Body Shot (Last Shot)(96)
“Um.” Hayden and Carrie exchanged glances. “Sure.”
“It’s called El Diablo Picante.”
Hayden’s eyebrows rose. “Is it.”
He grinned and turned away to mix the cocktails. He turned over two old-fashioned glasses into a saucer of lime juice then coated the rims in a mixture of something. Hayden wasn’t sure what it was. Then he combined ingredients in a cocktail shaker, some unfamiliar, others—like the tequila and the squeezes of fresh lime and lemon juice—more recognizable. He added ice and shook it. She admired his biceps and chest muscles flexing as he did so.
“I feel you objectifying me,” he said with an arched eyebrow.
Hayden grinned. “Maybe.”
He strained the mixture into the glasses and with a flourish garnished them with cinnamon sticks. Then he set their drinks in front of them.
“What’s in this?” Hayden reached for her glass.
“Tamarind concentrate, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, and Cointreau.”
“And the rim?” Carrie peered at her drink.
“Sugar, salt, cayenne, and cinnamon.”
“Interesting.” Hayden took a sip. “Mmm!” The spice of the tequila mixed nicely with the orangey sweetness of the Cointreau, and the spicy sugar mix on the rim added to the complex flavors. “This is really good!”
“You sound surprised.” Beck set his hands on the edge of the bar.
“Not at all.”
“Uh-huh.” He paused. “So how are Gina and Colin? Settled in?”
“Yes.” Her aunt and uncle were all moved into Torrey Pines Lifestyle, a lovely complex with extensive grounds that Uncle Colin would be able to spend time in. Jeff and John had come back a couple of times to help their parents go through their belongings and decide what to keep and what to get rid of, and to help them move.
“Good. I know they’re going to be happy there.”
“I hope so.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“When a woman says that, it’s never a good thing,” Dussen put in from the stool next to Carrie.
Hayden rolled her lips in on a smile.
“I’m afraid,” Beck agreed. “What’s up, Professor?”
“The Michael and Kathy Miles Foundation?” She arched a brow at him.
“Ah.” He nodded. “A good name, don’t you think?”
“Beck.” She held his gaze, trying for stern. But inside, she was a mushy marshmallow. “You named a foundation after my parents?”
“Yeah.”
“And the foundation is giving Vanguard ten million dollars?”
“Yep.” He leaned closer. “The foundation believes your research fits with its goals.”
“There wasn’t even a funding opportunity announcement. An application process.”
“Nope.” He smiled. “I told you I like control. My foundation. My decisions.”
“Beck.” Her heart expanded in her chest, so full of love and gratitude she could almost cry. “You didn’t need to do that. We got the funding from Bäcker.”
“I know I didn’t. I wanted to. I messed it up last time, but I really do want to help you. You know…for the greater good.”
She closed her eyes, the corners stinging with tears.
Marco approached and slapped Beck on the back. “Are you making them drink that concoction?”
“It’s really good.” Carrie frowned at Marco.
Marco held his hands up. “If you say so.”
Carrie turned to Hayden. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Hayden blinked at her friend, still teary-eyed. “What’s that?”
“Well.” Carrie swirled her cocktail in the glass. “I’ve decided to go to Spain for a year.”
Hayden’s head snapped back and her mouth dropped open. “What?”
Carrie bit her lip. “I’ve been feeling a bit…” She paused, then met Hayden’s eyes. “I’m happy for you and Beck, I really am. I’ve just felt a little bit at loose ends lately. Work is good, but…you know.” She shrugged. “I really want to take pictures, not be in them.”
Hayden knew that. “Your photos are beautiful.”
“Thank you. I want to do more of that. So I applied for a scholarship at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Madrid.” She gave a tentative grin. “To study photography. I just found out today I got it.”
Hayden shook her head. “Holy shit, Carrie.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m supposed to be happy for you, I guess. Congratulations! I don’t know anything about this place. But…Geez, I’m kind of shocked. I had no idea…What am I going to do without you?”