Page 13 of It Happened in Vegas

“From Vivian’s office. Richard asked if I could help her design some new shop signs.” She chuckled at the babbling baby in my arms. “You two are so cute right now. I should take a photo. It’d probably go viral in thirty seconds on your social media account.”

“Don’t you dare. This pretty little girl’s face needs to be kept private. I’m very careful about what I post online,” I warned, my mood darkening. Once again reminded that, as typical, some women have ulterior motives.

“I was joking, Keaton. Trust me, I wholeheartedly agree. If I ever have children, there would be a strict no social mediaunderstanding with their father. Can I hold her?” She fluttered her eyelashes at me.

Maybe I was too quick to judge her. “Sure. Here.” I came around the island and shifted the baby into her arms. The way her eyes lit up, swaying while staring into the child’s adorable face, didn’t help me keep her in the business zone.

“I should head back to the Hops,” I muttered, making a quick exit before the sight of her with the baby go too real—and messed with the boundaries I was barely holding onto.

“Great. I’m almost done here. I’ll stop by after, if that’s okay? I may even bring you coffee and one of Vivian’s cookies. Something for Jessa, too,” she called after me.

I simply waved, because Sophie was getting to me. And we would soon spend a weekend together in Vegas, pretending we were something we weren’t.

What could possibly go wrong?

6

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

SOPHIE

I smoothedthe front of my navy blue dress, trying for an ultra-professional look, as I walked into Buchanan Ventures’ conference room. Armed with my laptop and mock-ups of the new Holly Creek Hops’ Hoppy Jolly Christmas cans, I had enough energy drinks in my bloodstream to power a small town.

Richard greeted me with a friendly nod from his spot at the head of the table, reviewing a thick portfolio of documents and speaking on his phone to someone.

Keaton sat slouched in a chair halfway down, flipping a bottle cap between his fingers like he was minutes away from bolting.

“Hey, you made it,” I said, settling into the chair across from him.

“Barely,” he muttered. Earlier today, he’d given me the excuse that he wasn’t sure he could make time for me. All week long, he’d been standoffish. Granted, Holly Creek was getting busier as July Fourth neared, and while a part of me wondered what happened between us for this change, another part welcomed it. It made it easier not to fall for him if he was a dick.

“Long week?”

He gave a humorless laugh. “You could say that.”

Before I could poke more, Richard closed his folder, set down his phone, and looked up. “I’m ready to see what you’ve been working on, Sophie. Have at it.”

“Absolutely.” I beamed and clicked my laptop awake. “I’ve finalized the Hoppy Holiday launch campaign for Hops—full integration with the brand refresh, the new can and label artwork, plus a launch party event to kick it all off on the Fourth of July. Perfect timing with Holly Creek’s summer festivities.”

Keaton straightened a little at that, seeming curious despite himself.

I pulled up the mock-ups on the screen. Vibrant, fun designs that still kept the rugged authenticity of Holly Creek Hops, just… more polished. Elevating what was already special without losing the roots.

“The launch party would start here in town with a VIP tasting night at the Hops,” I said, flipping through slides. “Then we roll out ads regionally across social media featuring the new cans and a behind-the-scenes video of you, Keaton, talking about the brewery’s story, adding that personal and authentic touch.”

Keaton grunted in a way that could’ve been marked as his approval. Or indigestion. Hard to tell.

Then his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, jaw tightening. Without a word, he hit decline and shoved it back in his pocket.

I kept presenting, highlighting projected growth, engagement metrics, all the marketing stuff that usually got clients excited.

A minute later, his phone buzzed again.

This time, he cursed under his breath.

Richard arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

---