All's Fair in Love and Chocolate (Marietta Chocolate Wars #1) - Amy Andrews Page 0,31

No extra added junk on top—no whipped cream or sprinkles or powdered sugar. Just the milk, chocolate and marshmallow working in perfect symbiosis.

A beautiful three-way!

All kinds of things could be added, though, to the chocolate base—from herbs like mint and chili or even citrus zest to spices like cardamom and cinnamon to candy like caramel and honeycomb. And, of course, booze.

Nothing like a boozy hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day to get things all warmed up!

So, they looked good, they tasted amazing and they had novelty value to burn. Kids loved them as did adults and Delish stores all over the country made record profits in December and that was purely down to their hot chocolate.

“What are my choices?” Reuben asked.

“There’s plain, raspberry-vanilla or Pop Rocks. The kids love that one. Or you can go for the boozy ones. Brandy, Baileys and Frangelico.”

He cocked one thick eyebrow. “How boozy is boozy?”

“Just enough to taste. Not enough to get you drunk or—” she smiled “—in trouble with the law.”

“Enough for you to take advantage of me?”

“Puh-lease.” Viv rolled her eyes. “Like I need booze for that.”

He laughed. “Yeah okay, you got me there.”

“So. Come on.” She waggled the tray closest to her. “Pick.”

“You had me at Pop Rocks.”

“Good choice!”

Picking up a Pop-Rock stirrer by the spoon, she inserted it in the hot milk then pushed it across the bench to Reuben. “Stir it around until it’s all dissolved.”

Reuben did as he was told and they both watched as the chocolate oozed into liquid releasing the Pop Rocks and the marshmallow melted into a puddle of pink. Viv nodded when the process was complete. “And now you drink it.”

He blew on it for a beat or two then took his first sip and she held her breath while he sampled it, ridiculously invested in what he thought. She knew the hot chocolate was good—tens of thousands of Delish customers were evidence of that. But she wanted him to like it.

“Mmm.”

That mmm was deep and appreciative and rubbed in places that were already hypersensitive. He licked his lips as he placed the mug down like he was some kind of connoisseur truly savoring the taste.

“That is seriously good.”

“Yeah?” She took a few steps toward him because she wanted to kiss him for the compliment but also felt foolish for wanting it as badly as she did.

Ugh! What the hell was happening to her?

“Yep.”

He took another sip or two and shut his eyes on a sigh and damn if that wasn’t one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen. And she’d seen Reuben Price stark freaking naked. He opened his eyes again and their gazes locked. “The Pop Rocks are inspiring.”

“Thank you. They were my idea when the company was looking for suggestions of candy to pair with the hot chocolate.”

He grinned. “Give me a ballot paper now and I’ll vote. I’ll come in and vote for you every damn day.”

Viv laughed and she did cross to him this time, sliding her arms around his neck and kissing his mouth, reveling in the groan that rumbled from the back of his throat and the way his arm slipped around her and drew her closer. His knee nudged at the juncture of her thighs and she opened for him, his leg sliding between hers and pressing hard against her most sensitive flesh.

Her tongue stroked along his, savoring the taste of him and the way he stroked hers back like he couldn’t get enough of her taste was dizzying. Her pulse was a little fast and she was slightly breathy when she pulled away, pleased for his arm around her as the whole room seemed to rock on its foundation for a beat or two.

“You know there’s no way you’re going to win the popular vote, right?”

Viv laughed. “Of course not. I fully expect Marietta to be loyal to Sage. But—” She stroked her index finger along his lips, which shone with moisture from their kiss. “I’ll have customers! And, I will take the crown for best hot chocolate because Delish’s is simply better.”

Maybe it was ballsy to be so damn sure about her own product and she had no doubt some would see it as biased. But Viv was only telling the truth. There could well be a better hot chocolate out there somewhere in the world but she hadn’t tasted it yet. And she was willing to bet Delish’s reputation on it especially given the fact there would be a professional chef judging