You Had Me at Merlot: Part 2 by Lisa Dickenson Page A

tangy – and something more. Jamie was watching me carefully and shuffling on the spot, eager for my
     reaction. ‘Oh!’
    ‘What? What can you taste?’
    ‘Oh! It’s … oh, it’s spicy!’
    ‘Too spicy?’
    I took another, bigger sip. ‘No, it’s absolutely amazing. It’s delicious and moreish, and has more than a little fire.’ I
     looked directly at him, afraid I was sounding a little too soap-opera innuendo right now. He was looking down at me, watching
     me intently with those dark eyes. ‘And my, it’s potent,’ I said, polishing the glass off and dragging my gaze away. He topped
     me up another inch and poured himself a glass too, breaking into a happy grin.
    ‘You really like it?’
    ‘Mmm,’ I said through my gulp. ‘Did you make it?’
    ‘It’s just something I’ve been working on. The wine is fortified, and then I’ve been infusing chilli in it.’
    ‘Chilli, huh? May I have some more?’ He refilled my glass, this time with a slightly more decent measure. ‘You are a very
     talented chap.’
    ‘I’ve been working on it for a while but you’re the first to try what I think might be the finished product. My first attempt
     was so hot I cried for days!’
    ‘Well, I am honoured. It really is delicious.’ Jamie’s smile could have lit up the room if the light bulbs weren’t already
     doing so. It was nice to see him so happy, and so passionate about something. Was I ever
this
passionate about work? I know I loved my job and all, but did I ever beam like a ball of sunshine if someone complimented
     a report I’d done? I guess it’s different if it’s something you made from scratch, something that’s all for you and your own
     company.
    ‘It’s strong alcohol content though; be careful,’ he chuckled.
    ‘Yeah, yeah, I think you mentioned something about some chocolate?’
    ‘Right!’ He pulled out a cling-film wrapped brick of chocolate so dark it was nearly black. ‘I made this too,’ he said shyly,
     getting out a small hammer.
    A man who makes chilli wine and his own chocolate? I don’t care how much the ladies would be all ‘
We told you so
’, I had to walk down the aisle and marry him immediately.
    ‘Close your eyes,’ he instructed.
    Please kiss me
. Something cold nudged my bottom lip and I breathed in sharply.
    ‘Drink,’ he murmured, and I took a long sip from the glass, perhaps more than I should have but a blissful tingling of nerves
     was setting in. ‘Now open your mouth.’ I opened it a touch, in an alluring way. Or in a slack-jawed, slightly drunk way. ‘A
     little more.’ I obeyed, because that definitely sounded like an invitation to snog with tongues.
    And then he placed a small chunk of smooth chocolate on my tongue and the flavours melted all over the fiery chilli. ‘You
     didn’t really make the chocolate too, did you? Because if you did I’m never leaving.’
    ‘I made the chocolate too.’
    I sighed with happiness and reached for my glass again, my body relaxing and swaying a little, my eyes still closed. ‘How
     do you have so much patience to make all these things yourself? What about supermarkets?’
    ‘Supermarkets can’t give me the exact combinations that I need, which is such a dark, bitter chocolate that it becomes mellow
     and balances the chilli. It’s like a science. But … tastier.’
    ‘Amen.’ I drank more, and then a little more. This wine was perfection, and it was making me heady quickly. ‘You could sell
     this anywhere. Seriously. Like, even at a baby shop. You could package it right up and sell it as a special offer when someone
     buys a pack of dummies.’
    ‘Dummies?’
    ‘You’re a dummy.’ I hiccupped and stood up. ‘Woo-wee, this really is strong.’
Gulp
. ‘You’re coming home with me.’
    ‘Am I?’
    ‘Yes, to make me wine and chocolate for ever more.’
    ‘Okay. Are you feeling okay?’
    ‘I feel … unsteady.’ I laughed.
    ‘Maybe I should take you back to your room now.’
    ‘Really?