First of all, thanks so much for having me today, Jennifer :) I really appreciate it. After all, what better place to talk about my new book, Hidden Embers, then here at Reading with Tequila? One of my favorite scenes in the book actually takes place over a bottle of tequila, and like Jennifer says in her bio regarding her meeting with her husband, Jasmine and Quinn’s first conversation is also about tequila …
Speaking of which, I’m not much of a drinker, simply because I’m terrible at holding my alcohol—from the time I was legal, my friends have always called me a very cheap drunk. But if I do end up having a drink, nine times out of ten, it’s going to be something with Tequila in it. Maybe it’s because I was raised in Southern California where the margarita is king, or because Tequila always means a huge, fun party where I’m from, or maybe it’s simply because I think doing body shots is incredibly sexy (Quinn and Jasmine do a few …) Whatever it is, tequila is definitely my drink of choice.
So, in that vein, I thought I’d pop up a couple of tequila drink recipes that I think are delicious—and hope that you like them as well. The first one I ran across when I was researching one of my novels a few years ago, and my friends all agree—it’s a winner!
Silk Stocking (makes 2)
3 oz Tequila
1 oz crème de cacao
2 oz cream
1 tsp Chambord
Mix in a shaker with ice, then strain into a martini glass rimmed with sugar or shaved chocolate, and serve.
Another delicious tequila recipe is for a Mexican Sunset (makes 2):
3 oz tequila
3 oz orange juice
1 ½ oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
2 oz grenadine syrup
Mix in a shaker with ice, and strain into a martini glass rimmed with sugar.
And here’s the conversation I was talking about between Quinn and Jasmine:
The bartender slapped two shots of Patron on the bar between them, along with another shot glass full of lime slices. Jasmine reached for hers, aware that the guy sitting next to her was doing the same.
She might have thought it was lame that he ordered the same drink as her—like that would impress her or something—but there was a line of used shot glasses in front of him, and when he turned his head to look at her his breath smelled faintly of her favorite tequila.
“What should we drink to?” he asked in a low, smoky voice that made her toes curl inside her favorite pair of Sketchers.
She thought about it for a second, then remembered how good it felt to defend herself against the jerks outside. “How about to kicking a little ass?”
If she’d hoped to shock him with her response—which she was honest enough to admit she might have—she was disappointed. He simply lifted one dark eyebrow and asked sardonically, “So, you like to kick ass, do you?”
“Absolutely. If the occasion warrants it, I’m all for a good ass-kicking.” She raised her glass, clinked it against his. Then tossed the shot back in a hurry.
It burned all the way down, lit a fire in her stomach that worked its way through her bloodstream until every part of her was tingling and warm. Tequila didn’t usually have that effect on her, but she refused to give the guy next to her the credit. No matter how hot he was.
And God, was he hot. Long and lean with heavily muscled arms and a torso so sculpted she could see the outline of his six pack through his T-shirt. He was so sexy that she had to surreptitiously wipe her mouth to make sure she wasn’t drooling.
Add in the brooding green eyes, chin-length black hair and cut-glass jaw lined with stubble, and he was every late-night fantasy she’d ever had. Even as she told herself she wasn’t going to be sticking around long enough to find out if he tasted as good as he looked, a part of her was intrigued enough to turn toward him and watch as he lifted his own shot glass.
He caught her looking and grinned, a sharp, seductive expression that made her nipples tighten against the thin cotton of her tank top. She started to cross her arms over her chest, but saw that she was too late—his emerald gaze had already found the tell-tale peaks beneath her shirt.
“That was fast,” he said with a grin. She wasn’t sure if he was talking about her response to him or the way she’d downed the shot. “Can I get you another one?”
She shrugged. “Sure.” It wasn’t like she was going to be driving anywhere anytime soon.
He flagged down the bartender and ordered them both another shot before turning back to look at her. “So, whose ass did you kick tonight, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“A couple jerks who thought a woman stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire was fair game.”
The smile slid off his face and his eyes darkened dangerously. “Are they still alive?”
“Unfortunately.”
He scanned the bar. “Are they here?”
“Nope.. Why? You planning on coming to my defense?”
She held her breath as she waited for him to answer. She was all for a knight in shining armor, but she preferred a man who knew she could take care of herself—and who trusted her to do it.
“Not your defense, no. But I figure there are a bunch of women in here who wouldn’t be able to handle themselves as well in a similar situation.”
She melted a little at his words. Despite his very bad-ass exterior, it sounded like he was one of the good guys. At the very least, he had more than a passing respect for women. She could totally get into that.
“They’re long gone, so that’s one less thing for you to worry about tonight.” Even as she spoke, she couldn’t believe the flirtatious tone in her voice. She never went that route, usually went out of her way to avoid sounding like some silly schoolgirl with a crush. But something about this man was really ringing her bell—in the best possible way.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He spun his barstool toward her, so that his knees brushed lightly against her upper thigh. Pleasure fluttered inside her and she caught her breath, shocked that such a light touch could elicit any response from her at all, let alone one strong enough to have her libido stand up and take notice.
The sudden heat radiating from him told her she wasn’t the only one whose body was just a little out of control.
“Are you? Why?”
“Because as entertaining as it would be to teach those guys a lesson, I much prefer sitting here with you.”
“Really? And why is that?”
“You smell a lot better than they probably do—and you have excellent taste in tequila.”
“Yeah, well, a girl never knows when a taste for highbrow tequila will come in handy. Speaking of which—” she said, as she reached for her second shot. “Cheers.”
He inclined his head forward. “Cheers.”
She downed the shot in record time, but when she slammed her glass on the counter, she realized he still hadn’t taken his first shot—which was resting, neglected, between his fingers—let alone the second one that was sitting in front of him.
“Something wrong with your drink?” she asked.
“No. I just enjoy watching you indulge. Besides, I’m already a few ahead of you.” He nodded to the empty shot glasses the bartender had yet to clear away.
“You are indeed. Why is that, by the way?”
This time his smile was anything but warm, and she felt the chill of it cut through the rosy tequila glow currently enveloping her. “It’s been a rough year.”
There was something in the way he said it, something in the sudden sadness that wrapped around him like a cloak that made her think that his “rough” was a number of shades worse than hers. And that was saying something, considering her year to date had consisted of dealing with a serious outbreak of Ebola in the Congo, followed by being blown up in the third week of a research trip that had started going wrong the second she’d gotten off the airplane.
Still, no one was more surprised than she when she reached a hand out and covered his, where it rested on his knee. “I’m really sorry to hear that.”
His fingers clutched at hers like a lifeline. “Don’t be. You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Yeah, well, I’m having a pretty crappy year myself, so I can empathize.”
“Awww, don’t tell me that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn’t wish my luck on anyone.”
So how about you? What’s your favorite drink, alcoholic or otherwise? Leave a comment and be entered to win a copy of Dark Embers, the first book in the Dragon Heat’s series. Have a great Monday!
About the Author
About the Book
Quinn Maguire is a powerful Dragonstar healer at a tragic loss, unable to cure the insidious disease killing off his people. Yet even in such dire circumstances the conservative Quinn is secretly disapproving of the alternative: Dr. Jasmine Kane, enlisted by the head of the Dragonstar clan to help abort the virus. She is a wild card. She is an outsider. She is human.
Decked out in black leather and a tough attitude, Jasmine clashes with Quinn in more ways than one. And when destiny chooses her for his Mate, he doesn't know whether to rejoice or rebel. Because while Jasmine makes him burn hotter than any woman--dragon or human-- ever has, their differences make a relationship impossible.
But when a rival infiltrates the clan and attacks Jasmine, Quinn becomes desperate. Jasmine is now the first human to be infected with the disease—and Quinn must do everything he can to find a cure, and save the woman he has grown to love.
Giveaway
As she mentioned above, Tessa Adams is offering one lucky winner a copy of Dark Embers!
To enter, leave a comment answering Tessa's question. Be sure to leave your email address in case you win!
US/Canada.
Entry deadline: Sunday, April 24th at 11:59pm EST
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