Page 27 of Bourbon and Secrets

I stand taller and keep my attention focused on him, mimicking his cadence and tone. “It has.”

The way he’s wearing almost a full suit, while the rest of the people here are in jeans and polos or t-shirts, is a conscious decision. There’s nothing casual about Ace, which means I need to approach things differently with him than I have with Lincoln.

He smiles, looks down, and then surprises me when he says, “Quite a show you put on the other night. You went a different way for a career than I expected.”

I smile at the condescending remark. Whether he means it that way or not, I have no problem in setting the record straight. “See, Ace, I never thought I’d need to explain this to grown-ass men. But you and that one over there”—I nod to Lincoln. He crosses his arms and glares at me—“should know that most women nowadays don’t lead their lives based on the expectations of men. Maybe if you realized that, then you might walk around less surprised byourchoices and more aware of yours.”

He folds his hands together and answers that with a brief smile before he moves on. “You have quite a fan base.”

I watch him, because I know he’s referring to Blackstone. I can only hope that he didn’t run his mouth and tell Blackstone all about how he knows my real name, or worse, how much of a departure my current career path is from the one I had trained for.

I see Lincoln allow a half smile escape, matching his brother’s smugness.

“I didn’t realize you two knew each other,” Ace says, shifting his attention to Lincoln. “You and Blackstone, that is,” he says glancing back at me.

“Brock Blackstone and I are...” I pause and smirk. “Friends.”

Lincoln lets out a clipped laugh.

I glance at him, his arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the poker table. I tilt my head to the side. “Something you want to say, Foxx?”

“How did you end up working at Midnight Proof?” he asks in response, trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing, playing in the same circle as him and his brother.

“I had a multi-show agreement set with Hadley through my agent,” I lie. “But I moved up my arrival when I got a call that my sister had been arrested?—”

“Yeah, that wasn’t from me,” Maggie grumbles, like an in-trouble teen. “I never called her.”

Ace looks at her. “Did this have anything to do with...?”

I look between the two of them. “With what, exactly? What is she involved in that you would even need to ask her that question?”

Maggie flicks her attention to me. “Not your business, Faye.”

But Lincoln chimes in, his fingers rubbing together like he’s trying to distract himself. “Your farmland is leased by Foxx Bourbon.” He looks at me and adds, “The corn that’s grown and harvested is a part of our business now. We lease that land from your sister. All of it above the line, and she’s well compensated. Your cornfield helps make our bourbon.”

I know that’s not all. “That’s nice.” Brow pinched, I look at my sister. “Interesting how you’re signing leasing agreements without my consent, but we can cover that another time.”

She flips me off, her middle finger thrust up like it’s an actual answer.

I ignore her. “What else?”

Ace smiles and picks off a piece of lint from the forearm of his shirt that I doubt is even there. “That’s the only part you get to know.”

“Ace,” Lincoln interjects. It surprises me that he’d push his brother here. Fine by me.

He doesn’t know this, but I’ll eventually find out anyway.

Ace sits down in the brown leather club chair, his leg spread wide. Both arms drape across the sides, his wrists hanging over the ends. He isn’t married; no ring on his left hand, as his fingers lightly grip the rim of his bourbon glass. It wasn’t hard to recognize that he’s married to this business. They all are.

The way he manspreads in his chair isn’t intimidating; instead, I find it rather amusing. Some men need to take up space in order to feel bigger. Especially when they feel threatened. He lets out an exhale just as his mouth tips up in a confident half smile.

“Your sister has been using her talents to find buyers of rare bourbon that we sell on the secondary market. Maggie is exceptional at what she’s been able to do for us.” My sister being exceptional at something she puts her mind to isn’t a stretch. Maggie’s always been smart.

I glance at my sister as she smiles to herself. She looks proud, which until right now, I hadn’t realized how rewarding it is to see when someone feels good about what they’ve done.

“With how Maggie operates behind a computer screen, there’s no way anyone would be able to tie her to Foxx Bourbon. Let alone any kind of exchange that would result in violent activity.”

“Even if some of the people you associate with tend to be violent?” I fire back.