4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Adalie
“ C ome with me tonight,” Derek says as he strolls into my office.
I’m just shutting down my computer for the day, about to head home, but he sits in the chair on the other side of my desk like he’s in no hurry to go anywhere.
“Come with you where?” I ask.
“Hops Scotch. I’m getting the finalized contract.”
As soon as he says the name of the place, an image of stormy grey eyes, broad shoulders, and slicked back hair forms in my mind. I swallow and focus again on Derek, who is still speaking.
“Figured I’d stay for a couple beers but Ava is doing a shoot until later. She’s going to meet me there, but I want someone to come with me now. Plus, it’s your birthday. I know you said you wanted to chill, and we’re going to that play tomorrow and the movie on Thursday, but you shouldn’t be alone on your birthday.”
I don’t like to make a big deal about it, though all of my friends have given me a hug and said happy birthday to me today. Lis even brought me in some cookies she’d made last night, promising she was still going to make me a cake on Monday when we get together for our regular game night at Derek’s house.
I put my pens away in my drawer and set my checklist for tomorrow in the middle of my desk, where it’ll be the first thing I see in the morning. “I’m meeting Calista tonight. We’re supposed to be going for a couple drinks.”
“Perfect. Tell her to meet us there. I’ll pay for the Uber.”
I pause in the act of crumpling a sticky note I’ve already dealt with. “What about your car?”
“Ava dropped me off this morning. Come on. Spencer, Lis, and Vic all have other plans. You’re my last hope to not go alone.”
I sigh, but take out my phone and text my sister. Then I stand, checking my office to see if there’s anything I’m forgetting. I purse my lips. “I just need to find my sweater.”
Derek chuckles. “You left it in the lounge.”
I roll my eyes at my own absentmindedness and follow Derek, grabbing my sweater from where I’d left it on the back of a chair when I’d had lunch earlier. It’s been a beautiful, almost warm day today, so I hadn’t needed a heavy coat, which meant I wore my sweater most of the day and took it off in a random place.
“I hope you know you’re paying for more than just the Uber, my friend,” I tell Derek. “First round is on you.”
He drapes an arm over my shoulders, laughing as he leads me from the building.
“I would never let you pay for your own beer on your birthday.”
We get an Uber out to Hops Scotch, chatting about the latest funny thing his cat Abyss has done and how Lacey, his soon-to-be sister-in-law, is doing in her final months of grade twelve. We arrive at a mostly empty taproom, only one other table occupied with three people. And there at the bar is Nate.
My breath lodges in my chest at the sight of him. I thought I’d exaggerated his size, but seeing him again, I hadn’t. In that moment, I realize how much I’ve thought of him over the past few nights. The answer is: too much.
The pressure of Derek’s hand on my back reminds me to move. We walk up to the bar and Derek holds out his hand, grinning like this is the easiest thing in the world. And for him, it is. He hasn’t spent four nights in a row wondering what that beard would feel like against his skin. Would it be soft? Or scratchy?
“Nate. Good to see you again.”
They shake hands and when they’re done, I automatically hold out my hand, even though I don’t want to. Even though I do want to.
“Hello,” I say, my voice softer than I’d intended.
His huge hand wraps around mine and that same spark that had shot through me on Friday night lights up my nerve endings now. I remember myself and let go after a reasonable amount of time.
Though he hasn’t said a word, his grey eyes seem to lock onto me, devouring me for a moment before returning to Derek. “You want me to get Taylor?” he asks.
“Sure. But we’re also going to order some beer.” Derek turns to me. “You want a pint or a flight?”
I scan the menu board behind where Nate is standing. “Flight. The two sours, the Hefeweizen, and the lager.”
Derek looks at Nate, who nods and starts pouring. Once both orders are placed and poured, Derek also getting a flight of beers, we sit at a table. I can’t help it when my eyes stray to Nate as he leaves the front, my gaze dropping to his ass as he walks away.
“Oh my god!” Derek says. “You’re attracted to him.”
I damn near break my neck turning back so quickly to find him staring at me. “No, I’m not.”
“Adalie Murphy, I am your best friend. Do not lie to me.”
I narrow my eyes. “One of three. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“I hear you changing the subject. Which only proves my point.” He takes a drink from one of his small glasses and I glance back to where Nate has returned. His eyes find mine across the space, dark and serious, and all I can think is, oh shit .
Derek is smirking at me now. “Want to lie to me again?”
I toss my curls over my shoulder and pick up my lager. “He is not at all my type.”
He snorts and pats my hand. “You have no idea how little that matters.”
I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin. “Regardless. He’s about to be a contractor with Blue Vista.”
Derek leans on his elbows, giving me a very patronizing look. “Ava and Lis.”
He doesn’t say anything else, but then, he doesn’t have to. Ava is a contractor with Blue Vista as well. At least for now. She’s never been interested in wedding photography and started her own company taking pictures for other businesses’ websites and marketing material. She’ll probably make it through this wedding season with her boss Cindy, but will likely not be back for next year’s. Lis, however, works directly for us.
And both of them are now engaged to Derek and Spencer, respectively.
I don’t get a chance to respond because Taylor arrives at our table, sitting down with a pint of one of their beers. He and Derek talk about the contract, going over the paperwork, and I zone out. I find myself watching Nate.
A few more customers arrive and order drinks before finding seats. The people who had been here before us get another round. There’s laughter and chatter, but the whole time, Nate doesn’t smile much. He works with efficient movements and every once in a while, he catches me staring. The first couple times, I look away. But after a while, I stop. I’m not fooling anyone.
“That’s it,” Derek says, holding out his hand and shaking Taylor’s. “Welcome to the Blue Vista family.”
Taylor laughs and I smile at the sound, returning my attention to the table.
“Are you guys finished with all the boring stuff?” I ask.
“Yes,” Derek says, taking a sip of one of his beers. “Boring stuff complete. And look who’s here.” He smiles as he stands and Ava walks right into his arms. “Perfect timing, sweetheart. You want a beer?”
She kisses him lightly. “Sure.”
They head to the bar and order her a pint and Taylor calls to Nate. “Get yourself a drink, too, and come toast with us.”
Nate pours himself a pint and brings it to the table, where the only open seat is the one next to me. I swallow as he sits down, his knee brushing mine as he does. When we’re all settled, Derek looks at me, the resident toast-maker.
I clear my throat. “To new ventures. And the start of a beautiful friendship.”
I select one of my mini beers and we cheers. Usually, when the Blue Vista crew goes out, everyone makes a toast. But since Nate and Taylor don’t know that, we stop after one. I’m very aware of Nate’s body next to mine, the heat of his arm as it brushes against me. He has the sleeves of his button-up shirt rolled to his elbows, showing off the full sleeves of tattoos that flow to the backs of both hands. I’d noticed them on Friday, but had to pay more attention to the class than the details in his ink. They’re very steampunk in style, lots of gears and a couple skulls. There’s a clock on one arm and I wonder what the significance of the time is.
“Right, Adalie?” Derek says, drawing me back to the conversation.
I think quickly, trying to figure out if any of what has been said made it past my preoccupation. But there’s nothing.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” My face heats as I admit that. I meet Nate’s eyes, because admiring his ink as an artist is not something I need to be embarrassed about. Wondering what those arms would feel like wrapped around me might be, but no one needs to know about that. “I was just thinking your art is beautiful.”
“My tattoos?” he asks.
“Yes. The shading and line work are impeccable. And the colour saturation is excellent.” I gesture to his arms without touching him, indicating the piece I was admiring.
“You like tattoos?” Taylor asks.
“I love them.”
“How many do you have?” Taylor casts his eyes over my skin that he can see, mostly my arms since I’m wearing a short-sleeved dress with a high, scooped neckline.
“Oh. I don’t have any,” I say.
“Why not?” Nate asks, and I turn back to him.
“A bunch of reasons.” I shrug, taking a sip of my sour. “Finding an artist I trust, deciding on a design, placement. It’s a big decision to have art permanently on your body. When I paint a picture, if I don’t like it anymore, I take the canvas off my easel and move on. Deciding on something like a tattoo involves more consideration.”
I don’t mention how my parents would pitch a fit if I got a tattoo, because that’s only a small part of the reason why I don’t have any.
Shortly, Nate returns to the bar to help more customers and our conversation winds down. Taylor takes the paperwork to his office, and we finish our drinks. Derek and Ava decide to go out for dinner.
“You want to come, Ad?” Derek asks.
“No. I’ll stay.”
He gives me a serious look because he knows how my sister can be, and I know he doesn’t want me to be alone on my birthday. “Are you sure?”
I glance down at my phone, still resolutely black. “She said she’s on her way. I’ll order another drink and by the time I’m done, she’ll be here.”
“Okay.” He gives me a hug, then Ava does as well. They wish me a happy birthday and promise to see me tomorrow.
When my friends head out, I’m left alone at the table. I sit there awkwardly for a minute, checking my phone, but no new texts come through. Calista had sent one about half an hour ago saying she would see me soon.
I move to one of the stools at the bar. Nate comes over and looks at me expectantly. “A pint of the Hefaweizen, please.”
He gets it for me without a word, moving with that same efficiency I’d admired before. He sets it down in front of me and I assume he’s going to turn away, ignore me. Instead, he lingers.
“You didn’t go with your friends?” he asks.
“I’m supposed to be meeting my sister,” I say. “She’s always late.”
He just nods. Taylor returns, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “I’m hungry. You want pizza?”
“Sounds good,” Nate says. Then he looks at me, asking me the same question with his eyes.
I hadn’t expected to be invited to join them, but my stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch and now it’s past 7pm. “If you don’t mind,” I say.
“Of course not, partner,” Taylor says with a grin. “I’ll be back in a bit. What do you like?”
My eyes widen at the question. “Oh, I’m fine with anything.”
The brothers share a look that clearly says they don’t believe me, but Taylor shrugs and heads out the front door.
“It’s nice you guys are close,” I say when Nate doesn’t walk away.
“He’s a pain in the ass,” he grumbles, wiping a spot on the counter that didn’t need wiping.
I smile. “Yes. But you love him anyway.”
He jerks his head in a nod. “You have a sister?”
“I do. She’s a pain in the ass, too. My brother is less of a pain in the ass. But that’s because he and I rarely get together. He’s busy. He’s a doctor , you know.” I say the words, then purse my lips. “Sorry. That sounded pretty snarky, didn’t it?”
The corner of Nate’s mouth tilts up in the first hint of a smile he’s directed at me.
“It was. I guess you’re told all the time about how successful he is?”
“You could say that. I’ve got the golden child on one side and the baby on the other. I’m stuck in the middle.” I sigh. “I shouldn’t complain. My parents love all of us. They just never really understood me. The artist with a business degree. I guess I am a little incongruous.”
Nate steps away for a moment to serve a customer who has come back for a new round. I sip my beer and check my phone, sending Calista a text asking where she is and when she thinks she’ll get here.
Nate returns and I smile at him. “You don’t have to keep me company,” I say. “If you have things you need to do.”
He gestures around him. “I don’t, really. So, you’re kind of keeping me company.”
I have the feeling he doesn’t usually need someone for that. He seems like the kind of person who likes to be left alone.
“Do you work in the taproom often?” I ask, propping my chin on my hand. “I thought you were the brewmaster here.”
“I am. Tuesday nights are generally pretty slow, though. On the weeks when I don’t have Dani, I work here. On the weeks when I do, Taylor does.”
“That makes sense. Probably saves money if there aren’t enough customers.”
He nods as my phone buzzes, my sister’s name lighting up the screen. When I read the text, I lift my head to the ceiling and let out a sigh, surprised at the lump that forms in my throat and the tears that well in my eyes. It’s stupid. It’s just a day. I don’t know why it matters so much that she’s bailed on me, since she does it all the time.
“Bad news?” Nate asks.
“She’s not coming.” I shake my head. “This is just like her. Waits until past the last minute to tell me she’s not actually going to show up.” I grab my purse, pulling out my wallet. My movement is jerky, and I blink to keep the tears from falling. I’m hurt and embarrassed and angry. I could have gone with Derek and Ava. Instead, I sat here waiting for my sister like an idiot and she doesn’t even care.
I look up to find Nate watching me.
“We close in about an hour,” he says.
I shake my head, confused. “I don’t…”
“Taylor’s on his way back with pizza. Hang out. Have something to eat with us. Maybe have another beer. I can give you a ride home if you want.”
My hands drop so my purse settles on the bar top, my wallet only halfway out. “Really?”
“Sure. But there’s a caveat.” He leans a little closer, like he’s about to tell me a secret. “I didn’t bring the car today. If you want a ride, it’ll be on the back of my Harley.”
Irrationally, my heart rate spikes, excitement and nerves racing through me. I haven’t even agreed. I don’t have to get on a motorcycle. I very clearly hear my mother’s voice in my head.
Motorcycles are dangerous. There is absolutely no reason to take that kind of risk when there are perfectly good working cars.
But the way Nate is looking at me now—like it’s a challenge, like he knows I’m going to politely decline, but he wants me to prove him wrong—has me sitting a little straighter, leaning a little closer.
“All right. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
A slow smile spreads across his face, and I am overwhelmed with the sudden knowledge that Derek had been right. I am seriously attracted to this man.