The thought of breaking his heart right there on the spot had terrified her. She hadn’t been ready to settle down, but she also hadn’t been capable of facing the truth—of telling him there was so much she wanted to experience and explore before she settled down. He’d made a choice that day and it had backfired all because she hadn’t been ready for forever.
“I should get back,” she said. “My grandfather will be home soon, and he’s probably going to want something to eat.”
“Do you know how to cook?”
She mocked offense as she planted her hand on her hip. “Nicholas Davis, I must say I’m insulted.”
“You are the same girl who almost burnt my house down when you offered to make boxed macaroni and cheese.”
“It’s not my fault the directions weren’t clearer.”
“You had to boil water and milk. How much clearer did they need to be?”
“They don’t tell you that milk and water turn into a volcano when they start to boil. And they also should have safety information like how you shouldn’t leave the box so close to an open flame…”
Nick laughed and the small victory was more thrilling than nailing an audition. “I rest my case.” he said.
“I’d have you know that I might not be a great cook, but I can work my way around a kitchen these days.”
“Good to know. I won’t call Sam and put him on standby then.”
This time she laughed. “He would love that.” Sam, the fire chief of Red Maple Falls, would never let her live that down.
“Come on. I’ll get your bags.”
“Thanks.”
She watched as Nick’s head disappeared back down the hole then began her own descent.
She stepped down, plank by plank, when her heel got stuck on the wood. She twisted and turned her ankle, trying to free herself. Nick had made it to the bottom when, with a final yank, she lost her footing and her hands slipped from their perch, sending her free falling to the ground.
She braced for impact but instead she was wrapped in strong arms. “Jesus. Are you okay?”
Daisy blinked up, immediately getting lost in his eyes. He stared down at her, and she felt stripped of any façade, laid out in the open for Nick to freely explore.
And she was okay with that. Looking into his eyes, she could see the boy he used to be and remember the girl she was. See a time before there was any betrayal or contempt between them.
He let her down, feet hitting the ground but their gazes still locked on each other.
The gold specks in his eyes were like a beacon of light, wheeling her in inch by mesmerizing inch. She forgot how to think and lost total control of her body. Without a second thought, she pushed up, pressing her lips against his.
His body stiffened, lips like cold stone. How stupid could she be, thinking that he would want to kiss her? She was about to pull away and slump into the dark, hoping both of them could forget about this when his fingers thrust into her curls, pulling her closer.
A relieved and satisfied moan slipped from her lips, and he tilted her head back, plunging his tongue into the slick warmth of her mouth.
He possessed her with a raw hunger that had her head spinning. Every nerve ending in her body sprung to life as he pressed into her. His hard bulge reminded her of what she’d been missing out on. Desire surged through her veins, ignoring the warning signals going off in her head. It was too late for them anyway, she’d already crossed the line.
She didn’t want to think, she just wanted to feel. Heat radiated off of him, fueling her desires. She slipped her hands beneath his jacket, feeling the corded muscles, taut against his shirt.
It was a battle of give and take that she never wanted to end. She curled her fingers into his shirt and moaned as he walked them back against the tree. Her backside hit the trunk and she yanked on his shirt, pulling him closer still. Each move of his lips and thrust of his tongue was a delicious assault to her senses.
Kisses like this were what fairy tales were made of, full of passion and the promise of happily ever after. But that was the problem. As good and as perfect as it felt, she couldn’t do this…not when she knew she would eventually be going back to New York. She couldn’t lead him on. She already did it to him once, and she couldn’t do it again.
So with what little control she still possessed, she brought her hands back to his front and pushed against his chest. She lifted her gaze to find him staring down at her, a carnal hunger in his irises. He focused on her eyes, not her body or the way her breathing was coming out in short jagged breaths. He watched her, looking deep into her soul.
If she’d felt stripped down before, now she felt completely exposed. She stepped out of his arms, wrapping her own arms around her waist. “We shouldn’t do this.”
“You kissed me or have you forgotten?”
“It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“So damn typical. Jump in with your eyes closed and don’t think about the repercussions until you’re too damn deep.”
“What do you want me to say? I’m sorry?”
“No! I want you to tell me that you felt it, too,” he said, his eyes locked on hers. “That wasn’t just a kiss.”
It wasn’t just a kiss. It was everything she remembered and so much more. Her lips still tingled, heart still beat rapidly against her chest and her body still burned for him. But she couldn’t go down that road again. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them. “It was just a kiss,” she said, forcing a smile.
Anger and rage twisted the strong features of his face. “Unbelievable!” he growled before he stormed away from her.
“Nick, I’m sorry.”
He stopped and turned toward her, pointing his finger at her. “Don’t. It’s too late for that.”
She hated that she was causing him pain when she had no intention to. If anything, her intentions were pure. He was upset and she wanted to try and make him smile. The kiss just happened. The familiar lure was too strong for her to deny and she foolishly let it consume her.
Somehow, someway she needed to fix this, so she ran after him. “Please, talk to me.” He didn’t stop so she pleaded again. “Nick. Please.”
He ran a hand through his hair and faced her. The anger and rage morphed into pain and betrayal. She wanted so desperately to erase the past so he didn’t look at her with such hurt in his eyes.
“What do you want?” he asked. “Do you want to hear that for a year after you left every time somebody said your name I had to excuse myself because it made me cry?”
His words stopped her in place.
“Or that I kept that stupid stuffed squirrel you won me at the fair because it smelled like your perfume? Is that what you want to hear? Or that the one person I thought I could trust more than anyone in this world walked out on me and didn’t think I was good enough to deserve a goodbye.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” he yelled then he looked at her the angry tight skin of his jaw softened. “Because six years later I’m still as clueless as the day you left.”
She looked at him, seeing the world of hurt and pain she’d left behind when she selfishly took off. He deserved an answer, even if she wasn’t so sure of one herself.
“For so long I was baby Hayes and then I was Daisy and Nick. I wanted to stand out on my own. Be my own person and somehow that made me the bad guy.”
“No one ever said you were the bad guy.”
“They didn’t have to. I saw the way people looked at me when I came home—the silent judgment in their eyes. I abandoned my family and Red Maple Falls golden boy. Whether they said it or not, it didn’t matter. My dreams meant nothing to them the minute I stepped out of the town limits. This place is like a damn black hole that sucks you in and doesn’t want to let you go, and god forbid you find a way out. People look at me like I committed mass murder. I left and it was my right to do so even if I screwed that up, too.”
“Are you sure that’s what peopl
e thought? Or is it what you think they thought? Because, yes, in the beginning, people were shocked to hear that you left, but after a few months those same people asked about you. Wanted updates on your New York adventure. Not that I had anything to share. I knew as much as they did. So maybe you need to stop thinking the worst of everyone. Maybe you need to realize that you’re not alone in any of this, and if you think you are, that’s on you. But the Daisy I knew—”
“The Daisy you knew!” she cut him off. The words were like salt on an open wound. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not that girl anymore.”
“I know. And ain’t that a damn shame.”
“People change. It’s called growing up, Nick.”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
God, he infuriated her. She wanted to wrap her hands around his throat and shake him.. “What would you call it then?”
“People grow up; that’s a given, but you don’t have to forget where you came from.”
“I didn’t.”
He glanced over at her, his eyes sweeping across her knockoff designer scarf and down to her three-inch heel ankle boots. “If you say so.”
“I do.”
“Whatever.”
“Can I get my damn bags so I can get the hell out of here?”
“Be my guest!”
Before she could get to the truck he hauled her bags out, tossing them to the ground.
“Hey!” she yelled. “Be careful with those.”
“Oh, I forgot. Your material possessions are most important to you.”
“You know damn well that’s not true.”
“I call it as I see it.”
She grabbed her suitcases and threw them into the backseat of the Jeep. “The best thing I ever did was leave your ass.” She slammed the door and spun around, not expecting him to be so damn close. She could smell that masculine spicy aroma, the citrus accents that made her mouth water.
Her heart kicked up a notch, thrashing against her chest as if it knew part of it would always belong to him.
He reached behind her opening the driver’s door then boxing her in the small space. “Best damn thing you ever did for me, too.”
“I hate you!” she said with venom in her tone.
“Feelings mutual, sweetheart. Now go do what you do best and leave.”
Chapter 6
Nick was about to walk into the brewery when Daisy’s voice, loud and boisterous, drifted out the door. A sound that used to warm his heart but now was like sandpaper to his nerves. It amazed him how someone so little could be so loud.
He had thought seeing her might help him get used to the fact that he’d see her from time to time but then she kissed him igniting a fire within him that had been dormant for so long. Until she pushed him away, her words a bucket of water thrown in his face. He should’ve known better. Daisy was nothing if she wasn’t playing games.
With Daisy back in Red Maple Falls, he had no choice, he was going to have to get used to bumping into her. It’s not like it would be forever. It was only a matter of time before she took off again. Good riddance.
Done standing out in the damn cold, he grabbed the door and pulled it open, letting himself into the warmth of the tasting room.
His eyes were immediately drawn to Daisy, big smile on her face, blonde curls untamed, bouncing with each move she made.
He walked toward the bar. Daisy or not, he had a job to do, and there was no way in hell he was going to let her get in the way. He worked too damn hard to let her little games sidetrack his progress.
“Hey, Nick,” Cassie said, tossing a rag over her shoulder.
Daisy froze, the smile slowly deflating, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t find any satisfaction in that. She stared at him with those too blue eyes then plastered a smile back on her face, proving she was playing a role. She could stand there and pretend all she wanted, put on her little show, there was no way in hell he’d fall for that shit again. Besides, the brewery was his domain and he wasn’t going to let the likes of her make him feel uncomfortable. If anyone didn’t belong here it was her.
“Hey, Cass” he said as he approached the bar. He rested his briefcase on one of the open stools then met Daisy’s stare with indifference. “Daisy.”
“Nick,” she replied, her eyes locked with his.
He refused to be the first to break away and their acknowledgement of each other quickly turned into a battle of wills. Too bad for her this was a game he would win. Daisy’s eyes narrowed and contempt sharpened her features.
Cassie cleared her throat but Nick didn’t break contact. He was like a dog marking his territory, determined to stake his claim. Her brother might own this brewery but she was simply a guest here. Inside these doors Nick was in control.
His jaw ticked, all the built-up animosity from yesterday boiling to the surface.
“Um hello?” Cassie said and Daisy finally tore her gaze away.
He felt the slight joys of victory until Cassie held her arms out to Daisy like she was a gameshow model revealing a grand prize. “Nick, I’d like you to meet our newest bartender.”
Nick’s head snapped back to Daisy and she gave him an innocent wave. She actually waved at him. “Her?” Nick exclaimed not even bothering to hide the disdain in his voice.
A storm brewed in Daisy’s irises, blue turned to black as she regarded him with unadulterated loathing.
“You don’t even like beer,” he growled.
“That’s not true.”
Oh she was so full of it. He didn’t care how good her acting skills were, she couldn’t deny the past. “Really? Was it or was it not you who threw up in my truck after downing a six pack and then swore you’d never touch another beer a day in your life?”
“I was seventeen. Besides we’ve all said things in the moment that we didn’t mean.”
He let out a humorless laugh. “Like telling someone you want to spend the rest of your life with them.”
“Okay!” Cassie said before Daisy could respond. She moved between them, playing referee to two people who would not back down. “Nick, Daisy is part of the Five Leaf Brewery team now, which means you two are going to have to put your past behind you.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem for her,” he snapped.
“Screw you!” Daisy screeched.
He smirked. “I bet you’d like that.”
She pinned him with a look of death and if she could strike him down, he had no doubt that she would.
Cassie snapped her finger at him. “Stop.” A couple in the corner turned and looked.
It was the reality check that he needed to remind him that this wasn’t the time nor the place.
Cassie lowered her voice. “I don’t care if you two are at each other’s throats or tearing each other’s clothes off, but in this building when you’re working, you have to be professional.”
Nick glared at Daisy—he couldn’t help himself—and she met him with equal contempt. He was a professional damn it and he couldn’t allow a blonde haired, blue eyed girl from his past make him forget that. He worked too damn hard for this brewery. Mason trusted in him and he wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize that so he tore his eyes away from Daisy and gave a quick nod to Cassie.
“Since we’re all adults here, I think we can handle that,” he said.
“Just because you carry a briefcase doesn’t make you an adult,” Daisy spat.
Nick went to snap back, but one look at Cassie’s determined face, he swallowed down the snarky remark.
“Daisy, you think you can hold the fort down while I go in the back with Nick and catch up on sales?” Cassie asked.
“I got this. Go,” she said with a smile that didn’t look forced and making her look adorable as hell. Damn it. Only Daisy Hayes could manage to look adorable after filling him with rage.
Cassie nodded toward the offices. “Yell if you need me,” she said to Daisy before meeting Nick at the end of the bar.
&nbs
p; He took a deep breath, letting the anger from the last five minutes drain from his mind. There was no place for hostility in the brewery. He had a to-do list to tackle and he couldn’t do that if he felt the need to punch the nearest wall.
He followed Cassie to his office, and placed his briefcase on his desk. He closed his eyes, centering his thoughts and waited until he felt he could speak without seizing. “I met with George at Pump and Go,” he began “He said that the Hippity Hop is flying off the shelves, and he wants to bring in a few extra cases on his next order.”
Nick sat down, crossing his arms across his chest ready to continue, but Cassie shook her head. “Want to talk about what happened out there?”
He looked toward the door, the anger slowly starting to build again.
His muscles tightened as he remembered the heated exchange.
“Not particularly,” he said.
“Whatever is going on between you two, it can’t happen in front of our customers.”
His stomach knotted at the memory of those two customers turning their way. He had never been unprofessional a day in his life and then Daisy shows up and suddenly he’s acting like a five-year-old who can’t keep his comments to himself.
He ran a hand over his face. “I know that, and I’m sorry. She just gets under my skin.”
“Look,” Cassie said, “she’s Mason’s baby sister, but you’re a huge part of the success of this brewery—his actual baby. If it’s too much I can talk to him. Maybe we can come up with a schedule that’ll keep you two from bumping into each other.”
It wasn’t a bad idea, and it would save his sanity, but he’d been hiding from Daisy for so long, he couldn’t keep doing it. He needed to do as everyone had been telling him to do.. He had to put the past behind them even if that meant letting go completely.
Besides, he could imagine Daisy behind the bar chatting away with the customers and securing the venue a good rating. She had that natural charisma that drew people in and could turn anything into a fun conversation. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Daisy would be a good addition to the brewery, and at the end of the day the brewery was all that mattered.
Dreaming of Daisy (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #6) Page 5