Page 34 of Happy Endings

“Okay, okay,” Trixie called out to the crowd. “I’ll taste it, but Andre has to go first.”

ANDRE’S MOUTH FELLopen. He didn’t think she would go through with it. Time to play along.

“This isn’t enough for both of us to taste. I need more.” He gestured at the bottle. “If you’ll do me the pleasure.”

Trixie shot him a hard look, but her smile didn’t waver.Uh-oh.He was in deep trouble. She did not like it when people imposed on her schedule. He’d be safe until everyone left, though. Trixie was too much of a professional to tell him off in front of her guests.

At least, that’s what he hoped.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” a deep voice bellowed from a big hipster guy who likely spent more time on his beard than Keisha did on her hair.

Andre gave the hipster a mock salute. Maybe this guy would tell all his friends about Mama Hazel’s after tonight. Bring in some new customers. He looked like the type that left good Yelp reviews.

“What if we mixed two flavors?” Trixie held up two bottles. The crowd applauded in approval. She looked to Andre. “You are the mixologist here, so let’s create a sensual cocktail.”

He swallowed hard. One of the bottles had red flames on it.Filled with bright-red massage oil. An evil grin was plastered on Trixie’s face. What had he gotten himself into? He didn’t think things through when he volunteered himself. All he’d thought of was the drunk woman derailing Trixie’s show and ruining her sales. Now he was a guinea pig for massage lotion—in front of people he’d hoped would return to Mama Hazel’s. Xavier was not going to let him forget this.

“How about I create a specialcocktail for this evening?” he asked the crowd. More cheers. “Can you tell everyone what the flavors are? So our guests can add them to their wish lists?”

Trixie rattled off the different flavors as the guests wrote furiously. She threw him an appreciative look. Perhaps she’d forget about that fiery bottle she was about to douse his arm with.

“Tonight’s special is the Pants-on-Fire Cinnamon.”

Damn.

“What drink would you pair it with?” She turned to him, bottle open and ready to pour on his skin.

“Cinnamon and apple go well together. Let’s try that.” He cleared his throat. How hot could this massage oil be?

“Wicked Juicy Apple it is.” She picked up the bottle with the apples on the label. Turned both bottles upside down over his arm and squeezed. Whoa, this was more than the few drops she’d put on his other arm.

“Dear Trixie, can you massage my arms? I like my cinnamon apple rubbed, not stirred.”

The crowd chuckled. They were loving this. He wondered if she’d ever had a partner during her sales presentations before.

“My pleasure,” she replied too cheerily. She glared at him but wrapped her hands around his wrist. She squeezed, much harderthan the first time. His eyes widened as she tightened her grip and “massaged” his arm.

“Now that our cocktail is well mixed.” He cleared his throat and pulled his arm out of her grasp. “Tasting time.”

The room was silent, everyone on the edge of their seats.

Andre closed his eyes and opened his mouth. He lifted his arm to his mouth.

“Wait, you have to blow to activate—” Trixie leaned forward to blow on his arm.

A warmth spread over his arm before his mouth reached it. The warmth quickly grew hot. He jerked his arm away as a fiery heat spread across it. He opened his eyes in time to see Trixie’s pursed lips coming at his face.

Cheers erupted as her lips landed on his. His eyes met her panicked ones. She quickly pulled away, face turning red.

He didn’t have time to absorb their accidental kiss. He waved his arm furiously, trying to cool it down. Except waving made it worse. What did she say about the oil? Blowing on it made it hotter. That’s why they named it Blow Me!

“It should be activated now,” Trixie squeaked as she tried to hold back her laughter.

The crowd didn’t hold back. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Xavier laughing.

“Right.” Andre stopped flailing his arm. He stood up straight, breathing through his mouth. “That was a demonstration on hownotto use it. Start with just a little.”

More laughter. They thought this was part of the presentation!

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