“My parents are dead,” she said quietly. Jeff felt like an ass for asking the question, especially when he already knew the answer. But that didn’t stop him from asking the next one. “I’m sorry. Do you have any other family?”
“Just a grandfather, who isn’t my favorite person at the moment.”
“Oh, really?”
“Lexi, he has a spa! I am so jealous!” Angie’s outburst disrupted their conversation. She’d just walked into the house and found Lexi and Jeff lingering in the hallway.
“You girls are welcome to use it. Swimsuits optional, of course,” Jeff teased, then quickly added, “I think I’ll get those steaks on.”
Lexi and Angie joined Jeff outside while he barbecued. Angie had opened the wine and poured them each a glass. The three chatted like old friends, and Jeff was surprised at how effortlessly the conversation flowed. He tried to share truthful tidbits about himself, but it was not always easy. They learned he worked for a corporation with a home office located in Southern California. When asked the company’s name, he managed to change the subject and later mentioned he was looking for another job.
Of the two, Angie was more candid in her conversation, while Lexi was reserved. The topic of the grandfather came up one more time, and Angie expressed her opinion that the man was a controlling prick. Lexi changed the subject.
During dinner, Jeff came to understand why Angie, who was several inches taller than her friend, was so thin. She filled her plate with salad, using just a drop of dressing, and didn’t touch the rice. Instead of taking an entire steak, she cut off a small piece from one end, telling Jeff he could have the rest of her steak in the morning for breakfast.
Lexi was serious about liking steak and didn’t offer any of hers to Jeff. She ate every last bite, even nibbling off the crispy bits from the meat’s fatty end. Unlike Angie, she ate a helping of rice and a moderate portion of salad covered in ranch dressing. She wasn’t overweight, nor was she thin. From Jeff’s perspective, Lexi’s curvy figure was perfect.
They ate their meal on the patio table, while watching Havasu’s vibrant sunset color the western sky. It was a little chilly, but they all agreed it was too lovely an evening to eat indoors. They sat at the table for at least an hour after sunset before they cleared the dishes and went inside to make hot fudge.
Angie excused herself and told them she had to run back to her house for a few minutes to get her cell phone, which she had forgotten to bring with her. She left Jeff alone with her friend.
“So tell me, how does one make hot fudge?” Jeff asked, leaning against the counter next to the stove, watching Lexi. She seemed at ease in his kitchen.
“It’s my dad’s secret recipe. If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you,” she teased, as she set a pan on the stove.
“I won’t tell, I promise.” Jeff crossed his heart in mock seriousness.
“Okay, if you promise.” Lexi grinned. “First, I melt five tablespoons of butter in a half cup of milk.” With a dinner knife, Lexi cut off a chunk of butter from the cube and placed it in the pan. Next she added a half of cup of milk. Setting the pan on a warm burner, she stirred the ingredients with a wooden spoon. She waited until the butter was melted before adding the next ingredient.
“Now, I add a cup of sugar and three tablespoons of unsweetened baking cocoa. Dad’s recipe actually calls for one baking square, and four tablespoons of butter instead of five. But it’s easier for me to use the powder cocoa.” After measuring out the cocoa and sugar, she added it to the pan, stirring it with the spoon.
“It smells good,” Jeff noted.
“I also add just a bit of salt.” Lexi grabbed the salt shaker and added a dash to the mixture. “Now, I cook it until it gets to softball stage.”
“I won’t even ask what that means, but don’t you have to add the vanilla?”
“I do that after it’s done cooking.”
Jeff watched as Lexi patiently stirred the mixture, which was now beginning to bubble up into a slow boil. She wore her dark hair parted to one side with no bangs, and a few strands were slipping out of place, into her eyes. He almost reached out and pushed back the stray tendrils, but Lexi beat him to it. Her skin was flawless, and he wondered briefly if it felt as smooth and soft as it looked. Tucking the tips of his fingers into the back of his pants pockets, he reminded himself to keep his hands to himself.
“So, you said this was your dad’s recipe?”
“Yeah, my dad loved to cook. And he also had a sweet tooth.” Lexi smiled at the memory.
“I’m sorry about your parents. How long have they been gone?”
“They were killed in a car accident when I was ten. I went to live with my grandfather.”
“The one Angie is so fond of?”
“Yep,” Lexi smiled and didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable with the topic, so he continued.
“So, what’s wrong with him, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“Well, let’s see. When I got back from college, he told me he expected me to marry his business partner.”
“Was the business partner your boyfriend?”
“Hell no! I’ve known the man since I went to live with my grandfather, but I really don’t know him. We’ve never even had a real conversation that I can recall. Although, he does have a habit of accidently copping a feel whenever I have the misfortune to be in the same room with him and no one is looking in our direction. I have to give the guy credit; he’s perfected the skill.”
“Sounds like a jerk. Why would your grandfather want you to marry him?”
“There’s only one reason my grandfather does anything: if it is good for his company. I basically told him to shove it, and he took away my car, computer, phone, clothes, and all the personal belongings at his house, which happened to be pretty much everything I owned.” Instead at sounding devastated when telling the story, she seemed mildly amused.
“That’s sucks. But you don’t seem that upset.”
Lexi shrugged, then said, “Well, he did pay for my education, and I don’t have an outstanding college loan, so that’s cool. He bought me the car and computer, so I suppose he has the right to take them back if he wants. I just wish he would stay out of my business. Interviews that were promised to me from contacts I had in the industry suddenly dried up after I moved out of my grandfather’s house.”
“Your grandfather sabotaged your efforts to find a job?”
“I’m pretty sure. It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“Does he know you’ve moved to Havasu?”
“Nope.” Lexi turned off the stove and moved the pan off the burner. She added a half-teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture.
“It’s done?”
“Looks like it. I can tell by consistency. It’s a smooth color, no speckles. I used to test it by dropping some in cold water. If it forms a ball, it’s done. But I’ve made it often enough that I can usually tell by just looking at it.”
“Do we get to eat it now?” Jeff sounded like an eager child.
“In a few minutes. It should cool a bit, or it’ll just melt the ice cream.”
“It does smell good.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, then grew silent, waiting for the hot fudge to cool. Jeff considered what she’d said regarding her grandfather. He’d always known his boss could be a bastard, but he’d never realized to what extent.
Jeff thought about the boxes he’d put in the master bedroom closet. He’d forgotten about them when giving Lexi the tour, and was grateful her curiosity about the house didn’t extend to the master room closet. The boxes belonged to her, but it could prove awkward if she stumbled upon them.
When picking up the car at her grandfather’s, he’d again run into the housekeeper, who had confided in him that she had failed to throw away Lexi’s things, and was afraid her boss would find them and fire her. She didn’t have the heart to throw out the girl’s belongings. Jeff had offered to return them to Lexi, and promised to keep the housekeeper’s secr
et. He wasn’t sure how or when he would give her the boxes, because he didn’t want her to know about his connection to her grandfather.
Jeff watched as Lexi dipped the tip of her right index finger into the warm hot fudge. She started to bring a taste of chocolate to her mouth when Jeff reached out and snatched her hand, pulling her chocolate-covered fingertip to his lips.
Lexi’s green eyes widened as she looked up into Jeff’s intent gaze. His eyes never left hers. Deliberately, he brought her finger into his mouth and gently sucked off the sweet taste of chocolate. The tip of his tongue swirled around her finger as he held the digit in his moist mouth, reluctant to let it go.
Chapter Nine
“Damn, this is good,” Jeff said as he spooned another bite of ice cream and fudge into his mouth.
“No kidding. It’s a good thing this stuff isn’t easier to make, or by the time Havasu’s swimsuit weather hits, I’d be shopping for a one-piece with one of those little skirts.” Angie laughed then took another bite.
The three sat outside under the stars, around the patio table, eating their hot fudge sundaes. Ten minutes earlier, Angie had returned from next door, just after Jeff finished licking the chocolate off Lexi’s finger. Neither Lexi nor Jeff commented on the incident, choosing to outwardly ignore what had just happened.
“When I was in college, I figured out how to make it in the microwave. Now, that was quick.”
“You need to market this stuff,” Jeff told her.
“During my sophomore year of college, I seriously considered the idea. But not the actual fudge sauce. The thought of cooking and canning hot fudge sauce is way beyond my field of expertise or interest. I toyed with the idea of selling the mix, where the buyer could cook single servings in the microwave. Hot fudge on demand.”
“Sounds like a great idea to me. I’d buy it,” Jeff told her.
“I like that single serving idea,” Angie added.
“The only problem is the butter and vanilla. I can use powdered milk, and powdered cocoa instead of the squares, but the customer would have to add the vanilla and butter. I would rather they just have to add water.”
“I don’t think it would be a problem to ask them to add the butter. Most cake mixes call for eggs and oil. And instead of liquid vanilla extract, use powdered vanilla.” Angie suggested.
“They make powdered vanilla?” Lexi asked, sounding surprised.
“Yeah, my mom uses it. She orders hers from Amazon.”
“Amazon sells everything,” Jeff laughed. He set his empty bowl on the table after scraping out every last drop.
“It would be kind of cool if I could do that. I would design some great labels; package the mix in mason jars.” Lexi was intrigued with the idea. “I could use the money, and it shouldn’t take much capital to get something like this going. Of course, I’m not even sure how the fudge will taste with the powdered vanilla.”
“So, try making it with the powdered vanilla tomorrow. I’m sure we have some in the pantry with the spices. Mom always keeps the pantry stocked with basics for the renters, and there could be some vanilla there, unless the last renter used it all or took the bottle home.”
“If you’re making hot fudge sundaes tomorrow, you better invite me.”
“You know, Jeff, there’s some hot fudge left over from tonight,” Lexi reminded.
“Well, there won’t be for long!” he laughed.
“About tomorrow,” Angie interrupted. “I was thinking about hitting the flower, bridal, and party shops for business leads. Maybe I’ll even stop in and talk to the local chamber of commerce. I suppose I’ll need to get a business license if I want to do some serious promoting, but I’ll wait and see. I don’t think you’ll want to go with me, so that’ll leave you without a car. Do you want me to drop you anywhere? Maybe down at Rotary Park, or the beach on the Island side?”
“She can come with me,” Jeff suggested before Lexi could answer.
“Go with you where?” Lexi asked curiously.
“This is my first time in Havasu. Thought I’d do a little sightseeing, maybe grab lunch out. I’d love to have the company; it’d be a lot more fun if you joined me.”
“That would be great, Jeff! Thanks,” Angie answered for her friend.
“How about it, Lexi?” Jeff asked when she didn’t reply.
“Okay,” Lexi said hesitantly. “What time do you want to go?”
“We could leave around ten. Then stop somewhere later for lunch.”
“Sounds good,” Lexi agreed. She smiled up at Jeff, who was watching her. When their gazes locked, she recalled how seductively his mouth toyed with her finger. The memory made her blush.
* * *
Lexi spent the next morning on the computer, surfing the Internet for information on starting a business in Arizona. Initially, she assumed such a project would require a commercial kitchen, if she wished to stay within the confines of the law. To her surprise, Arizona’s Home Baked and Confectionery Goods Program would allow her to prepare the hot fudge mix in her own kitchen—or in Lexi’s case, in the rental’s kitchen. She assumed she would need permission from Angie’s parents, but she didn’t think there would be a problem. After investigating what she needed to do, from a legal perspective, she was optimistic.
“I assumed there would be all kinds of hoops to jump through,” Lexi said excitedly when Jeff picked her up later that morning. Angie had left the house early, and Lexi hadn’t yet had the opportunity to share the information with her friend. She was excited to share it with someone, and Jeff was willing to listen.
“You wouldn’t need a commercial kitchen? I was wondering about that.”
“No, not for the hot fudge. Arizona has a program for some home-based food businesses. I’d just need to register with the state, which doesn’t cost anything, according to the person I spoke to on the phone this morning. I’d need a local business license, which is only a hundred bucks for the first year. I’d also need to take the food handler’s class from the county. It’s a two hour class and costs just twenty bucks.”
“Sounds like you’ve checked everything out.”
“It’s a start. I would probably be wise to get some insurance, and I imagine I should do that if I want Angie’s parents to let me use their kitchen. I don’t think it’ll be a big deal, because it’s not like I’m actually cooking anything, and customers won’t be coming to the house.”
Jeff turned into the entrance of Rotary Park; a golf course was on their right as they drove toward the lake.
“So this is Rotary Park?” Lexi asked. “Angie mentioned it, and I wondered what it was.”
“I also did some online research this morning. Did you know they’re having some big hot air balloon festival here this weekend?”
“Angie said something about it. I guess it’s an annual thing. She’s hoping to go up in one of the balloons and take some photographs.”
“That’d be cool. You interested in going up in one?”
“No,” Lexi cringed. Jeff pulled into a parking spot overlooking the beach and lake, and turned off the engine. “I have this thing about heights.”
“I take it that it's not a good thing?” Jeff teased.
“Not exactly. Last year, I went to the Grand Canyon with some friends, and it sorta freaked me out. I can’t imagine how I would feel being up in a hot air balloon, looking down. It gives me the chills to think about it.”
“If you want to hang out with me while Angie is up in a balloon, you can keep me company, and we can enjoy the festival from a safe place on the ground.”
“You might be sick of me by then,” Lexi teased.
Instead of responding with a playful quip, Jeff turned around to face her. They sat in the parked car. “I seriously doubt that.” He spoke in a low whisper. His gaze locked on Lexi, who was startled at his mood shift. “I rather enjoyed that little taste last night. I was hoping, after we got to know each other a little better, I might have another.”
“Finger fetis
h?” Lexi wasn’t sure why she said it. Perhaps it was because of his intent expression, as if he wanted to start nibbling his way down her body, starting with her lips, since that seemed to be where he was looking. The words just flew out of her mouth in an awkward attempt to lighten the mood. It must have worked, because in the next moment Jeff broke into laughter.
“No, but yours was especially tasty,” he said when he finally stopped laughing.
“It was the fudge.” Lexi flashed him an impish grin.
“Maybe that’s how you need to market the stuff.”
“Sounds kinda unsanitary.” Lexi wrinkled her nose at the thought.
“You did that brilliantly. I’m impressed, but somewhat disappointed.” Jeff winked at her and opened the car door, getting out from the vehicle. Lexi grabbed her purse and got out from the car, closing the door behind her.
“Did what?” Lexi had no idea what he was talking about.
“Avoided my lame attempt at seduction.” Jeff walked to the sidewalk that ran along the shore from Rotary beach down the Bridgewater Channel and to the London Bridge. Lexi stayed in pace with him. It was a sunny morning with a clear, blue sky overhead, and several boats putted slowly through the channel.
“So, you’re trying to seduce me? Kind of quick, doncha think?” Lexi teased.
“Perhaps. But I couldn’t resist that sample last night, and since you didn’t seem to object, I thought I’d make my intentions clear. After all, this is our second date.”
“This is a date?”
“I plan to take you out for lunch.” Jeff told her.
“And last night, with Angie there? That was our first date?”
“Very proper. Our first date was chaperoned.”
“Interesting. Never really considered that a date.”
“You let all your casual dinner companions suck your finger?”
“Damn, that sounds kinky!”
“No, sucking toes sounds kinky.”
Sugar Rush Page 6