Page 53 of Winning Back His Wife
She brightened. “That makes sense.”
The bell on the door rang again. More people entered the shop, including Jake and Carly Porter and Hannah and Garrett Willingham, who sat at a table together.
Sarah waved. “Do you want to join your friends?”
Cullen wanted her all to himself. “This is fine.”
Christian placed carafes of water, glasses and small plates of crackers on each of the tables. Next came paper place mats with squares numbered one through six and pencils for each taster. “Welcome to Welton Wines and Chocolate. Today we’ll be doing a tasting with our chocolatier, Owen Welton Slayter.”
Owen limped out from a back room, dressed in a white chef’s jacket and gray pants. He also wore a leg brace, thanks to his climbing accident back in November. “Today we’ll be tasting six samples, starting with milk chocolate that has the lowest percentage of cacao and ending with our darkest, most complex one. We’ve provided water at room temperature so it doesn’t affect the chocolate or dull your taste buds and unsalted crackers to cleanse your palate between each sample.”
“Is it a law all males must be attractive to live in Hood Hamlet?” Sarah whispered.
At least she still found him attractive. That pleased Cullen. “You’ll have to ask the sheriff.”
As Christian placed chocolate samples on the place mats, Owen lectured about the history of chocolate, beginning with the Mayans and Aztecs and the journey to Europe.
“This is in-depth.” Sarah sounded impressed.
“Only the best for you, Lavagirl.”
Her startled gaze met his.
Cullen understood her reaction. The words surprised him, too. But he meant them.
She opened her mouth to speak. “Cull—”
He touched his finger to her lips. So soft and smooth. Nothing like they’d been at the hospital. “Not now.”
“Allow me to give you a few pointers about tasting chocolate,” Owen said to the group. “Examine each sample. Look at the color and the texture. Smell it. Snap the sample in half. Does it sound sharp and crisp, soft and quiet or something in between? After you place the sample in your mouth, don’t chew. Let the chocolate melt on your tongue so you can experience the flavors as they unfold. If you have any questions, just ask.”
As Sarah looked at the place mat, her brows lowered.
Cullen scooted his chair closer to her. He wanted her to enjoy this, not be all tense and wary. “Let’s have fun.”
With a nod, she tasted sample number one, following Owen’s instructions as if she were doing an experiment in the laboratory.
“What do you think?” Cullen whispered.
“This one is smooth, but I prefer a stronger chocolate.”
He placed his arm around the back of her chair. “Mark what samples you like so we’ll know what to buy later.”
She tapped her pencil against the table. “Aren’t you going to keep track of your favorites?”
Cullen didn’t have to. He was looking at her now. “I’ll keep track, too.”
Amusement shone in her eyes. “Then you’d better taste your first selection or you’ll be playing catch-up for the rest of the session.”
He tasted the sample. “You’re right. Not rich enough for me.”
The next two had deeper flavors. Sarah decided number three was the tastiest. She drew a heart around the number on her placement.
He toyed with the ends of her hair, letting the silky strands slip through his fingers. She glanced up at him, but didn’t say a word. He took her silence as permission to continue.
“For centuries, many have touted the aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate,” Owen lectured. “Some scientists have tried to debunk this, while others have claimed it’s a psychological effect. Feel free to test this by feeding someone at your table sample number four.”
Sarah held a chocolate in front of him with a hesitant look in her eyes. “Do you want me...?”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CULLEN WANTED SARAH more than he could say. But he knew she wasn’t asking that question. The chocolate would have to do. With a slight nod, he parted his lips.
She sucked in a breath. Her hand trembling, she brought the sample to his mouth.
He didn’t know if she was nervous over him or because she was using her left hand. He hoped it wasn’t the latter. He liked the idea she might be as affected by him as he was by her.
She carefully placed the chocolate onto his tongue. “What do you think?”
The intense flavor burst in his mouth with a nuttier and buttery taste. The third sample had been more velvety with a hint of orange.
“I like it.” He picked up the fourth selection off his place mat. “Your turn.”
