After we lastly depart the bed room, it’s after darkish and the rain has stopped. I’m sporting one among Ethan’s long-sleeved shirts that hits the center of my thighs, and he’s solely sporting sweatpants and a t-shirt. The scene we create is acquainted—straightforward—and it doesn’t appear potential that we’ve by no means been right here earlier than.

I guzzle down a glass of water as he minces garlic on a slicing board.

“Are we supposed to speak about what simply occurred?”

The query comes out in a clumsy blurt, however I’m to date faraway from this sort of state of affairs I don’t know what protocol is.

He shoots me an amused look over his shoulder and raises his eyebrows.

“I might love to speak about what simply occurred.”

“Ha. Ha,” I say dryly. “I’m critical, Ethan. Are we presupposed to have some form of dialogue or make any bizarre speeches about what it means or doesn’t imply?” I spin the empty glass on the counter. “What do you normally do in these informal conditions of yours?”

I’m being critical—I genuinely don’t know what I’m presupposed to do and desperately don’t need to get it flawed.

He drops the knife on the slicing board and covers the small house between us in two fast steps.

“Cease proper there.” He lifts my chin along with his index finger till my eyes meet his. “You have been superb. We have been superb. I’m very blissful to speak about all of the issues I assumed have been superb if you’d like.” He dusts a lightweight kiss on my lips, absorbing a number of the pressure pulling at my shoulders. “However my informal conditions are nothing like this, Penelope. Ladies don’t meet the boys, and I undoubtedly don’t mince garlic for them in my sweatpants.”

I smile deliriously from how his phrases make one thing heat pump by means of my veins.

“Do you need to discuss what simply occurred?” he asks, rubbing his palm towards my bicep.

“I appreciated it, if that’s what you imply.” My cheeks flush with the confession, and I’ve to look away as all of the issues I appreciated a lot begin dancing in my head.

“Good.”

He kisses me, deeper this time, earlier than pulling away and getting again to work on the range.

***

With a happy stomach stuffed with shrimp scampi, I wave the bottle of vodka at Ethan.

“The Moscow mule might need peaked just a few years in the past, nevertheless it’s nonetheless widespread sufficient I believe you need to understand it.”

I pull a recognizable copper mug out of my field and hand it to him.

“I keep in mind,” he says taking a look at it. “We have now units of those at each eating places.”

“The reasoning behind the copper materials is it retains the drinks colder, however its novelty makes lots of people order the cocktail. The mug alone makes it really feel like a unique expertise. I might say if you’ll serve the Moscow Mule in your bar, the mug is non-negotiable. When you’ve got the house, some folks prefer to maintain them in a freezer, so they’re chilled after they serve the drink in them, however we don’t have that house at our bar, so they’re at all times used at room temperature.”

I unfold the remainder of the elements throughout the counter earlier than filling each mugs with ice.

He nods however doesn’t say something.

“I at all times advocate a better-quality liquor at any time when potential, however each bar is completely different, and you need to study your prospects and the value they’re prepared to pay. I like Tito’s. It has a extra refined taste that doesn’t overpower the opposite elements, however you can too discover flavored vodkas or one thing from a neighborhood distillery. I understand how you don’t prefer to deviate from Maine.” I tease, pouring a shot of vodka into my mug earlier than passing it to him.

He chuckles, then does the identical.

I maintain up two limes. “Now the lime.”

We every lower and squeeze the juice over the ice and the acquainted odor of the intense citrus smells like one million hours within the Florida solar.

“The straightforward solution to make the drink is a bottled lime juice, however it’s completely value it to make use of contemporary elements wherever you may, together with limes, a sentiment I’m certain you may relate to within the kitchen. I assure it’s well worth the effort and time to make use of contemporary juice. I’ve no proof, after all, however I might wager cash that persons are extra prone to order a second drink when a contemporary lime is used over a bottled combine. It’s that highly effective.”

He silently nods, however there’s an amused look on his face.

“Ginger beer comes subsequent,” I say, popping the highest of the small bottle. “There are just a few widespread manufacturers, however I at all times attempt to discover one which isn’t overly candy or syrupy. Corn syrup isn’t my pal, however typically it’s arduous to be that choosy. If you’re going by means of the hassle of juicing a contemporary lime, it’s for nothing if the primary mixer tastes synthetic and overly candy.”

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