A jaded bartender is wooed by a charmingly quirky couple in this fresh and sizzling polyamorous rom-com, set in the glamorous world of high-end cocktail bars—from the acclaimed author of the “tender, decadent, and sparklingly funny” (Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author) Chef’s Choice . As a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere and Insta-worthy drinks, Mel has witnessed plenty of disastrous dates. That, coupled with her own romantic life being in shambles, has Mel convinced love doesn’t exist. Everything changes when Bebe walks into the bar. She’s beautiful, funny, knows her whiskeys—and is happily married to her partner, Kade. Mel’s resigned to forget the whole thing, but Bebe makes her a unique offer: since she and Kade have an open marriage, she’s interested in taking Mel on a date. What starts as a fun romp turns into a burgeoning relationship, and soon Mel is trying all sorts of things she’d been avoiding, from grand romantic gestures to steamy exploits. Mel even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. In the chaotic whirl of all these new experiences, Mel realizes there might be a spark between her and Kade, too. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel begins to think that real love might be more expansive than she ever thought possible. With TJ Alexander’s signature “witty and insightful voice, complex characters, and full-throated celebration of the joy of queer community” (Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood ), Triple Sec is a passionate, thirst-quenching love story that will have you asking for another round…or three. "A perfectly balanced cocktail of sharp humor, complex characters, and sweet romance spiked with delicious heat." -- Rachel Reid, USA Today Bestselling author of HEATED RIVALRY "Saying we need more books like this sounds trite, but it’s true. It’s true because TJ Alexander is a queer author writing queer characters with depth, authenticity, and skill. It’s true because polyamory in the genre is woefully underrepresented. But it’s also true because this book is hilarious and hot as hell, with characters you can’t get enough of." -- Meryl Wilsner, bestselling author of CLEAT CUTE "I read the whole book with a smile on my face. A delightful, joyful romance with tempting cocktails and three unique, lovable characters." -- Jackie Lau, author of LOVE, LIES, AND CHERRY PIE "Putting polyamory front and center, TRIPLE SEC is like nothing else I’ve ever read, in the best possible way. It’s sweet! It’s sexy! It’s a completely charming celebration of queer romance, where every person is loved and cared for in the exact way they deserve. I adored it." -- Bridget Morrissey, author of THAT SUMMER FEELING "Alexander’s fresh take on the genre is a must-buy." ― Library Journal, starred review "In this appealingly fluffy triad romance, Alexander ( Chef’s Choice ) explores sweet and authentic queer relationship dynamics . . . Readers hungry for representation of community-supported nonmonogamy that doesn’t skimp on either love or sex will happily gulp this down." ― Publishers Weekly *Praise for the novels of TJ Alexander* "Urgent and intimate." ― The New York Times Book Review "Uproariously funny and incredibly romantic." ― Library Journal (starred review) "Utterly incandescent . . . This is one of those books that you finish and immediately hand off to someone else, hoping you’ll be able to talk about your favorite scene." ― Bookreporter TJ Alexander, the critically acclaimed author of  Second Chances in New Port Stephen , Chef’s Kiss , and  Chef’s Choice , writes about queer love. Their latest novel is Triple Sec . Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants. Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 Mel Sorrento stared at the black velvet box sitting on the Carrara marble bar top and tried not to roll her eyes. It wasn’t the guy’s fault, or the fault of the engagement ring that probably cost something like fifty grand. Mel was just tired of this bullshit. Love. Marriage. Putting unethical gemstones into champagne flutes. All of it. “So, okay,” the guy said. There was a fine sheen of sweat along his prematurely receding hairline. He was chalk white, his eyes darting around like he expected to be caught red-handed at any moment. “I told her I was going to the bathroom. She can’t see me, can she?” His head swiveled toward the back of the lounge, where the emerald velvet booths were more shadow than candlelight. “No, you’re fine.” That was a tad optimistic. He actually looked like he was on the verge of fainting. Mel poured the guy a glass of ice water. Proposals usually didn’t go well if the question-popper passed out in the middle of it. “Oh, thank you.” The man reached