Page 49 of Bourbon Bliss
A silver SUV was parked outside his rental when I arrived. I went to the front door and knocked.
“Hey, June Bug.” He pulled me inside, his hands around my waist, and leaned down for a kiss.
I completely forgot about the fact that someone else was here. George kissing me had a tendency to make my mind go blank. But the sound of a throat clearing made me jump.
George appeared nonplussed. He grinned at me, then led me inside, his hand on the small of my back. “Perfect timing. Andrea just got here. Andrea, this is June Tucker. June, Andrea Wilson.”
Andrea reminded me of Leah Mae. Tall and thin with wavy blond hair and expertly applied makeup. Her clothes were stylish—a crisp blouse and pair of dark slacks. High heels. She pursed her red lips and smiled.
“Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand to shake. I was an expert hand-shaker. I’d been drilled by Cassidy and my dad on the proper technique—solid grip, but not too hard, shake twice—until I could have done it in my sleep.
“You too.” Andrea shook my hand and her eyes flicked over me, like she was sizing me up. Then her gaze moved to George. “I didn’t realize you were going to have company. I actually have some things to go over with you. If you have time.”
I’d be the first to admit, I was not usually adept at reading non-verbal cues. What Andreasaidseemed innocuous enough. George was her boss, and he’d been out of town for a while. It made sense that she’d want to take advantage of being in the same place to review any necessary items on her list. But her body language and tone of voice told a completely different story.
This woman did not like me. And she did not want me here.
“That’s no problem. June and I don’t have plans. Let me just get Mellow situated.”
Andrea shot daggers with her eyes in my direction.
I mentally added this to the list of firsts I was experiencing with George. I’d never had a woman look at me with envy before—at least never that I’d been aware of. It was disconcerting.
George went to the kitchen table where a small cage sat. At first, I thought perhaps Andrea had forgotten the rabbit. There didn’t appear to be anything inside. He reached in and produced a little scrap of fur, cradling it in the palm of one of his large hands.
It wasn’t arabbit. It was a tiny white bunny.
He held Mellow up to his face and her little nose wiggled as it touched his. She was so small she barely seemed real. Her fur was pure white, her eyes icy blue. There was black around her eyes that gave the impression she was wearing eyeliner. But it was her size, and the care with which George held her, that had my insides turning to mush.
“Oh,” I breathed. “She’s so cute.”
George beamed at me. “Isn’t she? She’s a Netherland dwarf. Hi, my little one. I missed you.”
He nuzzled her against his cheek and my ovaries suddenly burst into song, declaring their presence in my body. I’d never in my life felt an urge to procreate. But watching this man snuggle a tiny white bunny made me desperate to have all his babies.
“Do you want to hold her?” He held her out toward me.
“Okay.”
I cupped my hands and he gently transferred Mellow into my grasp. She barely weighed anything—just a little tuft of softness. The pads of her feet felt like velvet and her tiny nose wiggled as she sniffed her new surroundings.
“She’s used to being handled a lot,” he said. “She won’t jump out of your hands or anything.”
Holding her up so I could see her face, I brought her closer. She inched forward and her sweet little bunny nose tickled against my skin, making me giggle.
“Good girl, Mellow,” he said. “I knew she’d like you.”
Andrea cleared her throat again. “GT, it’s a long drive.”
“Sure, sure.” He scooped Mellow out of my hands and took a seat at the table, still holding her. “Whatcha got for me?”
Andrea shot me a glare that George didn’t appear to see. He was too busy getting Mellow situated in his lap.
I decided to sit at the table with him. He had business to attend to, but he hadn’t asked me to leave.
“I need some signatures.” She grabbed a messenger bag and pulled out some files, then set them on the table in front of him.
“Sure.”
