Page 22 of Trusting You
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even see her sneak up next to me. “Here, take a selfie with me,” she said, wrapping an arm around my waist.
I was momentarily stunned as I felt her ample chest crush into my ribs. I cleared my throat. “Why?”
“For our Instagram page. I am documenting the upgrades and promoting the new expanded weekend hours.” She stood on her tiptoes and put her other arm around my neck, drawing me into her. Her hair smelled like lavender and I loved it. I found my hand snaking around her waist and resting on her hip. It felt good. My hand fit there perfectly on the flare of her hip, and all I could think about was moving it slightly and copping a feel of her generous ass. Before I could hate myself for being such a perv, she aimed her phone and got a photo of us smiling with the new furniture and layout in the background.
I had never felt so out of control. My brewery, my passion, my business was changing right in front of my eyes and I was both hopeful and terrified. And, for better or worse, it was all because this smart, wild, and creative woman swept into my life.
* * *
On day later, I stood on the deck, surveying what was once a sad patch of grass with some decent water views. I felt a lump form in my throat. The entire spaced had been transformed in less than 24 hours. The community, my community, was here pitching in and helping. All these people took time out of their busy lives to come here and help me improve my business.
Callum was planting trees and shrubs and flirting with the old ladies from the horticultural society who came out to landscape. Declan was busy building outdoor furniture with Kyle, and Karl and his wife were power washing the cement patio and stairs. My dad was installing a new railing around the deck area while my mom supervised and tut-tutted.
Ellie was working with Tim, the electrician, who was rigging up all kinds of lighting while Mark chased their three kids around the lawn.
Trent sidled up to me and handed me a beer. “This is incredible, boss.” I nodded at Trent. He was a good friend and great employee. We grew up together here in Havenport under very different circumstances. Where I had loving supportive parents who modeled tough love and hard work for me, Trent was raised in and out of foster care. Some learning disabilities made school painful for him, and he had no family to support him. As early as second or third grade, I knew just how lucky I was. My mom always packed an extra sandwich for Trent and sometimes accidentally bought an extra pair of sneakers for him at TJ Maxx. When I was away at college, she invited him over for Sunday dinner and my dad helped him get set up with classes at the local technical college where he was able to study mechanics. As soon as I opened the brewery, I knew I would hire him and I did. The thought of losing this place and not coming to work with him every day filled me with fear.
He leaned over and clinked my can with his. “I can’t believe what we’ve accomplished in three days. Oktoberfest is going to be amazing.”
I couldn’t believe it either. Seeing the community come together was both warming my heart and messing with my head.
“Are you okay, boss?”
“Is it dusty in here?” I turned around to compose myself. “Hey, Trent, do me a favor. Can you call Havenport Pizza and order dinner for everyone?”
“No problem.”
I sat and surveyed and sipped my beer. My heart had never felt so full. But I was also terrified that I was going to fail everyone. That despite not only my best efforts, but the efforts of a lot of people I respected and cared about, I was going to fail. I wasn’t going to be enough.
It was one thing to fail myself. But to fail my town, to fail the people I cared about deeply? It was unconscionable.
Shane sidled up to me. He looked so different in a T-shirt and work boots. He was such a smooth salesman, I don’t think I’d ever see him without a collared shirt. He was in his late thirties, divorced, and a bit of a man whore. Not that I would say that to his face. He was a good guy, and despite his day job as a realtor, he gave everything he had to selling our beer and keeping our accounts happy.
He clapped my shoulder. “Liam, my man. This is amazing.”
“I know.”
“Sheis amazing. I can’t believe how much she’s accomplished in a few days. I also can’t believe that you gave up control long enough to let her.”
I was feeling defensive. “What does that mean?”
“I mean no offense, man. It’s just you are a bit of a control freak who wants to do everything himself.”
He had a point. We had worked together for four years, and at this point my control freak tendencies were a well-known fact. “Yeah, yeah, none taken.”
“So, speaking of hurricane Cece,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “Is she single?”
I instantly got very annoyed with Shane. “I don’t know. She is our colleague so it would probably be inappropriate to ask.” He better not try anything with her. That was the last thing I needed right now. Cecelia was way too good for him anyway.
“The word on the street is that she is single. I overheard your mom talking to her mom. I think I’m going to ask her out. She’s not my usual type, but she is hot in that natural sort of way.” He took another sip, and I hoped he choked on it. “And damn, I’m glad it’s tank top weather because she’s been hiding those spectacular tits.”
I instantly saw red and wanted to punch his smug face. I was a lot bigger than him, so it wouldn’t even be a fair fight. Trying to gain some control, I instead grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him up against the back wall of the building. “Don’t you fucking talk about her like that. She is not a piece of meat, you sexist asshole.” I was inches from his face. I could feel my blood boiling in my veins. How dare he speak about Cecelia like that?
He pushed me back. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.”
“Don’t you have two daughters? You’re a fucking pig. I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. Don’t you dare ever speak about one of my employees like that, or any woman on earth, for that matter.”
“I said sorry. Why are you overreacting, Liam?” He took another step back to put some distance between us. “What? Do you have a thing for her?”
