Page 7 of Flights and Sights

I pinched my lips together briefly. “Ah, the Manga Maracujá. It’s got both, actually.”

“I hate both of those fruits.”

“That’s fair. So tropical fruits aren’t your thing.”

“Generally not.” He shook his head.

I looked at the flight card Tommy had filled out for him. “You’ll like the next one, I bet.”

He gave the dark-colored mead a wary look. “What’s in it?”

“Too much to recite,” I said with a chuckle. “No tropical fruits, but it is a melomel—flavored with fruit juices. It’s probably got every kind of berry you can name and then some, plus other added flavors, including almond, vanilla, coconut, and marshmallow.”

“I’m trusting you,” Cal said slowly. The words made my chest tighten and butterflies flutter through me.

“Good. You should.”

He sipped it and immediately smiled. “That was good. What’s it called?”

“I Mead More.”

“I take it you named this one?”

“Bingo.” I winked at him, and his cheeks turned pink again.

Butterflies exploded inside me again. Jesus Christ, I was in trouble.

Chapter 4 - Callum

“Well, I should probably get going.” I’d been at the meadery for hours and tried a little of everything, and a little more of the things I’d liked. I’d stayed long enough that Pax had insisted on ordering a pizza from the place down the road to share, giving me enough time to be safe to drive. I’d collected almost zero notes for my article.

“Do you have to?” Pax asked quietly.

I glanced at my phone again. “I’ve been here six hours. My folks are going to think I’m dead in a ditch or something, probably.”

“Wouldn’t want to worry them, then.” He nodded and picked up the empty glass in front of me. “But…”

I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“If you’re writing an article and including us in it, you should probably take my number. You know, in case you have questions.”

I smirked and nodded, dipping my head low before looking back at Pax. “That sounds like a great idea.” Was I imagining the suggestive tone in his voice?

He scribbled a phone number on an index card, the ones they used to write flight requests on, and passed it to me. “Call or text if you have any, you know, questions.”

Okay, I definitely wasn’t imagining it. “I’m sure I’ll have plenty of questions, once I start writing this article.” My face heated again. What was it about this man that made me blush so ferociously?

He leaned in, palms on the bar. “I’m serious. Anytime.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you up on that.” I pulled my wallet out to pay my tab, but he waved my card away.

“Your money is no good here.”

“Come on. I had a lot of mead. Plus, the pizza.”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

I sighed in defeat and shoved my wallet back in my pocket. “Thanks again. I’ll talk to you soon.