Page 35 of Three Hearts Hideaway

They arrived at a modern-looking building, no larger than a single-family bungalow, and Logan helped Ava off his bike.

“What is this place?” Ava took in her surroundings with admiration.

“A craft gin distillery. Gertie’s grandson, Jack, just finished getting it up and running. We’re going to be the first to try his stock.”

Ava clutched his arm. “This is amazing! How did you know I love gin?”

“A hunch.” He winked at her, loving that she was clinging on to his arm. Twenty minutes on his bike with her arms wrapped around him had broken down any lingering fear of being close to him. Another reason to love his ride.

Her eyebrows knitted together. “No, seriously. How did you know?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t. But I thought you’d appreciate the experience regardless of if you were a fan of gin.”

She laughed. “So you lucked out.”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Holy smokes, there you are!” Jack called out, strolling down the front steps of the building. “I’ve been waiting for ya. Welcome to Jack and Jill’s Gin Distillery. What took ya so long?” He shook both their hands and invited them inside.

“We took the scenic route. I wanted to give Ava a ride to remember.”

“Well, nothing wrong with that.” He clapped Logan on the back and ushered them along. “Let me give you the tour.” He directed their attention as they walked, and he talked. “These are our mash cookers. Those”—he pointed—“are our stills. And that area houses our spirit safes and receiver tanks.”

All the equipment was new and shone in the light from the windows on the sides of the building. Copper and hammered metal complemented each other perfectly. Jack had done a great job making the space clean and stylish. Logan appreciated the little touches, like the matching copper tasting tables and brushed nickel bar. He appreciated it even more with Ava’s hand still clutching his bicep.

“This is perfect timing.” Jack beamed from ear to ear. “When Grandma Gertie called and said you wanted a tour, I got so excited. We just finished distilling our first three batches of product. Getting you to taste it is gonna be the highlight of my week.”

“Thank you for letting us be your first customers,” Ava said.

“Even if we hate the gin, we’ll tell you we love it,” Logan joked.

“Oh, come now.” Jack slapped Logan on the shoulder. “You’re gonna love it, I promise.”

They sat on the wooden stools in front of the tasting table while Jack poured three different gins into shot glasses. He set the bottles behind each different gin so they could see what they were drinking. Logan admired the muted colours and simple design of the labels. Jack really had his shit figured out.

“These are stunning,” Ava commented, taking the one with the violet label and turning it in her hands. “Did you design them?”

“Oh, heaven’s no. That would be my wonderful wife, Emma. She’s a graphic designer.”

“Well she does incredible work. You should both be proud.”

Jack beamed. “Thank you, Ava. I’ll make sure to pass along your kind words.”

During the tasting, Jack was a complete professional. Always offering Ava the sample first, then Logan. Telling them the notes of each, and how he and his business partner, Jill, invented the flavour profiles.

“I think the saskatoon berry flavour is my favourite,” Ava said, licking the last drop off the rim of the glass.

It took everything in him to not lean forward and taste the gin lingering on her tongue.

“What about you, Logan?” Jack asked, breaking the spell Ava’s mouth had cast on him.

“The Gin Rummy, easy. Love the mix of rum and gin. Great notes of cinnamon and ginger. And it’s a clever name.” He ran a palm down Ava’s back, testing the waters. She leaned into his touch, so he let his hand rest above her ass. Fuck, her body felt good.

“But the honey and violet flavour was good, too.” She gave a reassuring touch on Jack’s forearm. “You knocked it out of the park, Jack. Truly.”

Logan nodded in agreement.

“Thank you so much, you two. You’ve really buoyed my confidence. We knew we had something special here, but of course we’re partial to our own product. Let me mix you both a G&T and I’ll take you out back to our patio.”

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