Page 35 of Winner Takes All

“You were really watching me, huh?” she teases.

“Always,” I honestly tell her. She flushes. We’re both getting more and more confident in sharing our feelings with one another. I love that all of the walls are tumbling down.

She nudges me with her elbow. “What about you? Can you tell the difference between these flavors or are you simply pretending?”

I take a sip, rolling the rum around in my mouth like I know what I’m doing. “Hmm... I’m getting notes of caramel, vanilla... and cockiness?” I tease.

She laughs, her eyes sparkling. “Cockiness is all you, but it isn’t a flavor.”

“Maybe not,” I admit. “It does make everything taste better, though.”

She laughs again as she leans into me. “Okay, hotshot, tell me what this next one is.” She hands me a glass of darker rum, challenging me with a playful smirk.

I take a sip, trying to focus, but it’s hard when she’s this close. “This one definitely has some spice. Maybe... cinnamon? There’s something else, though. Possibly molasses.”

“Not too bad. Can you guess the chocolate it pairs with?” she asks.

“That’s easy. The one with a hint of chili.”

“Lucky guess,” she mumbles.

“It’s not luck, it’s mad skill,” I say, leaning closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I like to pay attention to all of the right things.”

Her breath catches slightly, and she tries to hide her smile. “Okay, mister, you win this round. I’m still ahead on the chocolate, though.”

We move on to the next pairing, both of us feeling a buzz. With each sip, we get a little looser, our laughter a little louder. Marcus tells stories about the rum-making process, the history of the distillery, and the unique ways they infuse flavors. We’re both tipsy, leaning into each other as we try to decipher the complex notes.

“I’ve decided I can definitely get used to this life of rum, chocolate, fish, and beaches,” Nikki says.

I chuckle, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Want to move here?”

“Maybe . . . if the company’s good enough.”

I squeeze her waist, my fingers brushing the soft fabric of her dress. “I’ll keep you company.” It’s a fantasy that’s appealing. If it wasn’t for family I’d do it in a heartbeat. Then again, I want to make a family with Nikki. However, if I took away even a moment of my father getting to enjoy his grandchildren, he’d kill me.

“I’m sure you’d keep me very warm at night,” she says.

Marcus continues guiding us, but at this point, I’m barely listening. I’m too focused on the way Nikki’s lips curl when she smiles, the way her hand rests on my arm, her thumb brushing back and forth absently. I steal kisses in between sips, and she giggles against my mouth, her fingers tightening against my skin.

“You’re distracting me,” she says in a husky whisper.

“Good.”

“I love being with you,” she murmurs.

“I feel the same.”

“Good, because I’m getting used to it.”

We finish the tasting, giggling like teenagers and sneaking plenty of kisses. We move outside to the patio, Nikki’s hand in mine, sending a spark through my body. The rum has certainly given us a nice buzz, but the spark is so much more than that. We are so much more.

We slowly walk away from the distillery, then climb into our vehicle, leaning on each other as we make our way back down to the ocean. By the time we reach the marina for our sunset cruise, the sky is a canvas of oranges and pinks. The catamaran awaits, sleek and ready to sail as we step onboard. I feel a rush of excitement, and a bit of sadness knowing this is our last night on the island. I want to make it unforgettable.

The wind catches the sails, and we glide along the coast, the ocean stretching endlessly before us. A local chef on board theboat prepares a seafood dinner of grilled lobster, shrimp, and fish served with tropical fruits and a tangy mango salsa. The flavors, as always, are incredible, but I’m more focused on Nikki than the water or the meal.

I love watching the way her face lights up with each bite of her meal, the way she laughs as the crew jokes with her. I love how she leans against me, reaches for me, and takes true pleasure in all we do.

As the sun makes its final decent below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues, I pull her against me. “I don’t want this to end,” she says.

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