Page 10 of Merry with a Brewmaster
“I mentioned that.”
“And? You’re not nannying for him, right?”
“I made a scene and stormed out.” Worrying my bottom lip, I add, “Wells chased me down the street and told me he didn’t know—that he planned on contacting me once he was settled. I guess the job he originally had fell through but…”
“But you’re still not watching his kid, right?” Jace huffs and shakes his head. “I’m sayin’ right now, it’s a mistake.”
“I told him I’d think about it.”
“Of course you did.”
“It makes sense for opening the shop. I won’t have as many hours at the bar, so this will supplement what I’m losing.”
“Are you gonna live with him?”
“Why? Jealous?”
Jace snorts, and if I didn’t feel the same way about him, I’d definitely be offended. “No, just trying to gauge how much of a raging bitch you’re gonna be tryin’ to hold out and not have sex with him.”
This time I gasp.
The audacity.
Also, he’s probably not wrong.
“I don’t like you very much right now,” I sniff which only makes him chuckle.
“Worse things have happened.”
Dipping my paddle into the water, I splash him, and because he’s still like the little brother I never wanted, he splashes me back and it’s an all-out war.
It’s childish, but I need it to help wash away the feelings that seeing Wells has awakened just by walking into my bar.
Dropping down onto my board, I surrender, and he laughs.
It’s an easy concession, especially when I still have the upper hand, “So,” I say, giving him the side-eye, “wanna talk about the cougar you’re chasing?”
“Not even a little.” He snorts. “And don’t call her a cougar.”
“Well, she is.”
“Let’s handle one headache at a time, okay? Right now that’s yours.”
“And they say chivalry is dead.”
“You know it, babe.”
Snickering, I stand and point with my paddle. “Let’s get around the cove before it gets busy.”
“Lead the way.”
4
VIENNA
Paddleboarding with Jace had been what I needed. There wasn’t much that the open water and breeze in my hair couldn’t fix. I hadn’t needed it because I didn’t know what answer I planned on giving Wells; it was because I already knew what I’d say.
I’d been blindsided and angry, but most of the latter had worn off—not by the first, but by the second time he’d pulled me to a stop. I liked the chase—I always have.
