“I really get to be on The Tonight Show,” Colt gushed.
“You do. I think we should celebrate.” Mal released Colt and crossed to a cabinet housing a television and stereo system. After Mal spent a minute or two fiddling with the stereo, the sound of mellow jazz filled the room. He held out one hand to Colt. “Dance?”
Colt’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. He stretched his arm far enough to take Mal’s hand and moved in close. Mal slid one arm around Colt’s waist, and Colt hooked an arm around Mal’s neck. The way Colt leaned into him felt good, and his body certainly enjoyed the warmth of Colt in his arms. Mal inhaled deeply, relishing the way Colt’s aftershave mingled with the fresh scent of his skin as they swayed gently in a small circle.
“I could stay here and do this forever,” Colt murmured and leaned in even closer.
Mal nuzzled his cheek, tightened his grip, and hummed along softly with the music. Colt melted against him, relaxing in Mal’s arms, radiating trust and the heat of arousal. Mal’s mood skyrocketed. He shifted so he could take Colt’s face in his hands. Jeffery and the board be damned. His only thought was that he liked Colt, and Colt seemed to return the sentiment. He wanted this and was sure Colt did as well.
Mal licked his lips and kissed Colt.
For a brief second, Colt tensed; then he stilled and relaxed against Mal again. Colt glided his hands down Mal’s side, and Mal cupped the back of Colt’s head. When Mal eased back, Colt followed and ran his tongue over Mal’s lower lip. Mal tilted his head ever so slightly and claimed Colt’s mouth again, this time parting his lips just enough for Colt’s tongue to glide inside. For a few seconds, their tongues mingled.
Very slowly, reluctantly, they broke their kiss but held on to each other, Colt’s cheek resting against Mal’s shoulder. Wound in Colt’s arms, surrounded by Colt’s scent, and enveloped in music, Mal’s senses reeled. There was no hiding how his body reacted, but Colt couldn’t hide his excitement either. Mal took a deep breath and dipped his head far enough so they could lean their foreheads together. He blew a soft breath against Colt’s cheek before he kissed him in that same spot. Colt’s breathing sped up, and Mal tightened his grip to stop their bodies from trembling.
Without letting go, Colt leaned back against Mal’s arms, letting Mal support his weight, and studied him. He pinched Mal’s shirt collar between his thumb and forefinger, tugged a tiny bit, and stammered, “I-I sh-shouldn’t have…. I’m s-sorry.”
Mal released Colt and ran the back of his fingers across Colt’s cheek before he stepped away. He shook his head and confessed in a soft, rough voice, “Don’t be. I’m not.”
“I liked it.”
That made Mal chuckle. “I hope so.” He put some more distance between them. “I should….” He pointed over his shoulder at his bedroom door. “It’s been a long day.”
Colt turned away and ran his hands through his hair. “Yeah. I’m beat.” He backed away, turned, and tripped over a chair. “I’m just going to go to….” Colt all but ran to his bedroom.
Mal pulled off his tie and sat down with a sigh. He’d kissed an employee, and he should feel guilty about it. The truth was he never would have done it if he hadn’t believed Colt was as interested as he was. He would never take advantage if he was wrong. But if he wasn’t, he planned on repeating the act—and more. He wanted Colt, and once he was sure Colt felt the same, he fully intended to work toward that end.
For now the only thing he could do was wait for some sort of confirmation Colt had the same feelings. No regrets for either of them, that was what Mal needed to know.
Chapter Seven
“OH. My. God. The Tonight Show? Jimmy Fallon. The Tonight Show!” Phillipe stood behind Colt. He had spread the tarp across the floor and was setting out a spray bottle, scissors, and a comb. “Do you like this cut?”
“Ye-yes, it’s—” Colt stopped talking when Phillipe put a styling cape around his neck and tied it securely. Cole stuck one finger between it and his neck, pulled out, then ran his finger across the material. “That’s a little tight.”
“Two weeks ago you go to a distributor party, and in ten days you’ll be sitting in front of Jimmy Fallon. Talking to Jimmy Fallon.” Phillipe spritzed Colt’s hair and started to comb it out.
Colt closed his eyes for a few minutes and concentrated on the snip and sing of Phillipe’s scissors in an effort to block Phillipe’s ultrafanboy rantings.
“Right now I’m more concerned with the commercial, presentation, and dedication to that—ow!” He grabbed his ear.
“Oh shit, I…. Here, put pressure on it.” Phillipe pressed some material to Colt’s ear. “It’s not that bad, just a tiny little scrape. You’ll be fine.”
Colt turned around and gave Phillipe a dirty look. The guy looked horrified and turned a very unattractive shade of dark red. “If you promise not to cut my ear off, I’ll ask Mal if you can come along to New York, and to Nashville when I have to film a commercial.”
“I’m very sorry, but you really need to learn to sit still,” Phillipe grumbled. “You can barely tell there is anything there. You’d ask him if I can go?”
“Yes. You are, after all, the only person to ever cut my hair. How could I trust anyone else?” Colt leaned back in the chair and pulled the small cloth away from his ear. Phillipe was right: there was only a very small dot of blood. He glanced around, making sure they were alone. “Do you know if he dates anyone?”
“Jimmy Fallon? No, I think he’s married, but if you—”
“Not him. Mal,” Colt whispered.
Phillipe gasped, set down the scissors, and pulled another chair around so he could sit facing Colt. “Tell me everything!”
“There isn’t really anything to tell.” Colt shrugged.
“Please.” Phillipe drew the word out while he raised his eyebrows and made a face that made Colt laugh. “Have you asked Gwendolyn?”
Tilting his head, Colt echoed, “Please.”
“Oh, true. You’d never have a moment’s peace until she had every little detail.”
“Unlike you?” Colt teased.
“You brought it up.” Phillipe leaned his elbows on his knees. “As far as I know, he hasn’t dated anyone, not really. Nothing that led to a second date. At least not since I’ve worked here.”
“How long?”
“Six years. Mrs. Kensington hired me. That woman was so glamorous. You would have liked her. She was sweet. I think she’d be sad to see Mr. Kensington locking himself away like he does.” Phillipe’s expression changed to one that was truly wistful.
“We kissed,” Colt confessed. “After that party. It was a sort of celebration thing. I was stoked over The Tonight Show, and we were dancing in our suite.”
Phillipe dropped his voice and leaned in closer. “How was it?”
“I don’t kiss and—” Colt stopped and chuckled when Phillipe playfully slapped his knee. “It was great. I was surprised, and we haven’t talked about it….” He met Phillipe’s gaze. “I’ve never dated before.”
“I think you’re going to have to make the next move. Technically Mr. K laid one on an employee.” Phillipe stood and picked up his scissors. “I have to finish your hair.”
“Hair, not ear.”
“We need a plan.” Phillipe fell silent while he finished Colt’s haircut. As he swept up hair from the tarp, Colt shook out his cape and folded it. Phillipe stored his tools away, then turned to Colt. “You have to tell him it’s okay, that he didn’t overstep any bounds. But be subtle.”
“Didn’t overstep, be subtle. Got it.” Colt held up his thumbs.
Phillipe held out his fist, and Colt banged it with his own. “I’ll see what I can find out later. Mr. K’s hair is getting a little shaggy.”
“There’s a breakfast meeting tomorrow I’m supposed to show up for. Though honestly, I’m there for all of those meetings whether they need me or not since I eat on the deck too,” Colt said. “Usually they don’t need me.”
“Wh
at about lunch and dinner?”
“Lunch I’m typically on my own since I’m working. This week I spent a few hours getting my picture taken for print and online ads. If Mal isn’t working late, we have our dinners together.” Colt watched a slow smile spread over Phillipe’s face. “What?”
“You’re both clueless. I don’t think Mr. K would let you sit there while the people who run this place discuss whatever it is they discuss.”
Colt frowned. “It’s mostly pretty boring, and I read while I eat unless someone talks to me. A few people from the board of directors came in the other day to meet me. All I kept thinking was thank God I wasn’t eating in my boxers.”
Phillipe snorted. “Trust me, if Mr. K didn’t like having you around him, he’d have asked you to take your meal elsewhere. And you have dinner together?”
“Yeah.” Colt shrugged. “He really seems to like having company. I think Ms. Hollan and Mr. Krems are his only real friends. I don’t think Mr. Grice likes anyone. But they all have homes and families to go home to. Did you know Mr. Krems has six kids and married his high school sweetheart?”
“I guess just because someone keeps to themselves a lot, it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like a few friends,” Phillipe pointed out. “I never gave it much thought. Whatever you do, do not let stick-up-his-ass Grice find out you and Mr. K kissed.”
“No kidding. I wish I knew why he doesn’t like me.”
Phillipe shook his head. “Don’t ask me. He barely acknowledges my presence, which is fine by me.”
“Meeting the people from the board was a little creepy—as if they were checking me out and not for photos,” Colt said.
Phillipe shrugged. “Maybe they wanted to see for themselves you’re not stealing the silver or something.”
Colt pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. “Okay, done. I pointed out I’d feel better if you were around during the commercial shoot and in New York. I guess I’ll have to wear makeup too, and I’d rather you be there so I don’t look silly.”
Phillipe nodded. “That’s what I do, as well as consult with Gwendolyn about what styles are best. She does most of the actual shopping and coordinating.”
Colt’s phone chimed an incoming text. He raised his eyebrows, then grinned and held up the phone for Phillipe to see. “Mal thinks you should come to breakfast tomorrow too.” He sighed. “I’ll see you later. I have a speech to learn.”
Learning the little speech and his lines for the commercial that would be filmed in another day was easy compared to what he had to memorize for the party. He’d gotten into the habit of having lunches in his suite while he rehearsed and studied. When he took a break, he rewarded himself by watching an episode of Firefly or reading a few chapters of the novelizations.
As he worked, he kept an eye on the clock; the last thing he wanted was to be late for dinner. A quick shower and change of clothes, and he was ready by the time the message came that his dinner had been delivered and was waiting on the deck. Mal’s dinner sat on the serving cart next to the door. Colt was halfway through his meal and beginning to think he’d spend the rest of the evening alone. He was just about to give up and go back to his suite to watch some TV when Mal arrived.
“Sorry I’m late,” Mal said as he took his dishes and set them on the table.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“We’ve been eating dinner together most nights.” Mal pulled the cover off his plate and peered underneath. “Good thing I ordered one of the salads. Microwave reheated food isn’t the same.” He spent a few minutes eating, and he must’ve been very hungry since he shoveled the first few forkfuls into his mouth.
“It’s okay.” Colt offered a soft, small smile. “Really, really okay. But I haven’t seen you much the last two weeks, so I like it when we can have dinner together.”
“The time for filming the commercial was moved up. What I think will work out best is for all of us to head to the community college and you do the building dedication. We’ll present the scholarship awards together. We’ll have to leave right from there, scoot on over to Nashville, and spend the night to make it on time to the studio in the morning. Good idea to have Phillipe join us,” Mal said.
“I hope that wasn’t too demanding.” Colt took his dishes and stacked them on the cart before sitting down again. “Having people cut my hair and put makeup on my face is new to me. I’d rather have someone I’ve gotten to know.”
“I’m not going to throw any stones at that,” Mal said and laughed. “Why do you think I keep him and Gwen on the payroll? After this trip, you’ll probably be on your own for most events. I’ve got to get back to making whiskey and running this company, or I’ll get fired.”
“I figured it would happen sooner or later. I’ll miss you,” Colt confessed.
“I’ll miss you too, but most of your trips are short, and you don’t need me hanging over your shoulder. You’ll do great, and I don’t micromanage.”
Colt leaned forward. “I need to say something to you.”
Mal put his fork down and sat back in his chair. He moved his plate to the side and folded his hands in front of him before nodding.
“We haven’t really talked about what happened in Nashville. I wanted you to know you surprised me, but I don’t think you did anything wrong, and since I was the only other person involved, I think it’s my opinion that matters the most.”
“You’re my employee. What I did was wrong.” Mal tilted his head and raised his eyebrows for a second. “Wrong, but I don’t regret it. I’ve been thinking about it and if we might do that again.”
“If I weren’t your employee, would you feel the same way?” Colt asked.
Mal shook his head. “Not as long as we’re two consenting adults.” He heaved a sigh. “Look, we’ve spent a lot of time together, and dinner with you has become the highlight of my day. I don’t want you to feel—?”
Colt cut him off. “I haven’t had friends since I was a kid. Yeah, there were others I knew and hung with in shelters and camps, but they weren’t really friends. It was more like we stuck together because we were in the same situation. People here talk to me. They care about what I think and how I feel. I haven’t known any of you very long, but it feels like I have friends.” He paused, and when Mal didn’t say anything, Colt reached out and took Mal’s hand for a few seconds as he added, “Does that make sense?”
“It does,” Mal said quietly.
“Are there rules about being friends with your employees?”
“There are rules against using your position of power,” Mal said. He turned his hand over and gave Colt’s a squeeze, then let go.
“I don’t think you’d ever do that.” Colt leaned back in his chair and rested his arms on the table.
“As long as you know you’re free to say no to anything and it won’t affect your job here,” Mal insisted.
“Does that mean we’re friends?” Colt ventured.
Mal smiled. He reached across the table and offered Colt his hand. As they shook on it, he said, “It does.”
“Good, ’cause I like the breakfast meetings and our dinners together. I even like those exercises you say I have to do if I want to learn to fight,” Colt said. “I have to confess I thought that party was a lot of fun. I had a good time.”
Mal laughed. Colt loved his laugh; it was deep and mellow. “I’m glad,” Mal said.
“Can I ask you something?” Colt ventured.
“Of course. You may ask me anything, anytime.”
“You’re a nice, normal guy. How come you aren’t out dating?”
Mal shrugged. “As odd as it sounds coming from a man who grew up in the whiskey industry, I don’t really like bars and big parties. I think I’m like a lot of executives and business owners. There’s no time to simply go out and meet someone.”
“I can understand that.” Colt stood up and picked up his glass. He yawned and stretched, aware the entire time that Mal was watching him. Holding out one hand, he sa
id, “Want me to take your plate?”
Mal waved him off. “I’ll take care of the dishes.”
“I’m going to go rehearse my speech for the dedication one more time.”
“What’s wrong with here?” Mal asked.
That caught Colt off guard. “Uh…. Nothing, I guess.” He walked to the center of the deck and rolled his shoulders.
After Colt finished going through the speech for the dedication and the following scholarship presentations, Mal clapped, then pushed out of his chair. “Wonderful! And now I think it’s time for me to review a few notes for our meeting tomorrow. See you in the morning?” He put their glasses on the cart before opening the door to the house and rolling it through.
Colt held the door until Mal was inside, then followed. “Good night.” He reached out and took Mal’s arm. When Mal turned toward him, Colt rocked up on his toes and pressed a soft kiss to Mal’s cheek. “See you tomorrow.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and hurried to his suite.
THE breakfast meeting the following morning was its normal level of boring. Colt entertained himself by watching Phillipe’s reaction to the various discussions. Audrey had their itinerary laid out as she had with the previous trip. Once finished with his meal, Mal stood up.
“We’re going to leave all of you to finalize these details. There is something I’ve been wanting to share with Colt.” Mal patted Colt’s shoulder. “C’mon, it won’t take long, and I think you’ll enjoy this.”
They left the house and crossed the property to the distillery, but not the public area. Instead Mal led the way to the working section the general public never had access to. Colt had been in there many times when he swept the floors, but not since he’d started his new job. There was no reason for him to go there.
“When I was little, I loved to come here. This was my spot. When I got older, I’d read, sometimes study here.” As they walked through the distillery, Mal talked mash recipes and the basic ingredients used in making whiskey. Colt stayed silent. He loved listening to Mal’s accent, and more than that, he enjoyed what Mal had to say. Everything about the workings of the distillery fascinated Colt.
Whiskey and Moonshine Page 10