Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

10. Vienna

10

VIENNA

“ H ey, so I did something kind of crazy,” I say, wringing the dish towel in my hands and looking up at Wells through my eyelashes. The mug in his hand pauses midway to his mouth, and he blinks at me before setting it back on the counter as if bracing himself.

To be fair, this is probably not the kind of crazy he’s expecting.

“Let’s hear it,” he says with a sigh and I grin.

“I organized a trunk or treat with the PTA at the elementary school.”

“A what?”

“Back where I’m from, the houses are so far apart that we usually met at the school or someone’s field and had like a community event so we could still do the dress-up and candy thing.”

“Okay…”

“And well, I was asking Reece what happens here, and she knew the school had done it in the past and Haven is really excited and I just wanted to make sure she gets the experience she deserves.”

“So you organized an event so my daughter can be a unicorn?”

“Alicorn,” I correct him with a smirk. “Yes. And citizens and businesses can decorate their cars or trucks and the school will pick a winner. So far, Isaac agreed to do one, the fire department, Reece is doing her own because she loves me, and at least half the businesses I called today were on board.”

Wells opens his mouth and then closes it before dragging his hands down his face. “Do you know how hard you make it not to kiss you all the damn time?” He groans, the sound muffled but no less amusing.

“It’s part of my charm,” I quip a little too haughtily because when he finally looks at me, there’s fire in his eyes that I can feel absolutely everywhere.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Siren.”

My lips part at the gruffness in his voice, and I immediately turn to grab a spatula from the utensil jar and point it at him.

“Back away with that sex voice.”

He shakes his head, the lust seeming to dissipate and morphing into amusement. “Is that what you’re gonna use to defend yourself?” He snorts and nods toward the pancake flipper. “I think the best you could do is spank me with it, and you already know I like when you get a little wild.”

I growl and he laughs as he puts his hands up in surrender and backs away.

“Out,” I hiss because what else can I do? The man knows how to press all of my favorite buttons, and it’s severely less fun when there are no orgasms that follow.

“I’m going.”

“You’re decorating a car and handing out candy!” I yell at him and he laughs, waving at me without looking back as he walks down the hall.

Tossing the spatula on the counter, I can’t wipe the smile from my face. Playful Wells is dangerous and a whole lot of fun—my favorite combination.

But it’s not just us messing around anymore, and Haven deserves the stability we’ve created since I started.

Sighing, I slam the spatula back into the utensil jar, but the upturn of my lips remains. Wells Reiser might not be mine, but I can still enjoy whatever this is between us.

At least for now.