The Inn at Netherfield Green

by Aurora Rey

  Lauren mimicked the gesture. “Oh, well, we can’t have you spilling proprietary information.”

  Part of Cam couldn’t believe they were bantering like this, but at the same time, it felt completely natural. She might not be ready to admit to liking the woman, at least not out loud, but it clicked now why everyone else seemed so keen on her. “I’ll make you a deal.”

  Lauren kept her arms crossed, but angled herself and gave Cam a side-eye. “Go on.”

  “I promised to mix you up a small batch of your choice. I’ll also make you one with asparagus.”

  Lauren grinned. “Two bottles of gin? Sold.”

  “Okay, tell me what you want. You should pick three to five total, and at least one from each category. Bonus category is optional.”

  She tapped her fingers together. “And you’re going to make me something with asparagus?”

  “I will.”

  “Excellent. I want,” she paused and squinted at the bottles and jars on the shelf, “chamomile, grapefruit, lemon, and pink peppercorn.”

  Cam grabbed a pencil and scribbled her preferences. “That sounds good.”

  “Yeah?” Lauren watched Cam stare at the list of ingredients. She’d picked her favorites, but had no idea if they’d go together. Cam furrowed her brow, and Lauren imagined her trying to find a nice way to say it would be terrible. But then she jotted down a series of numbers and offered her a smile.

  “It’s going to be delicious. Bright and citrusy. It’ll make great gin and tonics.”

  She had to believe Cam wouldn’t make a bottle of something she knew wouldn’t taste good. “Okay, good. I’m going to trust you.”

  “You should. I’m very trustworthy.” Cam winked at her and Lauren tried to ignore the flutter of delight in her chest and, well, lower than her chest.

  Cam grabbed a bottle and set a funnel in it. She had this tall, thin beaker that she filled with the different flavor components—all different amounts. “How do you know how much of each to use?”

  “Practice.”

  Once she’d added all the components to the bottle, she topped it off with the base she’d described when they started. Then, without any notes, she did a second bottle, using different elements. When both were done, Cam capped them and gave them a gentle shake. Then she poured a sample for each of them. Lauren tasted hers first. Not that she expected it to be terrible, but it was better than she expected. Cam’s descriptors were spot-on. She sipped Cam’s next. It was good, really good. But what got her was how different they were. “Wow. I love mine, but there’s something about this one. It’s so,” she searched for the right word.

  “Savory?”

  “Yes.” That was exactly it. “I bet this would be amazing in a dirty martini.”

  “You’re getting the hang of this.”

  Cam smiled and, if she didn’t know better, Lauren would swear she was flirting with her. Hell, maybe she didn’t know better. Things with Cam felt more confusing by the day. Maybe confusing wasn’t the right word. Incongruous. One second Cam seemed to barely tolerate her, and the next she was convinced Cam was on the verge of kissing her. Since her feelings sat pretty squarely in the kiss-me-please category, her confusion had mostly to do with Cam’s feelings. Compared to how they started, she could hope—argue, even—this was progress.

  “What?” Cam regarded her with a look of suspicion.

  “Nothing. Just thinking about dirty martinis.”

  “Shall we make a few cocktails?”

  Lauren wasn’t sure if it was the twenty or so sips of pure alcohol or the fact that Cam finally seemed relaxed around her. Whatever it was, she liked it. And she didn’t want the afternoon to end. “Absolutely.”

  Cam led them back through the main distilling area to the tasting room in front. She gestured to a small card on the bar. “These are the specialties of the house, but I’d be happy to make you something else if you have a request.”

  Lauren perused the menu, expecting a staid list of classics. Instead, the list of six cocktails featured a surprising array of spices, herbs, fruits, and flowers. There wasn’t one in the bunch she wouldn’t try. “Did you create all these?”

  “You sound surprised.” Cam smiled and there was a hint of smugness in it. Not arrogance, really, just a flash of I told you so. The kind that passed between friends, or people who were more than friends.

  “Not surprised, just…” she searched for the right word. It didn’t help that her brain wasn’t working right.

  “Surprised.”

  Cam was teasing her. How delightful was that? Totally made up for being caught without a good comeback. “Okay, maybe a little.”

  “Admit it. You think I’m some uninspired, provincial stick-in-the-mud.”

  Lauren frowned. “I don’t think that at all.”

  “No? You blow in from New York City, all fancy shoes and big plans to change everything. And I’m the one who wants things to stay the same.”

  Cam’s eyes flashed, but it was impossible to tell whether the spark came from annoyance or desire. Could it possibly be desire? Lauren couldn’t help but imagine that fire directed at her in a completely different setting. One that involved Cam in her bed, on top of her, inside her. Her imagination was getting the better of her. Cam was just starting to tolerate her.

  Lauren let out a sigh. “You really don’t like me, do you?”

  “Don’t look at me like I just ran over your puppy. I don’t dislike you. We don’t see eye to eye on things. You know that.”

  Lauren swallowed, shook her head. She needed to get Cam out of her head, out of her system. Unfortunately, she knew of only one surefire way of doing that. And if Cam knew what she had in mind, she’d probably blow a gasket. “I was hoping we’d moved past that. I enlisted your help because I want to do this right, and because I think we both stand to benefit.”

  Cam seemed to relent then, or soften maybe. “You’re right.”

  “Right about what? I want to make sure I understand what you’re conceding.” She added a wink so Cam would know, hopefully, she was being playful.

  “Working together is in both our interests.”

  Lauren sighed. “And I don’t think you’re provincial. Or a stick-in-the-mud.”

  Cam raised a brow. Like Lauren’s wink, it felt playful. She hoped. The tiff, or whatever it was, seemed over. “Sure.”

  “I’ll take it.” She returned her gaze to the menu, wanting to get them back into Cam’s comfort zone. “Now, I want you to make me all of these, but I’d end up under the bar if you did, so surprise me.”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  And just like that, the tension dissolved and Cam’s confident smile was back. Had she imagined it? Or had she gotten so far ahead of herself that anything short of making out with Cam was a disappointment? She’d probably never know. Better to focus on the now, on the future, anyway.

  Cam pulled out a pair of cocktail shakers. After filling both with ice, she started adding different things to them. Sometimes by the jigger, sometimes just a drop or two. She did it all from memory. Watching her work was impressive. It also happened to be sexy as fuck. Her hands were deft, and the look of concentration on her face suited her. Lauren knew without a doubt she would bring that confidence, that concentration, to the bedroom. What were the chances they’d end up there before it was all said and done?

  Just the idea of it turned her on. When was the last time that happened? Too long. Way too long. She cleared her throat in an attempt to clear her mind. “What are you making me?”

  Cam grinned. It might have been the first truly genuine smile she gave Lauren, and damn, did it pack a punch. “I’m starting us with the elderflower-infused Tom Collins and the charred citrus and rosemary gimlet. They’re two of my favorites and both on the lighter side. I figured if we shared, I might talk you into trying a couple more.”

  “You might have to roll me back to the inn, but I’m finding it hard to tell you no.”

  Cam glanced
up from her work. Lauren held her gaze, willing something to spark, to catch hold. “I’ll go easy on you,” she said after a moment.

  It lasted only a second, but Lauren was pretty sure she hadn’t imagined it. Not wanting to press her luck, she offered a shrug. “I’m game for whatever you’re serving up.”

  The Tom Collins came first. In Lauren’s prior experience, the drink was basically overly sweet lemonade laced with gin. Cam’s drink tasted nothing like that. The lemon was fresh, tangy enough to make her cheeks pucker, but softened by the elderflower. The gin was there, but it complemented the other flavors instead of leaving a boozy aftertaste. It was the kind of cocktail that would be good with brunch, or on a warm afternoon spent lounging in the sun. “Wow.”

  “Thanks. Keep sipping that and I’ll finish the second round.” Cam smiled again, the same genuine smile as before.

  Why hadn’t she thought of this angle sooner?

  They sampled something with cucumber and basil, a gin and tonic with her gin and twist of grapefruit peel, and finished with the dirty martini. By the end, Lauren’s crush on Cam had taken on a life of its own and she was on the drunk side of tipsy. She lifted both hands. “Unless you want to carry me home, I think I need to stop.”

  A look passed through Cam’s eyes. A look that said Cam would be perfectly happy to carry her home and right up to bed. Even in her fuzzy state of mind, Lauren knew, this time, she wasn’t imagining it. Unfortunately, it passed, leaving something more innocuous behind. “How about we get you some food?”

  “I know just the place. Will you join me? My treat to thank you for teaching me so much.” Did she sound too eager? Hopefully not.

  “I wish I could, but I already have plans.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’d love a rain check.”

  Cam seemed sincere, so Lauren swallowed her disappointment. “Deal.”

  “I will walk you home, though.”

  Lauren waved a hand. “You really don’t need to. I’m not that far gone. Yet.”

  “I insist. Let me be chivalrous.”

  She’d never been one for the chivalrous type, but she’d never been one for the small-town, old-fashioned, reticent type either. “All right. Can I help you clean up first?”

  “Not at all.”

  Cam came around from behind the bar and held out her arm. Lauren slid off the stool, trying to look steadier on her feet than she felt, and slipped her hand around Cam’s bicep. It wasn’t super muscular, but solid and strong. Lauren tried not to think about Cam shirtless, or what it would be like to be scooped up in her arms, cheesy movie heroine style.

  They walked back to the Rose & Crown in a semi-comfortable silence. When they got there, Lauren reluctantly let go of Cam’s arm. “Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun. And I learned so much.”

  “You were a very eager student.”

  Lauren wanted to make a comment about being an eager student of an entirely different sort, but she resisted. Cam didn’t strike her as the kind of woman who wanted to be chased. “So, next time we’ll talk about my menu and your marketing?”

  Cam nodded. “That would be terrific.”

  “Great.”

  It was kind of embarrassing how badly she wanted Cam to kiss her. She told herself it was the gin talking even though she knew it wasn’t true. “You know where to find me.”

  “And you’re sure you’re all right?”

  “Never better. Thanks for walking me home.”

  Cam nodded again. “Make sure you eat something.”

  “I will.” Was she imagining it or was Cam lingering? Stalling, even?

  “Right. Well, have a good night.”

  Definitely lingering. How delightful. “Good night.”

  Cam nodded a third time, then left without making eye contact or uttering another word. Lauren watched her go, enjoying the way her pants fit and her purposeful stride. She indulged in a sigh, then headed in to see what Mrs. Lucas had cooked up for dinner.

  Chapter Ten

  Cam left Lauren, annoyed by just how churned up she felt. They’d had a perfectly nice day, one where she hardly thought about how much she wanted to kiss the curve of Lauren’s neck. Or sit Lauren on her worktable and let her hands creep up Lauren’s shirt. They’d arrived at something resembling mutual respect, and then she had offered to walk Lauren home. And Lauren had given her those bedroom eyes, and it was all she could do not to drool all over her.

  It was demoralizing. It was pathetic. It was a total turn-on. And perhaps worst of all, it was proving more irresistible by the day.

  She went back to work to clean up from their tasting, but found Dev had beaten her to it. She tracked him down to say thank you, then retreated to her blending room. Once there, however, she could swear Lauren’s perfume lingered in the air. Whether real or imagined, it sent her imagination into overdrive and sent her seeking the dull safety of her office.

  She went back to the sales figures she and Sophie had gone over a couple of weeks prior. They weren’t bad, but they really could be better. Truth be told, she wasn’t opposed to some concentrated marketing efforts. She simply didn’t know what that should look like. If Lauren’s ideas were halfway decent, maybe all this would be worth it in the end.

  She made some sales projections based on their current trajectory, then sketched out some more aspirational goals. Sophie’s comment about being in more pubs came back to her, and she made a note that she wanted to focus there first. Because even though she was no expert, she knew that having a customer request her product in their favorite shop was the best—not to mention free—publicity she could get.

  Six o’clock finally rolled around and she shut off her computer. She made the rounds of the building, checking on things that didn’t require checking. The ritual soothed her, though, and helped her brain transition out of the workday. She bid the remaining staff good night and walked home, not bothering to stop in at her place before heading to her parents’ house.

  Sophie and Jane were already there when she arrived and the table was set. She washed her hands before giving her mum a kiss on the cheek. “Anything I can do to help?”

  “Not a thing. We’re just about ready.”

  Everyone settled into their usual spots at the table and started passing dishes. Cam hadn’t sampled nearly as much as Lauren, but she was looking forward to a hearty meal. She added a second slice of roast beef to her plate before handing the platter to Sophie.

  “How was your afternoon with Miss Montgomery?” Sophie’s tone was innocent, but her face was anything but.

  Cam glanced over at Jane, who regarded her with a raised brow, then her parents. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to pick up on the subtext. “It was very productive.”

  Jane tipped her head. “Wait. I thought she was trying to convince you to help her. Does that mean she succeeded or that you resisted?”

  Sophie smirked. “Cam already agreed to help her. Today was about showing off.”

  “I wasn’t showing off.” Cam scowled. She was but wasn’t going to own it, especially to Sophie. “If anything, I was showing off our products.”

  “You two looked awfully chummy in the tasting room,” Sophie said.

  Sometimes it was so damned inconvenient to have her sister working at the same company. “I made her a couple of cocktails. I’m not sure how you got chummy from that.”

  Sophie pointed at her, then made tiny circles with her finger. “You were smiling.”

  “Our gin makes me smile. Getting someone new to appreciate it makes me smile. Besides, she agreed to help with marketing.”

  Sophie leaned forward and propped her chin on her hand. “Do tell.”

  Cam looked around the table. Her father was spooning potatoes onto his plate, but all other eyes—Sophie, Jane, Kitty, her mother—were trained on her. “She’s a marketer. As in, does marketing and advertising for a living. She’s going to come up with a marketing plan for Carriage House. I might use it, I might not.”

  �
�A barter.” Jane smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

  She could always count on Jane to stay positive and assume the best of a situation. “Thank you.”

  “So, it’s a business arrangement and nothing more. That’s what you’re saying?” Sophie did not look convinced.

  “It’s all Charlotte’s doing, if you must know. She cooked up the idea and roped us both into it. Right, Jane?”

  Jane nodded. “Something like that. It makes perfect sense, though. Lauren needs help and so do you.”

  “What exactly are you planning to do for her?” Sophie made the question sound suggestive, if not downright lascivious.

  Cam glared. It was one thing for Sophie to tease her about chasing women, it was another entirely for her to do it in front of their parents. “I’m going to create a cocktail menu for her, offer input on whatever she has in mind for the inn.”

  “And you’re qualified to do this how?” Sophie looked at her like she’d said she was helping Lauren build a rocket.

  “I assume you mean the inn part and not my knowledge of mixology.”

  “Obviously.”

  “I don’t know, but she seems to think I know what will lure tourists. I’m not about to disabuse her of that notion if it means I get a say in how much gets changed.”

  “You did design the whole tasting room,” Jane said.

  “And we get so many more visitors than we used to,” Mum added.

  “Thank you. It’s nice to know some of my family thinks I have something to contribute.”

  Sophie finished chewing a bite and pointed at Cam with her fork. “I’m not denying you’ve got things to contribute, I’m only trying to sort out whether some of those things are in the bedroom.”

  “Sophie.” Jane’s voice was scolding.

  “What?” Sophie gave Jane a withering look. “You’re honestly going to tell me it didn’t cross your mind?”

  Jane, bless her, looked truly scandalized. “No. It did not.”

  Cam dared a glance at her mother, then her father. Both appeared mildly curious. “Could we change the subject, please?”

  “Who’s going to do the work at the inn?” Mum asked.