“Thanks,” Isla said, heat creeping into her cheeks as she felt Kirk’s eyes on her. She took a piece and bit into it.
The chocolate melted immediately on her tongue, rich and velvety with the perfect balance of bitter and sweet. As she savored the depth of the cocoa, a gentle warmth bloomed at the back of her throat—not the harsh burn of novelty chili chocolate, but a complex, fruity heat that enhanced the chocolate’s natural flavor instead of overwhelming it.
“Wow,” she breathed, genuinely surprised. “The heat doesn’t hit you right away. It builds so gradually, and it’s almost... fruity? Not just hot for the sake of being hot. That is incredible.”
“Thanks.” Kirk’s smile transformed his face completely, softening the intensity of his features. “I use a blend of three different chilies. The chocolate is seventy percent cocoa from a small cooperative in Ecuador. I toast the chilies first to bring out their sweetness, then infuse them in the cocoa butter before incorporating it back into the chocolate.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Sorry, I get carried away.”
Win chuckled. “Kirk isverypassionate.”
Kirk shot her a look. “About chilies.”
“Maybe I could try some,” Percy said, appearing at Isla’s side and looking up at the adults with curious eyes.
Isla watched as Kirk’s entire demeanor shifted, his shoulders relaxing as he hunkered down to Percy’s level. Without talking down to him or using that false, high-pitched voice some adults adopted with children, Kirk broke off a smaller piece of chocolate.
“This one’s milder,” he explained, offering it to Percy. “The heat builds really slowly, so if you don’t like it, just have a sip of water.”
Percy took the chocolate cautiously, studying it before popping it into his mouth. His eyes widened slightly as he let it melt on his tongue.
“It’s... not bad,” he finally declared, which from Percy was high praise indeed.
Kirk’s mouth twitched with amusement. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He remained crouched at Percy’s level, patient and attentive as the boy considered the chocolate’s aftertaste. There wassomething so gentle in the way he spoke to Percy, not condescending, but respectful, as if Percy’s opinion genuinely mattered to him.
Isla found herself oddly touched by the unexpected gentleness in such a physically imposing man. It wasn’t that she’d expected rudeness, exactly, but there was something disarming about watching a man who looked like he could fell trees with his bare hands carefully explaining flavor profiles to her eight-year-old.
“Do you put chili in other stuff, too?” Percy asked, wiping a smudge of chocolate from his lip.
“I do,” Kirk nodded. “I make chili honey, chili jam, even chili ice cream.”
“Ice cream?” Percy’s eyebrows shot up. “Does it burn your mouth?”
“Not if it’s made right,” Kirk said with a small smile. “The cream actually helps balance the heat.”“I like chocolate chip,” Percy declared.
“Me too,” Kirk said. “But it’s also good to try new things, because you never know which one might become your next favorite.”
“That’s what Mom says,” Percy replied, but he did not sound convinced.“Sounds like she’s a wise woman,” Kirk said with a tone that made Isla blush.
“We should probably get going,” Isla said, glancing at her watch to hide her face. “We still need to check in at our cabin.”
“Bear’s Rest, right?” Win asked. “That’s just about ten minutes up the road. Beautiful views from those cabins.”
Isla turned to Kirk, who had risen back to his full height. “Thank you for letting us try your chocolate. It really is exceptional.”
“Glad you liked it,” Kirk said, his eyes lingering on her for a heartbeat longer than necessary. Not that she was complaining. She liked the way he looked at her.
Which was crazy. She would never fall for a man so quickly. She’d learned that mistake once before and would not make it again.
“Hey, Percy.” Isla looked down at her son, who was studying the chocolate wrapper with newfound interest. She smoothed his hair; the familiar gesture steadied her. “Why don’t we pick some goodies to take with us? And maybe some of Kirk’s chocolate since we liked it so much?”
“Isla and Percy are staying at Bear’s Rest,” Win said as Isla browsed the shelves. “His aunt and uncle own it, you know.”
“I did not,” Isla replied with surprise.
“Kirk’s family, the Thornbergs, have been here since the town was founded,” Win added, leaning against the counter with comfortable familiarity.
“Thornberg?” Isla tilted her head. The name rang a bell from her research. “Does your family own the restaurant in town as well?”
