Chapter 16 Ronan #2
“He’ll probably never retire. He manages a gallery in Portland, Oregon.”
“Wow. That’s a long way from here. Would you like me to mail your purchases?” She lifted the stack of books and moved them to the front counter.
I glanced at my phone and saw I still had a few minutes to kill. “That would be amazing.” I gathered the rest and between the two of us we made piles.
While she started boxing, she pushed a cream colored pad my way. “If you want to make a little personal note for them, I’ll put it in each box. Lots of bonus points, trust me.”
I laughed. “And this is why you have a very successful business.”
“Are you just passing through or…?”
“I work at Brothers Three Orchard—well, you might know it as—”
“Happy Acres, yes.” Her smile brightened even more. “I like the new additions. I’ve caught a few shows over there this summer already.”
“Then I hope you’ll come to the Taproom when it opens in August.”
“End of August? I have tickets for the Ian Kagan show.”
“That’s our opening night.”
“Then you’ll definitely see me.” She smiled. “I hope maybe I’ll see you sooner.”
I took the small bag with my personal purchases—including a snazzy planter for Kira—and gave her a tight smile. “Pretty sure my girl, Kira, isn’t into sharing.”
“Dammit. Always the big and hot ones taken.”
I laughed. “Thanks, I think.”
“Oh, please. You know you’re hot.”
I was pretty sure the tips of my ears were on fire. “I’m flattered.”
“Yeah, yeah. This town is full of men who are taken, usually with a pair of baby booties lined up next to their wedding ring.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Is that right?”
“You really are new to the area. Careful where you take…Kira, was it?” At my nod, she grinned. “The water is potent in Crescent Cove.”
I laughed. “I don’t think she’s ready for that.”
Colette sighed. “And you are? God, what is it with my timing?”
And just like that afternoon with Kira on the bar when I mentioned babies, it felt right. She was definitely in my future plans, and that included a family if Sunshine was willing.
“Yep. The look on your face means Kira is a lucky girl.”
“I could be an asshole.”
“Nope. The assholes are attracted to me.” She handed me the paperwork for the boxes she packed up. “I’ll make sure these go to the post office this afternoon.”
“Thanks, Colette. And I’m sure there’s a nice guy out there waiting for you.”
She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. “The eternal hope, right? Have a great morning.” She glanced at her register. “Well, almost afternoon.”
“I was killing time before I could load up on the fried chicken place you have.”
“And I’m so glad you spent your hard earned dollars here.” Her smile was brilliant and still a touch flirty.
“Have a good one.” I backed out of the shop and headed to my truck.
I called ahead to Bucket of Love since my order had just tripled.
Kain did everything big, and that included eating.
I also got something for Kira because she probably hadn’t thought about herself with me messing up her usual morning routine.
A grocery order would also be in order. My houseguest was a foodie. He wouldn’t find any of his high end supplies in Turnbull, but knowing Kain, he’d find a way to get it delivered. Chicken in hand—literally because I’d ordered an extra chicken sandwich for the drive—I headed into town.
I’d be cutting it close, but I stopped at the taproom for some of the bourbon I’d ordered for the opening. I was pretty sure there were a few cases of Hayes’ small batch moonshine hiding in the storeroom that I could borrow from as well.
I still resembled a man who’d been on a bender, so I avoided the taproom where Kira was conducting interviews and left her lunch on the bar. I caught her attention and waved her over to the storeroom.
She gave me an annoyed shake of her head, but I waved her over again.
With an exasperated eye roll, she held a finger up for me to wait a second. Which gave me time to tuck two bottles of moonshine and a bottle of bourbon into a case of our reserve stock cider.
“What are you doing?” She whispered furiously.
“Impromptu guest at my place.”
She arched her brow at the case and crossed her arms over her perfect breasts. Damn that dress was distracting. The heat wasn’t nearly as intense as it had been for a week, but hot enough that she’d left her arms bare. “Is that right?”
I crowded her into the wall, dragging her knee up to hook along my hip. Before I could get my lips on hers, she pinched my side.
“You did not interrupt my interviews to make out,” she said, her voice was tight with anger.
“No.” I laughed when she pinched me again and I tugged her fingers up to rest against my chest. “No, I promise I didn’t. Just a handy side benefit. Christ, you are beautiful.” I braced myself against the wall, caging her in with one arm while the other roamed down her curves.
Her cheeks pinked up as she wrinkled her nose. “Don’t try to butter me up. What do you want then?”
I dipped my nose into the deliciously clean scent of her neck and nipped her ear. “Mostly just to let you know I have to break our date tonight.”
She stiffened. “We don’t have a date.”
I eased back. “Yes, we did. I was going to woo you with dinner and fuck you into oblivion.” I rubbed my nose against hers and rocked against her to remind her where we fit best. “Remember?” My fingers stole away under the hem of her dress.
Her mouth dropped open and I took advantage of her shocked face and covered her mouth. I barely got a taste before she pushed me back. “I have three more people to interview as well as a meeting with Lennon in an hour.”
So we were one step forward and two back. I shouldn’t be surprised. “Okay, okay. Sorry. I couldn’t resist mussing you up.” I slid my hand up her thigh to palm her ass and kissed her hard before gently letting her foot fall back to the floor.
“And those plans were a maybe.”
I huffed out an exasperated laugh. “You never make things easy, Sunshine.”
She ducked under my arm. “We have a lot of work to do to get ready. August will be here before we know it.”
“I’m well aware, but we don’t work twenty-four-seven. Nor should we.”
“Tell that to my checklist.”
I followed her toward the doorway before she could escape, pulling her back against my front.
“And you’re not alone in getting the list done.
My batches are in fermenting, so I don’t have a ton to do until they’re ready for the back sweetening I have planned.
” I swept her hair back over her shoulder. “Let me help.”
“You have company. Enjoy it.”
I stiffened. “He can entertain himself if you need me.”
She turned and pressed me back into the room, glancing over her shoulder.
“Still afraid to be seen together?”
“Yes. I don’t need you undermining my authority because we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“From where I’m standing, you aren’t having trouble there.”
Her eyebrow rose. “Are you whining, Viking?”
“No.” I grit my teeth. “Maybe.”
Her full lips twitched and her eyes glowed in the dim light. She scraped her nails over my T-shirt to my buckle, then cupped the front of my jeans. “First of all, you need a shower.” She frowned. “Why do you smell like chicken?”
I grinned. “Greasy fried chicken.”
“Oh, that’s where you went. I wondered why you didn’t head toward your house.”
“Wondering about me?” I managed to bite back a growl as she squeezed my shaft, waking him up.
“Maybe.”
“I brought you some. Figured you didn’t get yourself anything for lunch.”
Her face softened, even as her eyes narrowed. “More buttering up?”
“I call it being thoughtful.”
She snorted. “Uh-huh.”
I had a feeling not many people thought about Kira and I tucked that in the back of my brain for future ruminating. “Probably need to reheat it, but I left a bag on the bar for you.”
She squeezed a little tighter. “I’d thank you properly if I had time.”
“For that, I’ll bring you lunch daily.”
Her lips curved this time. “Who’s visiting?”
“Guy from my almost college days.”
“Sounds like a story.” She snuck under the hem of my shirt to brush the pads of her fingers over my belly and around to my lower back. “That case on the floor says you’re probably going to get into trouble.”
“Maybe.”
She shook her head. “Well, have fun. Don’t get arrested.”
“I stopped getting in that kind of trouble years ago.”
“More stories?”
I tipped my forehead against hers. “I want to tell you all of them. And maybe you’ll tell me some of yours.”
The fun slipped out of her eyes. “Maybe.” She cleared her throat as she stepped back. “I have a ton of paperwork to deal with tonight anyway.”
I slapped a hand on my chest. “Arrow hit.”
“You can’t help with paperwork. Somehow I don’t think that’s your strength.”
“Not my favorite, but I’m there if you need help.”
“Tomorrow is soon enough. We’re interviewing the chefs tomorrow. Still want in on that?”
“Definitely. Once we figure out who we agree on, I’ll know better what kind of pairings I can do. Test out some ciders.”
“All right then. Interviews start at nine.” She nodded to my stash. “I’ll put the case and bottles on your tab.”
Of course she would. “I’ll be here.” I dropped a kiss on her distractible mouth. “I’ll miss waking with you tomorrow, Sunshine.”
“What if I said I like having my bed to myself?”
“I’d say that’s a lie.” I palmed her ass through her dress, dragging her closer. Letting her feel how hard I was still. “You liked waking up to me sliding inside you.” I scraped my teeth over her lower lip. “And I could get used to hearing you sigh my name while you’re all sleepy.”
Her hand slid up my chest before she cupped my jaw. The kiss was hot and left me a little scrambled. She pushed me away by the face. “Take a shower and maybe you’ll get back in my bed.”
With that she turned on her heel and sashayed back into the taproom.
“Oh, I’ll be getting back in your bed, Sunshine. Count on it.”