Page 49 of Bourbon and Proof

“I’m getting married . . .” I whisper to myself.

I’m in my mid-thirties and drowning in the aftermath of my father’s sins. I’ve earned the laugh lines around my mouth. I look pretty good, considering the lack of sleep I’ve had over the course of the past year, but I stare at myself and feel proud. I’ve built a successful business, cultivated and nurtured friendships, had vast sexual experiences that have allowed me to discover what I like and what I could salute to and never do again. I’m proud of who I am, and yet, I wonder if, at the end of this, I’ll look the same.

Chapter 19

Ace

I’m still waitingfor regret to invade and take over. For at least one, if not both of us. But it hasn’t even been a full day since we agreed to a roster of rules for a strategic, on-paper marriage, and I keep thinking about how our chess game felt like foreplay.

I swipe my hand across my mouth and stare at the land deeds and properties that I’ve just purchased. It’ll be worth it in the long run, but I’ve gone ahead and made sure my lawyer has the papers drawn and ready so that all of mine and Hadley’s assets are joint and shared as soon as we sign on the dotted lines.

My phone buzzes next to me, and I glance over, almost expecting it to be him.

THE JEWELER

I heard an interesting rumor

ACE

I never took you for a gossip

THE JEWELER

It’s only gossip if it’s about other people. This one was about a fox. Specifically, one who’s getting married.

ACE

I thought Griz was stepping away from things regarding you and our collaborations.

THE JEWELER

Gossiped with my dad. Secrets when it comes to women were never their strong suits.

Need a ring?

Julian is the person I call when Lincoln or Grant aren’t an option. There are plenty of uses for a jeweler, but I usually call on him for hisothertalents. Grant or Lincoln believe that Julian and I went to university together and they’ve only ever had a couple of random interactions over the years. Before that, his father had worked with Griz on occasion, and we’d been told he was an old boyfriend of our nana’s who he enjoyed playing cards with every now and then.

Without warning, Lincoln bursts into my office, looking slightly unhinged. Shaking out his wrists and tilting his neck from right to left, he bounces on the balls of his feet as if he’s ready to start a fight.

Ah, fuck. She told him.

“Alright, I’m just going to say this. You probably don’t know this, but Hadley’s actually really soft in the center, like those fruit snacks we had as kids—gummy and sour as fuck on the outside, but a big, squishy mess on the inside. So I’m going to do my job here and tell you,” he says, slowing down and pointing at me. “Don’t fuck this up, Ace.”

I raise my eyebrows at him, putting my phone down and leaning back in my chair.

“I asked her point-blank if this is what she wants and, without missing a beat, she said, ‘more than anything’.”

I stop what I’m doing at those words. An admission that makes my chest feel light.

“You don’t do relationships, but you just decided to marry her? Skip the dating part and jump straight into a massive commitment. Explain that to me.”

Blinking, I try to keep from laughing. “Should we pour a glass before you keep talking?” I ask, standing up. Walking down the hallway, I head toward the sliding wall that opens to the hidden room at the distillery. If there’s anyone lingering around, they don’t need to hear any of this. He follows me in as I pluck a bottle of the 1928 Prohibition Bourbon from the wall that houses bottles from floor to ceiling. I pour out a heavy three fingers in each glass.

“Sit down,” I tell him when he begins pacing.

“I’m good standing.”

I stare at him without saying anything for long enough that he takes a seat. And then I tell him exactly what’s happened that he’s missing. About the men on her property, the meeting with Wheeler, and a few other details that I need him to keep to himself.

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