Chapter Thirty-Seven
Brandee
T he night is electric. I may have known him my entire life, but I’ve never experienced a Garrett Tuttle concert from the front row before.
It’s truly something to behold. Girls of all ages are screaming, crying, and dancing their hearts out.
The drinks are flowing, and everyone is having a good time.
There’s no fighting, no destruction of property—just good music and an energized crowd.
Audrey and Brew are on their feet the entire night, constantly moving between our table and the staff to help serve drinks, run food, and replenish supplies.
They operate like a well-oiled machine, and considering this concert was a last-minute event, I can only imagine how much better things would be with proper planning.
My mind drifts back to the night I walked in to see Cody Banks.
It felt different then, and I’ve come to realize that Audrey’s absence played a significant role in that feeling.
Brew has a great partner in her, and he knows it.
She’s the reason he can leave town, confident that Whiskey Joe’s is in good hands.
I make my way over to the bar and wait for my turn. I’m one person back when Brew steps behind the bar and locks eyes with me. When I finally squeeze between two other patrons, he whispers something to the bartender, who nods and moves down the bar.
He sets a napkin in front of me and smiles. “What can I get you?” he asks.
“I’ll have a Pinot Noir, if you have it,” I reply.
He grins as he reaches under the bar and pulls out a bottle. “I happen to have one right here.”
It’s a 2022 Kosta Browne. He uncorks it and holds the cork out for me to smell.
“Very nice,” I say.
“Well, this is a classy joint,” he remarks as he sets a stemmed glass down and pours me about six ounces.
“I like the way you pour,” I compliment just as Erin approaches from behind me.
“Is this guy bothering you?”
Brew’s amused gaze shifts to her.
“Nah, we’re just having a conversation,” I assure her as he pours another glass of wine and sets it in front of her.
“Well, he looks like trouble to me,” she replies. “And we all know I’m a great judge of character.” She winks at him before taking the glass and walking back to our table.
Brew watches her leave, then looks back at me as Garrett begins singing the first verse of one of his biggest love songs.
“Do you want to dance?” he asks.
I glance over my shoulder and then back at him. “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
He takes my glass and carries it to the end of the bar, close to the hallway that leads to his office.
He tilts his head in invitation, and I follow him as he slips into the dimly lit hallway.
Strong arm wraps around me as he guides me to a door.
He opens it and flicks on a desk lamp. Setting the wine beside the lamp, he pulls me into his embrace.
As he sings along to the romantic lyrics, I melt into him while he dances me around his office.
It’s just a stolen moment before he has to return to the chaos, but I feel like we’re the only two people in the place as he holds me close.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” he asks as the song ends.
“I’m heading back to Aunt Ida’s with Erin and Jena while Taeli, Graham, Ansley, Garrett, and the boys are going home with you,” I tell him, repeating what he already knows. It’s been the arrangement since they all arrived.
He groans. “There’s enough room at my house if the boys bunk together and Erin and Jena share a room. Everyone will have their own bathroom.”
“I know, but I hate leaving Snowflake and Felix home alone. They’re the reason Aunt Ida asked me to come down and house-sit.”
“Pack up the little furballs and bring them with you.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Pack up the kitties, along with their food and toys, and bring them to my house. They can sleep in my room with us.”
“I don’t think they’d like that,” I say, mainly because I have no idea how I’d transport them.
“Fine, then I’ll take the crew back to my house and get them settled before coming to you.”
I rest my hands on my hips. “You’d leave your home full of people to sleep at Aunt Ida’s?”
“Yes, if I can’t convince you to stay at my house where the walls are thicker and the beds are bigger,” he replies as he hands me my glass and turns off the lamp before leading me back into the hallway.
“Tell Erin and Jena to cue up Forensic Files ,” he whispers in my ear before smacking my ass and walking away.