“Smile,” he said under his breath. “It’s part of the experience.”
I forced one that probably looked more like a grimace.
The woman at the front of the line took her sample, glanced at our name tag, and I did too.
Team Naughty, Nice & Spicy.Darn it, Lydia.
“Cute name.” The customer chuckled.
“Wasn’t my idea,” I said quickly.
Drew winked. “Mine.”
The woman giggled and walked away.
I glared at him. “Do you flirt with everyone?”
“Just the ones holding ladles or sample cups.”
“I swear—”
“Careful,” he said, dipping into the pot. “You’ll spill.”
Between the teasing and the way he kept brushing against me to reach the toppings, I was one flustered movement away from baptizing someone in chili.
“Move over,” I hissed.
“Now, where’s the fun in that?”
“Drew.”
“Melanie.”
We faced off, eye to eye across the steam rising from the pot, neither willing to back down. My heart was pounding again.
Why did it always do that around him?
I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to strangle him or kiss him senseless.
Probably both.
He smirked. “Relax. You’re acting like I’m gonna bite.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Only if you asked nicely.”
“Unbelievable,” I muttered, ladling more chili.
A few people in line exchanged amused looks, and I realized we were basically flirting in stereo for the entire town to hear.
Great. Just what Reckless River needed…more gossip material.
But then I caught him laughing, genuine, unguarded, and something inside me softened.
He looked happy.
Not the easy grin he gave customers, but a real one. Like for once, he wasn’t pretending.
