Page 15 of Golden Touch
He shrugs. “Ask your sister. She was supposed to tell us what to make next.”
“Huh. Right.” There’s no way I’m bothering Leila right now, but it seems like she’s been more overwhelmed than I realized. “I think I’ll take an inventory and plot out a brewing schedule for myself. If I have questions, you’ll help, yeah?”
“’Course,” he says with a friendly shrug.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot my father’s prickly assistant as she sashays down the main corridor.
“Yo! Livia!” I holler across the brewhouse before she can get too far.
She stops walking, turns slowly, and lifts her chin. There’s a challenge in her eye. “Does your lordship require something of me, sire?”
Badger snorts.
“You got an extra notebook and a pen somewhere I could have?”
She turns around without another word to head back toward the office.
Badger is explaining another of my dad’s outdated brewing procedures, when Livia reappears a few minutes later. She’s carrying a brand-new notebook and three pens that she brandishes like weapons. “Pick your poison,” she says, trying to avoid my eyes.
I don’t let her. I don’t look at the pens. I trap her gaze and wehave ourselves a little staring contest—my cynical eyes locked onto her prettier ones.
And as a faint blush paints her cheeks, I win the contest easily. Her gaze slides away, nervous about what I might see in it.
I take a pen from her hand. “Ooh, a G2. I knew I liked you. Thanks, pussycat.”
She gives me a final, chilly glance and stalks away. And I admire the sway of her ass as it disappears into the hallway again.
“Why does she look like she wants to either kill you or bang you?” Badger asks.
“Don’t limit her options. Could be both at the same time,” I point out, clicking the pen.
He laughs. “Just don’t do anything to piss her off, dude. She practically runs this place.”
“Noted.” Can’t help it that she’s attracted to me, though. It’s nobody’s fault. Women often find me irresistible.
“Let’s show you the bottling line,” Badger says. “Needs some maintenance. It’s kinda behind the times.”
I hold back a sigh. Then I follow him over there.
When the workday ends, I invite the brew team out for beers and pizza at the Gin Mill in Colebury. Then I pay everyone’s tab. Not only does this win me some much-needed goodwill among the brew staff, but it keeps me out of Livia’s hair for a few hours. She needs to get used to the idea of sharing her space with me.
“Can I get one more pizza to go?” I ask the guy behind the bar at the Gin Mill. “And I’ll close out the tab.”
“Sure, man.”
I choose a margherita pie, because I don’t know what Livia likes. And while I’m waiting for the order, I text Matteo Rossi.
Any news?
Matteo
Labor induced! We’re counting contractions and watching TV. Baby will probably arrive tomorrow.
Need anything?
Thanks, but your mother is buzzing around making sure we’ve got everything we need. She says hi BTW.
Good to hear! I’ll be thinking about you guys. Give Leila my love.
