Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

9. Wells

9

WELLS

M y mind had been on a constant loop of knowing I was overreacting and had no claim to Vienna and also being a half second from destroying everything in my path to get to her. To make sure no one was touching her.

To make sure he wasn’t touching her.

As far as I knew they were friends and hadn’t been anything more, but it still grated on every one of my nerves knowing that they could.

Isaac had asked me no fewer than four times if I was all right while I explained the fall beers we’d be rolling out next week. It felt good being back in my element even though I’d been a wreck over Vienna and Jace being together after she’d stared at my bare chest like she wanted to lick me all over.

And fuck, I would have let her too.

I’m wrung out by the time I drag myself up the front steps to the house, but it only lasts a second because as soon as I open the door, my smile is immediate.

“Daddy!” Haven yells and waves frantically from the kitchen island where she’s covered in flour and grinning ear to ear. “Vienna made us matching aprons!”

“Those look great,” I say with a chuckle as I cross the room to take in the black fabric covered in unicorns and boop my daughter on the nose.

“And Vienna said she can make me an alicorn for Halloween!”

“A what?”

“Unicorn with wings,” Vienna elaborates with the shrug of one shoulder. “I had to look it up too.”

The living room looks like Halloween threw up in there, and I chuckle as I lean my hip against the island and stare at my nanny. “Looks like your errands were plentiful. ”

“They were. Your card and receipt are right there. Although I’ll probably need it for when we go shopping for costume pieces. We’re going to have to be creative for the wings.”

“Naturally.” I clear my throat. “And your friend?”

“Jealous?” she mouths with a smirk, making me narrow my eyes but I don’t answer. I shouldn’t be this petty, but for some reason Vienna Greene does things to me my ex-wife couldn’t manage the entire time we were together.

“Daddy, we’re making calzones!” Haven says, completely missing the silent conversation Vienna and I are having.

“That looks great,” I remark, looking over the counter. “What toppings are you putting in there?”

“Pepperoni.” She beams, and I just shake my head because I should have seen that coming. “Vienna has ham and pineapple.” My daughter scrunches up her nose as Vienna bumps her with her hip.

“You haven’t even tried it yet.”

“It’s gross.” She sniffs and I chuckle.

Vienna’s eyes sparkle as she nods to a third one. “What are you having?”

You.

Tamping down that train of thought, I look at everything laid out on the counter and go to the sink to wash my hands.

“Am I allowed to crash your calzone-making party?”

“Yes!” Haven squeals as I grab the dish towel and throw it over my shoulder. Both of them watch me intently as I make a show of adding peppers, onions, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, and a healthy amount of shredded cheese.

Vienna shows us how to fold over the dough and pinch the pieces together before placing all three on the tray and letting Haven brush them with what looks like an egg wash mixture.

Haven is confident but she’s still seven, dripping some onto the counter. Vienna encourages her to keep going, and the last of my stress melts away. As much as I’d love Kim to be a part of Haven’s life, she doesn’t want to be, and she’s proven that over the last several weeks.

I know I’ll have to deal with her bullshit again, but for now, I’m going to enjoy watching my daughter make a mess in the kitchen.

“Nice job!” Vienna says enthusiastically, holding her hand up for a high five. Haven slaps it and beams before snagging a piece of pepperoni from the bowl and popping it into her mouth.

Vienna laughs as she takes the tray to the oven and sets the timer. “All right, team, let’s clean up. We have just about twenty minutes on the clock. Go!”