Chapter Twenty
J ane
Jane had avoided the brewery for almost the last week because she had been sure her brother would read her face and her dreamy eyes with just one look at her in the room with Brady.
She could hardly stop touching him when they were near each other, let alone not stare at him.
But if she didn’t pop into Dog Tired at all for the three weeks, Rex would start asking questions.
She was usually in there at least once a week—often more.
She breezed through the front door of the brewery.
Even for a weekday evening, most of the tables had patrons sipping beers.
Though the brewery didn’t serve food, a couple food trucks rotated through the week in the parking lot, so the hint of barbeque wafted through the air.
After a long day at the studio teaching the instructors some of the new techniques she learned at the retreat, her stomach growled.
Maybe she’d grab some pulled pork on her way out.
“Hey, Jane.” Sam waved from behind the bar.
“Hi, Sam. Here to see my brother before he takes off on another round of traveling.” She leaned across the bar and slapped Sam a high-five before turning toward the office.
She could see her brother at the desk. Oh, that desk. The wicked memories of New Year’s Eve still heated her cheeks. She shook her head and took a deep breath.
“Hey, Rexy.” She strolled into the office like she owned the place. But her steps faltered when she saw Brady standing over the round table in the corner flipping through some portfolio. He had gone to his condo after leaving her place this morning so she hadn’t seen him since then.
He had on dark gray dress slacks that clung to his ass and thighs like they had been tailored for him.
Maybe they had. The first two buttons of his white button-down shirt were undone, revealing his tanned skin.
His sleeves were rolled up his forearms, exposing his sinewy muscles.
One hand laid flat against the table, his long fingers splayed.
Fingers that had been inside of her this morning.
There went her cheeks again.
He glanced up from the portfolio, his gaze turned heated at the sight of her.
“Janey.” Rex stood from the desk. “What brings you here?” He moved around the desk to hug her. This broke the stare-off between her and Brady. Thank God.
She squeezed her brother tighter than usual. “Just wanted to see you before you take off again.”
He separated from her embrace. “Aw. Are you going to miss your big brother while he’s in Texas?”
She laughed. “Of course.” She glanced over at Brady, who just watched her interaction with her brother. “Hey, Brady.” She smiled, though she wanted to do so much more.
He cleared his throat, glanced at her brother and forced a smile. “Hey.” He went back to flipping through the portfolio.
Rex didn’t say anything about the somewhat stiff reception between the two of them but he glanced at her and quirked an eyebrow.
She shrugged. She knew Brady wanted to hug her, kiss her. She understood why he was distant in the moment.
“What are you looking at?” She broke the silence, wandering over to where Brady stood.
He inhaled deeply as if trying commit her scent to memory. “Mock ups for the new summer brew label.”
She leaned in to examine the artwork. Her forearm brushed his. He stilled, except for the sharp intake of breath.
“Isn’t it great?” Rex joined them at the table. “We’re doing a wheat beer this summer. I love the beachy vibe Janella’s team went with. Makes me want to go sit on the beach and day drink.”
“It’s amazing.” She reached past Brady to flip the page.
A quiet growl rumbled from him.
She shifted her gaze to his, catching the smoldering heat in his eyes. It nearly melted her into a puddle at his feet. “So this would be the posters and ads for the beer?” Her voice hitched and Brady’s smile said he was pleased he wasn’t the only one affected.
“Yes,” Rex said. “I want to get a few of these for my trip so I can show them off to some of the bars and restaurants.” Rex stepped away and grabbed his phone off the desk. “That reminds me. I need to call Janella and see if she can print more. And let her know that I gave Anna her card.”
“Anna’s looking for a job?” She turned to look at her brother. She’d thought Anna was up for a promotion at her company in Tampa. To work for Janella, she’d need to move to Orlando.
“Not right now.” Rex tapped and swiped at his phone. “But if her promotion doesn’t go as planned, she may be.”
“You aren’t secretly hoping she doesn’t get the promotion?” Her voice had a scolding tone to it.
“Absolutely not. She loves her job. But I just wanted her to know she had options.” He smiled at his sister and put the phone to his ear. “I’m going to step outside for a few. Meet me at the bar in fifteen and we can grab a pint.”
She grinned at her brother and watched him disappear out of the office without a second glance. Rex wasn’t even gone two seconds before Brady stood at her back.
“Are you trying to fucking torture me?” he whispered in her ear, his voice low and ragged. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush into him. His erection pressed into her backside.
“I was doing nothing of the sort.” She wiggled her ass into him.
He stilled her with a firm tug. “I want to bend you over this desk and fuck you until you scream my name.”
“Done.” She flattened her hands on the desk, arching her back and offering herself to him.
He slapped her ass, sharp and claiming. “I will make you pay for this when I get home tonight.”
She hadn’t lost sight of his use of the word “home” when referring to coming to her house, but making a big deal out of those things made him nervous so she just tucked it away in her heart.
She straightened and winked at him. “I look forward to it.” She strutted out of the office toward the bar to meet with her brother.