Page 76 of Tennessee Trouble

Slowly, I take a sip, anxious to find out what awaits. The cool liquid hits my tongue and the flavors explode. The crispness of the lemon, mixed with the coolness of the mint and the sweet hint of blackberries, all with the backdrop of an incredible mix of moonshine and whiskey. It’s cool, refreshing, and just unique enough that it’s inviting, but not scary.

Pure fucking brilliance.

“What do you think?”

A mix of hope and fear dances in Lindee’s hazel eyes, her lips pulled into her mouth as she awaits my answer.

“This is it. You nailed it.”

“Really?” she squeals.

“Really. It’s brilliant, Lindee. Just brilliant. People are going to be talking about this everywhere.”

It puts my little creation to shame. Makes it seem like a science experiment run by a toddler.

“Gaaah!” Lindee dances around, not giving a damn about how she looks. It’s all about the pure joy rushing through her veins.

She looking damn cute though.

“So, what are we calling it?”

Stopping dead, Lindee looks at me, eyes going wide. “No fucking clue.”

“Hmmmmm…” I muse.

I also got nothing. Milo is the naming genius when it comes to our beers. He’s named every single one of them. He jokes that Party Mode and Sob Story named themselves. But Silver Lining Sour and Blue Jeans in Low Beams were all him. Maybe I need to call and ask his opinion⁠—

“Rocky Top Double,” Lindee blurts out.

“Say what?”

“Rocky Top Double. Because it features both Tennessee Trouble and Ol’ Reverend, and it’s a taste of Tennessee, and…”

“Rocky Top Double.” I push to my feet and pull her in close. “I love it.”

I love…no, we’re not going there…not here…not now…

“We did it,” Lindee giggles.

“You did it. I sat here.”

Lindee kisses me, letting her lips linger like she’s trying to savor the taste of the Rocky Top Double off me. Zero complaint here.

“I hope you remember your specs,” I tell her. “Because we have paperwork to fill out.”

“Paperwork?”

“The submission form for the SLOSH awards at CocktailCon?”

Rocking back, worry takes over Lindee’s expression. Her whole body actually, her muscles tightening under my fingers.

“I know you said it’s not too late, but…do you think we have a chance?”

Now. I need to tell her now. This is my chance.

Instead, I simply nod. “I do. I really think you have something here. Something that is going to blow everyone’s minds.”

“I just…” she trails off, biting down on her lip. I can see the hesitation surfacing and wish I could do something to squash it. “That’s not why I was doing this. I was only after something that could highlight Wink & Shine. Which I didn’t even use.”