Page 74 of Good as Gold
Tonight’s event is in Woodstock, and Rory is going to work with me again. But I push that thought out of my mind as Leila appears in the loading dock door in denim shorts and a top that draws the eye to her cleavage.
My eyes, anyway. It’s probably just an ordinary neckline. But I’m a drooling dog who’s hungry for his next meal.
“Hey Matteo!” she calls. “I’m ready for you.”
“If only,” I mutter under my breath.
Leila means the beer, of course. She’s got four icy kegs and a couple of coolers full of cans and bottles. “The bride made a lot of requests,” she says. “Including NA beer for the non-drinkers. So make sure you keep track of those.”
“Yes, queen.”
I lean over the coolers and take a look. The NA beer is a product that Alec developed in cooperation with Lyle Giltmaker. In addition to all their other efforts, they’re trying to take over the market for beer drinkers who avoid alcohol.
Between Alec, Lyle, Zara, and Otto, they have an entire beverage empire.
My job is just to tote the beer around and serve it, and tonight that feels like plenty. I heft the first cooler and walk it to the wagon. Leila puts a keg onto a dolly and joins me.
She peers tentatively inside the wagon. “Is he here with you?” she asks in a low voice.
She means Rory, and I shake my head. “Nope. Picking him up in half an hour. Didn’t think it made sense to bring him here.”
“Thank you.” Leila visibly relaxes, which is why I’d made that plan. “So…” She looks down at her shoes. “Do you have any plans for tomorrow night?”
My body tightens immediately. “You tell me. Do I?”
She blushes. “Tomorrow is probably a smiley-face day.”
“Thank fuck. I’m dying here.”
She laughs and claps a hand over her mouth.
“Hey, youtoldme to save it up for you. So I am. Not sure why that’s funny.”
“I’m not laughing at you,” she hoots. “Just wasn’t sure you still wanted to be on this tilt-a-whirl ride with me.”
Hmm. I slide open the beer wagon’s door and tug the keg inside. “Come here a second?”
“Why?” She climbs into the wagon.
I put my hands on either side of her face, and tilt her chin up so she’s looking right at me. “Listen…”
Her lips part temptingly. “I’m listening.”
“I know this a big deal to you. I’m not gonna back out just because it didn’t work the first time.”
She blinks up at me. “You’re only here for another couple months, though. It might not be enough time. And I never meant to drag you into my little pity spiral.”
“There’re perks, though.”
She gives me a shy, flirty smile, and that’s when my control snaps. Two seconds later I have my tongue inside her mouth. Leila doesn’t miss a beat. Her fingers are already laced through my hair.
We kiss like long-lost lovers, and she feels like heaven pressed up against my body.
Annnd it’s official—this is the worst idea I’ve ever had, because I’m not allowed to touch her until tomorrow night.
At the earliest.
“Fuck,” I say, pulling back.
