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“I’m not big on the whole spice thing.”
“Come on. It’ll be fun.”
He joined the line and expected Connie to make up some reason to not be with him. She stepped beside him. Progress.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s a good soda.”
“You know you can still talk to me about anything,” he said.
“I can?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s kind of hard to.”
“Why?”
“You know, with the whole sharing thing.” She lowered her voice as she spoke the last two words.
One of the men at the stands was coughing into his shoulder after trying the chili on the end. He held his hand up and waved his retreat and left. They stepped forward.
“Does it scare you? The truth?”
“It doesn’t scare me. You’ve both come to this agreement together. I think tearing you two apart is what scared me. I know you’ve been friends for life and it has been all people can say to me for years. I didn’t realize you were both, you know, into me.” She cringed. “I sound like a teenager.”
“How could you have not known?” Beau laughed. “And you don’t sound like a teenager, but to make you feel a little better, Scott and I, we do fancy you like crazy. We were tempted to leave you a note and ask you to tick which box if you’d go out with us.”
Her laughter filled the air and it lightened his heart. She was so sweet and sexy. He ached to be with her, and not just for the sex.
“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t read the signals. I’m not good with all the sexual feeling stuff.” She tucked her hair behind her ear again. They stepped up to the stand as another couple left, coughing. They didn’t even get to the last chili.
“Hello, Beau, Connie. Are you ready to have your taste buds challenged?”
“You know me, June. Tease me all you want. So far they have yet to find a chili I can’t eat.”
“He’s the champion here,” June said. She was a nice older woman, maybe in her late fifties, with a big smile. “This year we even have a vegan entry as well. You’re going to be amazed. Believe me, they’re all amazing.”
“Hit me with it!” Beau rubbed his hands together.
June produced a spoon then looked at Connie. “You want to try some?”
“Sure. Why the hell not?” She was getting into the town spirit. Why not enjoy some good food?
June pointed at their mildest chili. Connie dipped her spoon into the container and took a bite. It was flavorful and mild. Not a hint of spice. “I love that.”
“Most people do,” June said.
“That’s June’s recipe. She brings it out on a couple of celebrations for those who can’t handle the heat.” Beau winked at her.
“Your boy is a charmer.”
They put their spoons in a bucket and were given another. They tried two more dishes and at the third, Connie bowed out.
Beau hadn’t been challenged yet, but as he got to one before the last, he gripped the edge of the counter. “Holy fuck balls. What the fuck!” He slapped his hand against his thigh. “That’s so strong.”
“Are you bowing out this time?” June asked.
“Hell, no. Give me another spoon. I’m ready for some more.” He didn’t know if he was going to be able to survive the last one, but he’d certainly be giving it a go.
He put the spoonful of chili into his mouth and noticed Connie winced for him. How sweet.
He chewed.
Fucking hell.
This was sent by the very devil himself. It was pure fire.
Burning.
He felt his eyes water and he closed them, gripping the edge of the counter. Swallowing, he let out a little cough, feeling like he was a dragon as he must be breathing fire.
Clearing his throat, he winced. “Wow,” he said. “That one is your fire power.”
“Congratulations, Beau,” June said. “Now would you like me to serve you some?”
“Sure, give me some of that fire-of-death shit,” he said. He was going to make sure he wasn’t caught so off guard.
Connie took a portion of the mildest June chili, and they left the stall, finding a small bench and sitting at it.
“I had no idea you were a daredevil when it came to food.”
“Oh, yeah, me, I’m all for it.”
She chuckled. “That was kind of fun.”
“I wanted to tell you that Scott and I, we’re serious about this. We want you and we’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that we’re not fucking around.”
“Beau, you don’t have to do this.”
“But I want to. I want you to know you’ve got options, even if they are me and Scott. I know you want us. I saw and felt the way your body reacted. Believe me and trust us, we will make it work for you, for all of us. Give us a chance. We won’t let you down.” He wanted this to work and for her to say yes. They were a damn good team. She just needed to believe in the both of them.
