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“It will give us an idea of our starting point. I thought I’d start with my post-workout juice.” She poured cubed pineapple and apple, shaved ginger, chopped mint leaves, and coconut milk into the blender.
I moved around the counter, resting a hip against it. I wanted to be close to her without the counter between us.
She paused the blender, spooned chunks of fruit off the side of the container, and started it again.
When it was done, she poured the concoction into two glasses. Holding mine up for me, she said, “I’ll let you go first.”
“I am the official taste tester.” I drank it, tasting the chalky flavor of the whey.
She pushed my water toward me. I must have grimaced when I drank it. Drinking the water, I said, “You can taste it.”
“I figured”—she drank a sip of hers, smacking her lips—“it was too much.”
“Can you increase the amount of fruit or add another sweetener?”
Her lower lip popped out slightly. “Can we reduce the amount of whey?”
“There’s a certain amount you need to build muscle.”
“So, I need to make the changes.” Remi’s shoulders tensed.
“We’ll figure it out.”
She glanced at me, her expression grateful. “You’re right. I’ll get it.”
“We have time to get it right. I don’t have anywhere to be.”
She tipped her head to the side. “You don’t have criminals to catch?”
“I’m off duty, remember?”
“It’s hard to remember when you’re still in uniform,” she said, gesturing at my uniform.
I took off my duty belt and set it on one of her tables, then unhooked my bulletproof vest until all I wore was a department-issued tee.
“I didn’t say you had to take it off.” It might have been my imagination, but her tone sounded breathy.
Was she attracted to a man in a uniform? Was it any guy or me in particular? “It’s not comfortable to wear a vest all day. You get used to it, but I could use a break.”
She smiled. “You look more relaxed already.”
I enjoyed her slow perusal of my body. When her cheeks flushed and she looked away, I asked, “What do you think you’ll try first?”
“Ice to make it thicker and to, hopefully, dilute the powder. If that doesn’t work, I’ll add more pineapple.”
I rubbed my hands together. “Let’s do it.”
Who knew I’d enjoy spending an evening in a juice shop, making smoothies?
We mixed so many different combinations, I lost track, but Remi noted each thing, and the amount she’d tried.
A crease appeared between her eyes I wanted to smooth over.
“We’re close. But not there yet.” Her shoulders slumped, and when she looked up at me, she looked exhausted.
“We should call it a night.”
“I really want to figure this out. When I get an idea, I want to finish it.”
