Chapter 17 #2
Another shadow appeared in the doorway. “Oh my god. What did you catch them doing?”
Now it was Teller glaring at us, his chest puffed out and fury scrawled over his face. Had they only gotten more protective with age? “Washing eggs,” I answered.
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days,” he grumbled. “Mama’s gotta go to town to meet with the pastor and finalize some details for tomorrow. Who wants to go with her and Summer? Tenor’s going, too.”
“I got it.” Tate spun on a heel and jogged out.
A shudder ran through Wynter. What she’d said about watching her parents die had been real, from the heart. No wonder she’d stayed away from Montana until she’d gotten the call.
Teller eyed both of us. “I’ve gotta cover for Tate on the ranch. Autumn and Junie are getting the food arranged for the reception. You mind figuring out supper for tonight?”
“Myles and I will figure something out.”
I would what?
“Does Foster House know how to cook?” Teller asked.
No.
Wynn must’ve seen the answer in my eyes. “He’s very talented with his hands.”
I let my eyes close again. She was going to get me beat up.
“Wynter Kerrigan, if you make any more innuendos, I’m going to ground you.” He sounded as perturbed as I felt.
She laughed. By now, my erection had faded enough I could turn sideways and watch their interactions.
One thing had been the same in all the families I’d lived with—the sibling camaraderie.
Some were closer than others, but there was always that unique communication between kids who grew up together.
What would that have been like? But not having siblings had been a blessing.
“I’d like to take him through Copper Summit,” she said.
I remained still while Teller measured me with his appraising gaze. If I was banned from the distillery, I’d own it. They didn’t trust me, and they had no reason to. I’d built a nice life for myself off their family’s hard work.
Teller ran his thumb across his fingertips. “I guess there’s nothing there he don’t already know.” Teller shifted his dark gaze to mine. “We don’t have fancy fruit mash, so there’s no recipes to steal.”
“Good thing I like fancy shit.”
His expression didn’t crack. He spun on his heel like his brother had and strode out.
Wynn wrapped her ankles around me and forced me around to face her. “Now, where were we?”
“Aren’t you afraid someone else will walk in?” My dick had no fear, but this wasn’t my property. This wasn’t my home, and this girl was clearly loved by everyone who stepped foot on this land.
“Not particularly. We can shut the door.”
The lust was back, flooding my veins and going straight for my dick. “God help me, Frosty. I’m on shaky ground as it is. Let me clean up, then show me the distillery.”
Instead of getting pouty or looking hurt, she smoothed her hands on my shoulders. “You respect the hell out of this family, don’t you?” She leaned closer and whispered, “I’ll keep your secret.”
For that, I had to kiss her.
Wynter
After the hot and heavy make-out session in the shed, I should’ve taken a cold shower, but I was too excited to see Myles in my domain.
He parked in the parking lot that surrounded Copper Summit. He’d insisted on using his car even though each trip assaulted his paint job with rocks.
He stared out the windshield at the building in front of us.
Admittedly not as impressive as Foster House’s headquarters, Copper Summit was still gorgeous.
Daddy’s grandpa had built a giant wooden building with simple windows at first. Then he’d added the timber accents on the outside as he started to profit.
From one end, long wooden tunnels winged out.
The barrel rooms, done to look like an old mining shaft as an ode to the copper mines in the area.
Grandpa had thought open-pit copper mining made blemishes on the countryside.
Daddy had added on a wing to sell locally made products like huckleberry taffy, caramels, and lemonade mix, and then finally a bar for the public to enjoy our cocktails.
Copper Summit had been like a playground for me when I was finally old enough to legally play with the spirits and flavors.
“Even this looks different,” he muttered.
“The bar was added once we were all out of the house. Daddy liked to joke that he suddenly had a lot of money as soon as he wasn’t feeding hungry teens.” Tears gathered in my eyes, and I swiped them away. “I’ll never not miss that man.”
Another tear escaped, and Myles tenderly wiped it away. “I’m almost jealous.” Lines of concern crinkled his eyes. “You got to experience two sets of good parents.” He wiped at another tear. “But I’d never want you to know the life I had.”
I grabbed his hand and smoothed my thumb over the moist tip of his finger. My tear. “My Kerrigan parents were loving, but I think many would argue about how good they were.”