Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

24. Vienna

24

VIENNA

I listen out the door for any sound that Haven is up and moving around. The girl is a bear to wake up for school, but give her a weekend and she’s up before the sun. With only two days before Christmas, she’s even worse. Hearing nothing, I ease the door open and slip out as quietly as I can, the latch making an almost inaudible click.

It’s not until I look up that I see Haven standing in the hallway, her fuzzy pink unicorn robe wrapped around her little body as her fist rubs at her eye.

We stare at each other, neither of us moving as she looks toward his room and back at me.

“Is Daddy up?” she asks around a yawn.

“Uh,” I start, licking my lips as my caffeine-deprived brain tries to come up with a possible answer, “I thought so but I guess not.” I add with a shrug, “He worked late so maybe by the time breakfast is ready he will be.”

She nods, seemingly accepting this completely made-up excuse, and turns toward the stairs.

“Can we have pancakes?”

“You bet,” I say quickly, thankful to have diverted the conversation away from the real reason I was sneaking out of her father’s room so early.

“With blueberries and chocolate chips?”

“Together?” Haven nods and I lift one shoulder and let it drop as I flip the lights on in the kitchen and plug the coffee pot in. “I think we can try it.”

“Can I watch a movie?”

“Yes, but keep the volume down so your dad can sleep.”

Mentally I add because he’s tired from fucking me in the shower and making me ride his face and then his cock.

It was glorious.

But I need coffee.

It takes me longer than usual to get it going, but when that rich aroma filters through the kitchen, I sigh with relief.

Help is on the way.

Snickering, I tap out a text to my sister and hit send.

VIENNA: Haven caught me sneaking out of Wells’s room

ASPEN: Big brother is in this chat

VIENNA: Dammit I haven’t had coffee yet

ASPEN: 3…2…1…

MONTANA: YOU’RE SLEEPING WITH YOUR BOSS?!

ASPEN: Like that’s the worst thing she’s ever done

VIENNA: Okay well that was unnecessary

ASPEN: Doesn’t make it untrue

VIENNA: Aspen is sleeping with the guy she’s been fighting with since she moved to Magnolia Point

ASPEN: Wow you went there huh?

MONTANA: I’m sorry did I miss the part where we talk about our sex lives now?

MONTANA: Because Ellison and I snuck into the barn last night and…

ASPEN: STOP

VIENNA: We’re sorry

ASPEN: Very sorry

MONTANA: Thought so

ASPEN: But also—you and Wells are a thing again?

MONTANA: Again?!

ASPEN: He’s shirt guy from the summer

MONTANA: You shut your face!

MONTANA: Hold on I need more coffee

VIENNA: Oh my God it’s NOT that big of a deal

ASPEN: Yes it is

MONTANA: It totally is

MONTANA: Man—hooking up with your boss AND getting your flower shop in one go—it’s been a hell of a month for you

VIENNA: Why can’t we talk about Aspen?

MONTANA: She’s next

ASPEN: Oh goodie

MONTANA: Y’all threatened to get on a plane and fly home when things went south with Ellison

VIENNA: I still stand by that

ASPEN: Fine

ASPEN: Phoenix and I are sleeping together

MONTANA: I’m gonna have to bleach my eyeballs after this conversation

VIENNA: You asked

MONTANA: You could have texted the right chat

ASPEN: Anyway…

ASPEN: Vienna what’s going on with Wells?

VIENNA: Besides the orgasms?

MONTANA: Yes

MONTANA: You can get orgasms anywhere

ASPEN: I’ve never heard you sound more like a MAN than right now

VIENNA: I’m so disappointed in you

MONTANA: I’m confused

ASPEN: There is a vast number of men out there thinking they’re good at pleasuring a woman and absolutely oblivious to where her clit is

VIENNA: Amen sister

VIENNA: Also he definitely knows where my clit is and I love him

MONTANA: I’m sorry DID YOU SAY YOU LOVE HIM?

MONTANA: I’ve never met him and you love him?

ASPEN: I met him—he’s very nice

VIENNA: Not helping

ASPEN: Also you didn’t comment on Wells’s ability to find Vienna’s clit, big brother

MONTANA: Aaaand I’m officially done with this conversation.

VIENNA: We love you!

MONTANA: Remember that when I show up on your doorstep unannounced

ASPEN: What?

VIENNA: MONTANA!

“What’s that look for?” Wells rumbles as he pulls a white cotton shirt over his head, the hem kissing the top of his flannel pajama pants. I pout, already missing all his delicious muscles on display. “And now you’re drooling,” he says with a grin, but all I can do is shrug one shoulder.

“You’re hot.”

“Yes, that look I recognize.” I roll my eyes as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me flush against him. “What was the other look for?”

“Texting my siblings.”

“Sounds fun,” he murmurs as he presses his lips to mine. We’re so lost in our own little world, we don’t hear Haven come into the kitchen, but my heart plummets when I hear her gasp.