12. Brandt #3
“I do.”
Without another word, Lindee’s hand is in mine, pulling me away from the display.
She weaves us through the crowd, toward the altar.
The velvet rope that marks the sanctuary area as off-limits does nothing to deter Lindee, who unlinks it from the stanchion and walks right through.
I don’t question, just follow along as she nods to the security guard standing off to the side, hoping that he doesn’t decide that now is the moment to spring into action.
He nods back to Lindee, like some secret code, completely unbothered by her acting like she owns the place.
Oh, wait…she does.
Because that’s who she is. She’s Lindee Murray, part owner of one of the major players in the boutique liquor market.
More than that, she’s fun, spirited, and her own person. Nerdy in all the best ways. Everything about her makes me wants to know more. To experience every part of her.
Including the part of her leading to someplace unknown at the moment.
Lindee opens a side door behind the sanctuary, that from the outside looks to lead to a sacristy.
Sure enough, the small room probably once held any sacred vessel the preacher used for his services, however, it has since been repurposed into a closet.
Can’t blame them, as it’s the perfect spot to keep the cleaning supplies.
“Make sure that door is closed, would you?” Lindee says, nodding behind me.
I turn around, pulling the door we just walked through closed, making sure I hear the snick of the latch catching. Turning back to my guide, I indicate it’s all set.
That’s when she smirks.
Holding a finger to her lips vertically, indicating I should be quiet, she spins on her heel, walking to the far corner of the room toward a large hutch. The old, antique piece of furniture looks as heavy as it is ornate, the edges of it carved intricately into leaves and branches.
Lindee takes a look at the hutch and then leans against it, giving it a shove. The piece moves with ease, my jaw dropping at the sight before me. Either that thing isn’t as heavy as it looks, or Lindee is the She-Hulk. I’m not sure which I want to be true more.
A door is revealed as the hutch glides out of place, and suddenly, I feel like I’m in a movie. One of those old spy ones where you lift a particular book off the shelf and a whole new room appears. Only this door doesn’t lead to a room, but a staircase.
“Trust me?” she asks, still smiling impishly.
“Of course.”
She descends down the stairs slowly, carefully placing each foot on the old, metal steps.
The spiral staircase creeks from the weight of both of us, but thankfully feels pretty sturdy as we make our way into the darkness.
We finally hit the floor and Lindee reaches for a light switch, the soft glow of the single bulb illuminating the room.
And the beauty within it.
My breath catches, lungs constricting as I take it in. “Is…is that…” I stutter, my brain trying to catch up with what I think I’m seeing. What I really hope I’m seeing. “Is that what I think it is?”
“It is. Or, well, part of it. The very original twelve-gallon still. Just outside this door, and a handful of yards down the way, is a dip in the hills, and that is where there was a whole big setup that Gil and Fergus created. It had some much bigger ones that they ran during Prohibition, and right after, once they officially started the company. But that baby is what’s left. ”
Holy shit…
I squat down in front of the old jug, examining the copper piping, feeling like a kid on Christmas. No, this feels different than Christmas morning. It’s like the first time I saw a naked girl, but better. It might be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Luna, this is incredible.” Her nickname pops out again, but I still don’t correct myself. “She still work?”
“Made my first batch of Wink & Shine with her.” Lindee perks up, looking prouder than a peacock. Frankly, she deserves it. “Felt like if I was going to base something off the original recipe, I should start where they started.”
I rise back up to my full height, as I turn to face her. Reaching out, I place my hands on her hips, drawing her into me. Our bodies are about as close as they can be, and she’s still too far away.
“Thank you for taking me on the super-secret tour,” I whisper, lowering my forehead to hers. Lindee’s breath hitches, and my fingers tighten against her reflexively, trying to hold on to her as long as I can. “You’re right. I never could have dreamed of this.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I more than like it. In fact, it might just be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I pause, quickly second-guessing my statement. Because it doesn’t rank number one on that list. “No, I take that back. Second sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Only second?” she questions playfully, moving her hips against mine. The friction is more than enough to make my dick spring to life, and if she’s not careful, he’s going to take over this conversation. “What could possibly outrank this?”
“You.”