Page 76 of Hot Shot

“You should be. We should do that some time . . . all go out dancing.”

We leave the store with our dresses safely in garment bags and my shoes in a box.

“Okay, it’s time for a glass of wine,” Hayden says. “And I want to hear more about Marco.”

Ooooh yeah . . . Marco.

16

MARCO

“Why are you in such a good mood lately?”

I frown at Beck. “What the hell does that mean? I’m always in a good mood.”

Cade snorts. “Yeah, right.

Okay, so I can be a bit moody and serious. I’m learning to ease up and take life less seriously, although I do stew over the problems we’re having at Conquistadors more than the other guys. And I’m learning to enjoy the company of our customers, getting to know the regulars, and not be such a loner.

For a while there Iwasfeeling kind of grouchy, with Cade off sleeping with every woman he met and Beck all cozied up with Hayden, but lately . . . life has been a little more fun.

“What’s going on?” Beck asks suspiciously.

“Nothing.” I shrug and pick up a tray of glasses. I catch the look Beck and Cade exchange as I move the glasses. “Jesus Christ. What?”

Beck holds up his hands. “Never mind. Okay, where’s this new tequila you want us to sample?”

“The Mayahuel is in the office. Come on.”

I grab three glasses and follow my buddies to our office. I’ve heard good things about this extra añejo, and although it isn’t cheap, it’s not super expensive either, which is nice. I’m eager to try it and see if we should add it to the menu.

I pour shots and pass them out. We all hold our glasses up to the light, swirling them.

“Nice legs,” Beck says.

Fucking fantastic legs.No, no, not Carrie. The tequila.

“Good color,” Cade adds. “Rich.”

We tilt the glasses and hold them to our noses to sniff, first at the bottom, then the middle, searching out the different aromas. Then we taste, taking a small sip at first. I rub the tequila over the inside of my mouth with my tongue to warm up my mouth, then take a slightly bigger sip. I breathe in through my nose, swallow, and exhale, closing my eyes, the better to savor the notes.

“Wow,” Beck says. “Very nice.”

“Nice buttery nuttiness,” Cade says.

“Sweet leathery finish,” I add. “Yeah, I like it.”

“A great addition to the menu,” Beck agrees.

“It’s good to offer new things,” I say. “Keeps people coming back.”

“True.” Beck reaches for the bottle and refills our glasses. He leans back in his chair and props his feet on the desk. “Guess we better not get hammered on a Saturday night.”

I take another sip and enjoy the smooth heat. “Where’s Hayden? She’s usually around on Saturdays.”

“She went shopping for a wedding dress. She’s coming by later.”

“Ah.”

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