Page 106 of Golden Touch
“Right,” Lyle mutters. “But I didn’t want anything to slow me down. It was all about the beer.”
“Plus, you’re famously cheap,” Poppy chimes in.
“There’s also that,” Lyle says drily. “So now there’s no beer at all. Because I didn’t want to shut the line down for a month and make the place safer. Livia is tryin’ to take the blame for a burnt-up old building, and I’m just lucky nobody died.” He sighs.
I’m so busy trying to absorb all this new information that I don’t object when Nash steps closer to me and folds his arms around me. “Baby, don’t leave. My dad is going to want to rebuild. And he’s so cranky that nobody else will help him with that but you.”
“That’s half right,” Lyle says. “Gonna need Livia’s help. But Nash—I need yours, too. If anyone can figure out how to get thisplace back on its feet, it’s you. So long as you don’t fiddle with my recipes...”
Nash laughs, and I can feel his body shake against mine. “Like I’ddaretouch your recipes. Dad, if we’re going to work together, you’re going to have to be honest with me. And think before you snarl.”
“Yeah,” he says grudgingly. “You know a lot about the beer business. You did a hell of a job keeping this place together for me.”
“All for nothing,” I mutter against Nash’s chest.
“Itwasn’tfor nothing,” Poppy pipes up. “Not if Nash moves back to Vermont and the brewery doubles in size.”
“Agree to disagree,” I argue. But, strangely, I haven’t disengaged myself from Nash’s hug. Instead, my arms have snaked around his sturdy body.
This is why I didn’t call him or see him these past couple of days. I knew I wouldn’t be able to let go.
Nash kisses me on the head. “Come on. Let’s pull Dad’s recipes out of the safe. Then you’re coming home with me.”
“Home? Where are you staying?” I ask as he releases me.
“On Poppy’s pull-out sofa.”
“What?” I yelp. “She didn’t mention that when she offered to let me sleep there tonight.”
“Oh, didn’t I?” she asks. “My bad. And you still owe me a cocktail, hon. I’m holding you to it.”
“I’ll treat you both,” Nash says. “Livia, help me open the safe.” He guides me carefully toward the corner in the dark.
I crouch down, my mind still whirling with all that’s happened. I thought Lyle and Nash would resent me, even if they didn’t blame me. But that doesn’t seem true at all.
Even though I’m distracted, and even though it’s very dark, the safe clicks open on the first try. I’ve always been good with numbers.
“Nice job, pussycat,” Nash says.
“Pussycat?” Lyle scoffs. “I thought you were allergic to cats.”
“Oh, I am.” His hand finds my hip in the dark. “But some of them are worth it, sharp claws and all.”
Then he kisses me. And I’m not too stupid this time to wrap my arms around him and kiss him right back.
“Let’s go to Speakeasy,” Nash says. “I’m going to stand on the same side of the bar as Livia.”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t you?” Poppy asks.
“Long story,” I murmur. And then I kiss Nash again.
CHAPTER 46
NASH
Three hours later, we’re alone at Poppy’s house.
I’m lying on top of Livia on the pull-out couch. Luckily, this couch is located in the guest room. And luckily, this guest room has a lock on the door.
