Page 4 of It Happened in Vegas

Back out front, I leaned against the counter near Vivian. She handed me a warm mini cupcake without a word. I took a bite. Cinnamon swirl, nuts, frosted with a drizzle of caramel on top. Damn good. No complaints from my stomach.

“Mm. More,” I said through a mouthful.

“You sound like Richard. But at least you get to the gym more often than he does these days.” She tossed me another mini and I caught it in my mouth.

“Yeah, I noticed a little pudge on him today at the office. Getting the dad bod, is he?” I stole another mini when she wasn’t looking.

“Hey, are you calling Daddy fat?” Paris asked, slightly amused. I didn’t need that getting back to my brother-in-law, who was mostly footing the bill for my expansion into bottling my brews and taking my beer business national.

“Nope. He’s fit as can be. If anything, he must have gained weight because his heart is so big now, loving the three of you.” Good save on my part, and she giggled at that.

“Mommy, can I go upstairs to listen to music for a while?” She asked.

“Yes, hit the bathroom first and wash your hands and face and... anywhere else you see batter.” Vivian instructed. Once she was out of earshot, she turned on me, watching me over the top of her mixing bowl. “That’s her latest obsession, listening to allof Richard’s old records. The two of them have had at least half a dozen conversations about music. It’s really cute—Hey, what’s wrong? You’ve got that look.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What look?”

“The look that says you just walked straight into a marketing ambush.”

“Ah. Richard told you about the meeting?” I should have known. “Sophie unveiled the new logo today. It’s... different.” I scratched the back of my neck. “You know Paris helped me design the original. This feels like I’m erasing that.”

Vivian’s expression softened. “Keaton, that little girl loves you. She’ll always know she was part of your beginning. But life moves on. This is about growth. And Richard’s got the kind of business sense that turns home brews into shelf space across the nation. This is a great time for you to lean into him. You started from scratch and built what you have with nothing, but now you have two experts on your side—Richard and Sophie. Do you know how many business owners would kill for that?”

I grunted, not because she was wrong, but because I hated how right she always was.

“Or could it be something more?” Vivian gave me a knowing look. “Didn’t you say you had a little thing for Sophie the last time she stopped in at the Hops?”

“I said nothing of the sort.”

“You did—stood right there eating the French lace cookies I’d just made, and you called her ‘an adorable spitfire.’”

Yep. Ihadsaid that.

“Simply an observation about her personality, that’s all. She’s visited often enough with Maisy and Chelsea to Holly Creek. How could I not notice her? Doesn’t mean I have a ‘little thing’ for her. No.”

Could have fantasized about having a thick and longthingfor her, but no more of that. We’re basically in business together now.

Why did that conjure up a dry mouth and dirty thoughts about her? Until today, those chocolate eyes and thick lashes of hers paired nicely with tight tank tops that showed just enough skin to derail my coherent thought processes.

Sophie was energy and light rolled into one. Each time she’d walked into my bar, all sass and sunshine, and every time she left, I found myself looking forward to her next visit.

Vivian eyed me with the womanly ability to see through bullshit. It irritated me at times how easily she read me, how a single glance from her could pry open the lockbox I kept on my feelings. Still, there was something comforting in it too—my sister knowing the truth even when I didn’t want to admit it out loud.

“What? She’s smart and driven. I admire that.” I said finally. “She knows what she’s doing. And yeah, easy to talk to.”

Vivian grinned. “You forgot pretty.”

“Pretty... amazing with the branding stuff. It’s all about business now.”

“Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that.”

I shoved another mini cupcake in my mouth to keep from responding.

Even so, I mumbled through the mouthful, “See you later,” and waved goodbye, but couldn’t get out the door before Vivian got in the last word.

“Sophie is staying in town for a while to work on things at our guest house. In case you want to stop by to see her. You know… to work.”

Great. Nothing like temptation served to me on a platter. Although I had plenty of work to keep me busy. And I sure ashell wouldn’t go looking for her—not in a town where running into someone happened whether you meant to or not.

---