Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

8. Vienna

8

VIENNA

“ C an you believe it’s officially October!” I squeal, earning a side-eye from Haven as she eats her bowl of cereal before school. No matter how hard I tried, I’d never been that kid growing up, choosing to stash a granola bar in my backpack that would get smushed and thrown away out of eyesight of my mother.

“Okay?” she says around a mouthful of Lucky Charms. In her defense, I’ve had two cups of coffee already so I might be slightly more awake.

“It’s time for Halloween!” I do a little dance and it makes her lips twitch. “What do you want to be?”

“For what?”

“For Halloween—what do you want to be?”

She shrugs. “Daddy usually takes me to the store, and I pick one out.”

“What about decorations?” She stares at me. “Trick or treating?”

“Mom didn’t really like it.” There’s an extra dose of hurt at the mention of her mother. Wells had told her this morning that we had a new plan for the weekend, and despite our enthusiasm, she hadn’t been fooled.

It made me want to shake Kim and at the same time keep Haven as far from her as I can.

Pressing my lips into a line, I try a different tactic. “Would you like to maybe pick a costume that’s a little more unique? I have my sewing machine, and even though I’m a little rusty, I bet we could make you something awesome”—I pause and wait for her to look at me—“but only if you want.”

“Really?” Her hazel eyes are bright as she stares at me.

“Definitely. So think about what you might want to be, and we’ll make a plan after school.” She wiggles in her seat and I chuckle. “And I’ll talk to your dad about decorations, but right now you need to hustle and finish your breakfast so we can get you there on time.”

Dutifully, Haven eats the last few bites before taking her bowl to the sink and running upstairs to brush her teeth. Her purple dress has silver stars all over it, and it looks so cute with her white sneakers that she somehow manages to keep clean despite being seven. This morning she asked me to give her two fishtail braids like I had mine yesterday, and I had to rein in my happy dance.

I’m not her mother, but I’ll be a damn good role model for this bright-eyed girl with a big heart and sensitive soul.

Plus, it had been better to focus on Haven over the last month than on my attraction to Wells. I wasn’t always successful, but I’m trying.

VIENNA: I offered to make Haven a Halloween costume

WELLS: You can do that?

VIENNA: It’s too early to be insulted so I’m taking it as a compliment

WELLS: It was definitely a compliment—I’ve only ever gone to the store and prayed they had something she liked

VIENNA: She told me

WELLS: Dammit

VIENNA: I want to buy decorations for the house. Is that okay? I love Halloween

WELLS: Stop by the bar and I’ll give you my credit card

VIENNA: You trust me with that?

WELLS: Yes

I stare at my screen, not sure what to make of that because of course he trusts me. I watch Haven and he’s given me his card before, but it’s usually for groceries or when I took her to get her hair cut.

This just seems different.

VIENNA: Okay, well thank you. I’ll be over in a little bit

WELLS: See you soon

WELLS: Shit—can I bother you to bring me something?

VIENNA: Sure

WELLS: One of the kegs had a hissy fit and now I’m soaked—can you bring me a shirt? There should be one in the dryer

VIENNA: You got it

WELLS: Thanks V

For the second time in as many minutes, I stare at my phone. I didn’t realize we’d added nicknames to our relationship repertoire, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.

VIENNA: What are you doing?

JACE: Apparently not sleeping anymore

VIENNA: Great I’ll pick you up

JACE: Where are we going?

VIENNA: We have errands

JACE: Pretty sure I don’t

VIENNA: You do now

JACE: I’ll get dressed but I’m not showering for you

VIENNA: You’re never gonna land a girl with that attitude

JACE: Good thing I’m not trying to land you

VIENNA: Be ready in fifteen minutes brat

Parking outside Love Beach Brews, I grab the shirt from the passenger seat. I’m not sure why, but I felt compelled to fold the contents of the dryer before coming over. Wells has never asked me to do his laundry—only Haven’s if he’s forgotten something that she needs.

Like when he forgot about Haven’s back-to-back soccer games and asked me to make sure she had her uniform ready to go. It wasn’t a hardship to throw her little shorts and socks in with my clothes, so sometimes I just did it anyway.

Shaking all sorts of domestic thoughts from my mind, I push open the door to the bar and burst out laughing.

“Is there any beer left in the keg?” I ask, not bothering to hide my amusement or my shameless perusal of his body where his shirt is molded to him.

“Very funny,” he laments as I toss his shirt on the bar top. I expect him to go into the back and change but instead he grabs the material and pulls it off over his head, and I’m speechless.

And gawking.

But damn, he looks so good.

He pulls the dry shirt on but not before his eyes lock on mine, heat flashing and sending a rush of desire to my core.

When was the last time I got laid?

I hold back the whimper but just barely because I miss sex—desperately—and I know the last person I was with is currently standing in front of me.

Off-limits.

But no less delicious.

“What are your plans today?” Wells asks, his gaze drifting down my body and not helping my frustration.

“I’m picking up my friend Jace and hitting a few craft stores.” I don’t miss the flash of jealousy that crosses his face at the mention of Jace. Interesting. “I wanted to surprise Haven with matching aprons and then see what kind of decorations I can find.”

“Jace?”

“Hunky firefighter in his prime? Adorably charming, small-town hero?” Wells growls and I beam. “Yup, that’s him.”

We face off, tension buzzing between us, practically electrifying the room. And God, do I want to act on it.

But we can’t.

Especially after that big speech I gave last night about stability for Haven. Being a mature adult totally sucks, and if nothing else, I have The Greene House to think about. I need to stay focused and fully dressed.

Dammit.

Wells’s knuckles are white as he grips the edge of the bar, and I need to end this. It’s not fair to either of us so I just hold out my hand. “I’ll swing by the grocery store too. Haven wanted calzones for dinner.”

“Sure,” he drawls, fishing his card from his wallet and holding it out to me. Our fingers brush against each other, and it’s so much more than an innocent touch. I feel it everywhere, and it takes everything in me to take a step back without replaying the reel of every minute we’d had between the sheets.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes, you will.”