Page 81 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
I opened my mouth, and Gray placed a bite on my tongue. A blend of flavors stimulated my tastebuds. Flaky, buttery crust, sugar, some kind of sweet-tart fruit. After chewing and swallowing, I ventured a guess.
“Cherry pie?”
He laughed and made a sound of frustration. “That onewastoo easy. Okay, get ready for the next. I’m keeping score by the way.”
“What happens if I get all ten of them right?” I asked.
“You won’t.”
“What if I do? What do I get when I win?”
He didn’t answer right away. I assumed he was thinking of a suitable prize.
“If you get them all right,” he said, “then I’ll take you swimming at the best swimming pool in town.”
“Oooh, sounds nice. And what if I lose?”
“If you get the majority of them wrong, you have to swim with no suit on.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
STRIP PIE-TASTING
Scarlett
“What? You want me to skinny dip?” I reached for my blindfold, intending to take it off.
Gray’s warm fingers wrapped around my wrist, stopping me. “Relax. I don’t mean in the ocean. Nowhere public. Here—in Vivi’s indoor pool.”
“This house has an indoor pool?”
“Mmmmhmmm,” he hummed. “She’s invited me to use it anytime I want to. It’s on the lowest level, heated of course, salt water. It’s great for your skin, and I seem to remember you’re a fan of swimming au naturel.”
“I’m gladyouremember that night. Or maybe I’m not,” I joked, still somewhat mortified at the memory of my drunken midnight dip.
“I do. And I’mdefinitelyglad I do. I’m looking forward to a swim where I’mallowedto touch you. It was torture for me that night at the resort—you looked so fucking good. And I had to be a gentleman. You didn’t make it easy.”
Chill bumps spread across my skin, and my breath caught before resuming in a lighter, faster pattern.
“Okay, I agree to your terms.” I let my hands drop to my lap, opening my mouth.
Gray placed the next pie sample inside. This one had a graham cracker crust. Crumbly and sweet, that was my favorite kind of pie crust. The rest of it was harder to identify.
It wasn’t chocolate, that was for sure. I tasted cream cheese, vanilla, some kind of nuts… “Praline pecan cheesecake?”
Gray’s gasp was audible. “What are you, some kind of ringer? I’ve been duped. I thought I was dealing with a rookie. I think you’re a professional pie-taster in addition to being a bookkeeper.”
“No, but Iama baker. I know my baking ingredients.”
“Okay, well you’re two for two, but there are still eight more to go. Here comes the next bite.”
This one was tough. There was a traditional graham cracker crust, but the filling was decidedly non-traditional. It was creamy and tasted good, but I couldn’t place the flavor.
“Is it some kind of pudding?”
Gray made a funny buzzer noise. “I’m sorry. That. Is.Incorrect. It’s an avocado pie.”
His kiss soothed the sting of defeat.
