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I grinned at him. “Actually, I’ve thought of that too. I’d love to make as little waste as possible, so I found a recipe for apple cider vinegar using the peels, some baked apple peel chips, and they can be used to make teas. I thought all three would be perfect, so I’m going to attempt those going forward. For now I talked to a farmer down the road who said he’d take them for his pigs.”
“Good girl.”
It took me a second to realize the words had come from my bear of a man, who looked slightly surprised by his praise as well, but dammit if it didn’t have my cheeks heating and my mind going to very delicious places. I cleared my throat and bit back a chuckle as I sat aside the buckets to make room for the portable burners and large stock pots to cook the cider in.
“Where do you have the oranges and sugars and spices?” Jack asked. He was also trying to hide his amusement and being a good friend by not calling Boone out.
“In the truck still, Boone and I ran to the store earlier. Help me?” I asked. He waved Hunter to come with him. Jack jumped into the truck bed and started handing bags down. Of course he gave the heavier bags to Hunter to the point it was almost comical.
“You guys know I’m not delicate, right?” I joked. Jack just winked as he threw another bag of sugar on the pile in Hunter’s arms. I rolled my eyes and followed them inside where Boone was emptying the cider into the stock pots already.
“It made just enough,” Boone noted as he sat it aside. “There's only a little left.”
“I’m going to try it,” Hunter said, grabbing a ladle and spooning out some of what was left and taking a large sip. His face twisted in a grimace and he looked like he’d choke rather than swallow it. When it was finally down he gave a fake smile. “That was thick.”
“That’s what she said?” I offered, unable to help myself.
My laughter bubbled out until all four of us were cracking up. It lightened some of the tension that was brewing.
“Attractive, brother,” Jack teased, earning a punch in the arm from his brother. There was no real power behind it and both of them were grinning. I loved how well they treated each other, even in teasing moments.
“Thanks for helping today, guys, I don’t know how I would have managed without you,” I said. They all stuttered over my gratitude.
“Of course,” Jack said quickly.
“Anytime,” Boone grunted.
“What do I get out of it?” Hunter grinned, earning a punch back from Jack.
“Some cider when it’s actually meant to be drunk,” I teased.
The next thirty minutes were a flurry of slicing oranges and measuring out spices and sugars until we had all three simmering to perfection.
My barn smelled like heaven and all four of us were practically drooling over the cider. The sun was starting to set and giving the perfect backdrop to this evening. A warm glow, crisp fall breeze, and the scent of apple cider simmering on the fire. Honestly, I wasn’t sure life could get any better.
“If this is going to be a while, how about I go run and grab a round of burgers and fries from the diner and bring it back?” Hunter said.
I stand corrected, tonight did just get better.
“That sounds amazing, Hunt,” I said quickly, the other two agreeing without hesitation. Hunter rushed off, taking Jack’s truck since it was parked out front.
“What’s the plan when we turn off the fire?” Boone asked me. “How long do we let these go?”
“I think they’re about done. We’ll have to wait for them to cool but I don’t want to trap you guys here all night with me,” I said, realizing it might be a while before this finished cooling enough to be tested and bottled up.
“The pots have lids, right?” Jack asked. I nodded and he glanced around before grabbing three apple crates. “So we put them in here, load them up, and take them back with us. We can cool them on the porch while I start a bonfire and we wait on Hunter.”
“Perfect,” I said excitedly as I gathered up the jars and ladles, putting them in Boone’s truck. Boone and Jack loaded the covered cider and I double checked the fire was properly out and everything was safe to close up for the night. I sat the bins of peels out for the farmer to pick up and sent him a quick message before climbing in the cab to sit between the alpha and beta, who didn’t seem to mind at all that we were squished in together. I know I certainly didn’t, ever since I had my first taste of each of them I’d been hungry for more, and living with them, seeing how all three of them interacted? Well, I couldn’t help but consider their offer about my upcoming heat.
By the time we were unloaded and Jack had a fire roaring, Hunter was pulling up with dinner.
“You’re my hero,” I said as he handed over a bag with a burger and fries in it for me. I was surprised to see it was onion free, just like I liked it. He just gave me a smirk at my questioning glance.
“Some alphas pay attention,” he joked. It was likely Beatty who told him that information but I gave him this win.
We’d barely polished off our food when Boone was yawning.
“I have to turn in now, early opening tomorrow,” he said. Hunter stood as well.
