Page 20 of Heartless Sinner

“I can definitely see why.” I smile up at him then look around again.

We make our way to the bar and stop by the crystal decanters sitting on the counter looking like they were waiting for us.

Mr. Dreamy moves behind the bar and my gaze drifts to the bottles of top-shelf liquor arranged in perfect precision against smoky glass shelves on the wall.

“So, I know you like cocktails. Is there anything specific you don’t like?” He does that thing again where he scans my face.

“No. I’m pretty open to trying everything and anything.”

“Perfect. What’s your limit?” He rests his hands on the counter and cocks his head.

“Four. But I’ve already had two.”

“Noted. Are you okay with me fixing you one of my specialties?”

“Sure.”

“Then be prepared to have your mind blown.” A confident smile slides across his lips, revealing deep dimples. As if he wasn’t gorgeous enough.

I lean against the counter and watch him as he gets to work by grabbing some lemons and limes from the fridge. The dim lighting bounces off the tattoos on his arms as he opens the cupboard above him and reaches for a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé that probably costs more than my monthly salary and a bottle of Chambord filled with deep raspberry liqueur.

“You strike me as a woman who appreciates something exotic and tasteful, but with a tangy twist." His voice is a low rumble that sends arousal crawling up my spine.

There’s a uniqueness to the way he speaks. A bit playful, a bit flirtatious, a bit self-assured. It gives him that sexy edge of confidence I always find attractive yet daunting because I’m not like that.

“You sound certain. Like you know,” I tease.

He doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he measures out the raspberry liqueur and stares back at me. “Call it intuition.”

I laugh, the sound sounding foreign to me. At that moment I realize I can’t remember the last time I really laughed. I dosometimes when I speak to Lucy, but it feels superficial. Like I’m always stuck on autopilot reacting by default.

Mr. Dreamy mixes everything together in a champagne flute. The final touch is a mist of rose water and three rose petals, which he grabs from the cupboard next to the wines. They float on the surface of the drink, infusing it with elegance that looks so good it should be on the cover of some luxury magazine.

“Taste it.” Mr. Dreamy slides the glass toward me but keeps his finger on the stem. When his eyes meet mine, they're dark with something dangerous and sensual that lurks in the corners.

“It looks so perfect I don’t want to mess it up.” I smile, looking it over with fascination.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to. I need to see if my intuition is right."

“I’m sure it is. It looks like drinks I’ve tried before.” Just way more expensive and classy.

“This drink has a special kick to it.”

“What’s the kick?” I grin back at him.

“I made it.” His wink causes raw heat to stir in the pit of my stomach. I expected him to tell me some secret about one of the ingredients he used, but I like that the secret sauce is him.

“Go on, taste it.”

I reach for the glass and my fingers brush against his. The slight contact sends a spark of electricity through my nerves.

I lift the glass to my lips and drink. And my God, wow. It tastes fantastic. It has the perfect combination of sweet and tang.

“Wow, you were right. My mindisblown. What is it?”

“My version of the Ruby Rose.”

“I’ve never had that before.”

---