any whiskey. Aha! It’s what’s missing. I snap my head up. “That’s it!”

Blossom gazes at me with dazed eyes. “What’s it?”

“Cherry. It’s the missing flavor.”

“I still don’t understand. You’re going to have to explain more, nerd boy.”

“The flavor profile for the new whiskey. I couldn’t figure out what was missing. It’s why I was lost in concentration and forgot the time.”

Forgot the time. Shit. Going complete nerdy whiskey distiller on Blossom is not the way to her heart.

“Never mind.” I pull her close again. “Forget I said anything. ”

She presses a hand on my chest to create space between us. “I won’t forget you said anything. I want to understand.”

“But we were making out and I thought of my whiskey.”

She grins. “In other words, I inspired the whiskey.”

“You did.” I reach for my notes. “I’ve been working on a new flavor profile for a holiday whiskey all day but I couldn’t get it right. It was missing something.”

“Cherry?”

I nod. “Exactly.”

“But how do you add cherry taste to whiskey. You’re not going to add actual cherries, are you?” Her nose wrinkles in distaste and I tweak it.

“No, I am not. I have something better.”

“Don’t leave me hanging.”

I pause. “You’re serious? You’re interested.”

“Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “Have you met me? Chemical engineering degree and aspiring brewer who begged you for a tour of the distillery.”

“Sometimes I forget how smart you are.”

She frowns. “You forgot I’m a genius? Rude.”

I comb the hair from her face. “I’m used to smart girls who are similar to me.”

“Sexy? You don’t think I’m sexy?”

“Will you stop twisting my words?”

“Sorry. I’ll do anything for you but I can’t do that.”

“Are you quoting Meatloaf?”

“Would a smart and sexy woman like me listen to Meatloaf? ”

I realize I’ve talked myself into a corner and give up. “I bought a few barrels from a cherry liquor producer a while back. I’m going to transfer the whiskey to those barrels for a finishing period. It will add a subtle cherry-like character.”

“It’ll add a complex flavor. Brilliant idea. For which I take the credit.”

I chuckle. “Naturally.”

“What are you waiting for? Let’s get to work.”

“You’re going to help?”

She narrows her eyes. “You better not say I can’t help because I’m a woman. Those are fighting words.”

“No. I…” I clear my throat. “I didn’t expect you to be this interested in the process.”

“You don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what?”

“I’m interested in whatever you’re doing. You are interesting to me.”

I study her brown eyes for any hint of deception. I don’t understand how this woman could possibly be interested in me. I’m a nerd who – according to my brothers – has the social skills of a sea cucumber.

But there’s no deception to be found in Blossom’s gorgeous eyes. She’s being genuine. She’s interested in me. My boring life doesn’t feel boring with her in it.

No wonder I’m falling for this woman. She’s not only perfect. She’s perfect for me.