Page 58 of Small Town Firsts
“I hope not. We have a lot of work to do.”
“I’m trying to be sweet and romantic here, Sunshine.”
She rolled her eyes, but there was a definite flush to her cheeks. “All right, hurry up. I don’t want to be any later. We need to stop and get my car, and it’s already after ten.”
“Right. Forgot about the kidnapping.” I kissed her neck. “How about I just get dressed and we’ll grab some coffee. I’ll do the shower and change thing at my place.”
“You sure?”
“I don’t mind smelling like us a little longer.” I swatted her ass then gathered my things and headed to the bathroom.
I could feel her eyes on me and a niggle of annoyance tried to dent my morning. I had a feeling Kira Webb didn’t really know what to do with me. Being patient wasn’t exactly my forte, but I was playing a long game.
That was the part that should worry me, not her post sex reactions.
And yet thinking about Kira and me in the future tense was far easier to see right now. I guess the rest of the details would work themselves out.
FIFTEEN
KIRA
ARE YOU THIS INTENSE ABOUT EVERYTHING?
The rideto my car wasn’t exactly tense, but it was freaking close.
I didn’t know what to do with myself now that the clothes were back on and wine was out of my system. At least I preferred to blame the wine.
I wasn’t that drunk last night, but something about us had been easier than when the sun was blazing and responsibilities were weighing on me once more. Add that he looked all sex rumpled and sated while I was in knots and…well, it sucked.
I wanted to be relaxed, but it just wasn’t in my nature.
Instead, I scrolled my app that updated both my phone and work iPad letting me know just how hairy of a day I was going to have. I had a few bartenders in mind and had put out a few feelers for people I knew in the industry.
The best thing I’d ever done was enter that bartending expo. The balloon payment for one of my loans had come due and I’d had to get creative. Of course, the company had offered a way to refinance the stupid thing—again.
Just the idea of extending the loan and all that interest had nearly killed me. Entering the expo had been a hail Mary. I’d hoped the prize money would give me some breathing room, butafter taxes I’d only had enough to make my payment, buy a cute pair of shoes, and add a measly eight hundred dollars into my savings.
However, the network of bartenders I had access to was better than a check right now. I just had to juggle the budget a little to hire one who could run the bar and train the rest to be nearly as awesome.
“You’re quiet. Sure you don’t need me to come in and help out today?”
I glanced at him. I probably should bring him in on the idea I had for the bar end of the taproom. For the most part, Beckett’s plan had been to highlight the ciders only, but I wanted to make sure we were ready to expand in a few years. Hayes had his sights on moonshine, and if I had my say, I’d get us into the bourbon side of things as well.
Brothers Three was prime for growth, I just had to nudge my bestie into thinking bigger. Beckett always took a little longer to come around. He was careful by nature like I was, but I had always been big picture focused. Even when it scared the crap out of me.
I shoved my phone into my bag. “I want to hire Lennon Hathaway as our lead bartender.”
Ronan’s wrist was draped lazily over the top of his steering wheel. “All right. Why?”
“Do you know who she is?”
He shook his head. “Unless she was big in the Pacific Northwest or Chicago, I’m not likely to know her. Tell me about her.”
I relaxed a little. His body language was open and not as intense as the man who had backed me up against every spare surface the night before. “I’m not entirely sure she’ll be open to the hire since I stole her title in Vegas.”
He whistled. “So, she’s a badass famous bartender?”
“To say the least. Won three years in a row until I came in.”
