Colton shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair. “What the fuck? So what, he’s wanting his share of the brewery?”
I nod as I pick up my beer. “I guess so. I mean, I can’t blame the guy. And if we have a brother out there, then we need to bring him home, don’t you think?”
“Fuck that. He shouldn’t get shit. This is ours. It’s our reward for growing up the way we did. You’re not seriously thinking about giving this guy a share, are you?”
“I don’t know, Colton. Maybe after some tests—once we make sure he is who he claims to be.”
He lets out a long breath, clearly irritated with me.
“What’s the big deal?” I ask. “You’ve never wanted anything to do with the brewery before.”
“That’s because it was being shoved down my throat. I wanted to decide my future, and not have it forced on me.” He takes a breather and leans against the bench. “I feel the same affection toward the brewery that you do. It’s ours. It’s been in our family for generations. It needs to stay in the family and be taken care of. I just don’t want some creep off the street getting a say in our family legacy.”
I open my mouth to reply, but the sound of gravel halts my words. An engine cuts off and a door slams. I stand and exit the barn to see who’s pulled into the drive.
Celeste bounces toward me. “I did it, Drake! I got the Joneses’ signatures! That’s one down!” she cheers, throwing herself in my arms and pressing her mouth to mine.
At first, I want to push her away before Colton sees, but when her lips touch mine, I completely forget he’s even here. My arms tighten around her middle, keeping her close while my mouth takes from hers. She tastes of coffee and vanilla, so sweet against my tongue. Her arms wrap around my neck, holding me close.
I hear someone clear their throat from behind me and I break the kiss, turning to see Colton standing there, wearing a wide smile.
“Celeste, this is my brother, Colton. Colt, this is Celeste, my, um, new lawyer,” I say, a little unsure of how to introduce her to him.
Celeste quickly wipes away the wetness from our kiss and clears her throat. Her face turns pink with embarrassment as she holds out a hand to shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Colton.” She offers up a shy but beautiful smile.
Colton takes her hand in his, eyes bouncing from her, to me, and back. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Celeste, but my stupid little brother here didn’t tell me you were this beautiful.” He gives her his best flirtatious smile.
“All right,” I say, swatting his hand off of hers and pulling her closer to my side.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just really excited about the news. I’ll head out and let you two get back to—”
“Nonsense. Don’t be silly. I’d love to get to know you a little better. I gotta look out for my little brother,” Colton says, reaching out and wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he leads her toward the house.
Fuck, I think to myself as I follow them inside.
“Drake, where are your manners? Shouldn’t you offer your guests a drink?” Colton says, his smile never faltering.
I roll my eyes but head to the kitchen to pour three drinks. As I’m pouring, I see Tatum lying in the corner as usual. He looks up at me. “Why don’t you do your job? Go attack him or something,” I say to the old hunting dog.
He just lays his head down like I didn’t say anything at all. I pick up the three drinks and take them back to the living room. Colton is in my recliner. He’s sitting up, resting his elbows on his knees, and looking at Celeste, who’s sitting on the couch to his left, looking rather awkward. I hand them each a drink and sit at Celeste’s side.
“Now, what are your intentions with my brother?” he asks her.
Her mouth drops open and words seem to fail her.
“Colton!” I warn.
“I’m just joking,” he laughs out, waving his hand through the air as he takes a sip of his whiskey. He finally leans back in the chair. “Tell me about yourself, Celeste. Where ya from? What do ya like to do for fun? Of all of the men in the world, why did you choose Drake?”
She lightly shakes her head. “You two are something else, you know that?” she says, looking over at me. I give her a playful shrug since I have no words.
She leans forward and sets her glass on the coffee table. “I’m from Los Angeles. Born and raised. I was working at the firm there, but was given this job for the next year.”
“So you’re only going to be here for a year?” he asks, looking a little concerned.
“That’s right. In a year, I’m going back to city life and coffee shops on every corner. The magical place where you can get anything delivered and everything is a phone tap away,” she jokes.
“So what you two are doing has a time limit,” he clarifies.
She cocks her head to the side, unsure of how to answer.
“Colton, I’m not sure what you’re trying to do. I don’t know if Harrison has gotten to you or what, but you need to understand that Celeste and I are adults. We know what we’re doing. We’re not dating or falling in love. We’re choosing to spend our time together because there’s no one else here we’d rather do it with right now. Now if you, or Harrison, or anyone else has a problem with that, then you’ll just have to get over it. What Celeste and I do, that’s our business. Got it?”
He nods once then finishes off his drink in one gulp. “Well, it seems like the two of you have everything figured out. Now,” he pats his stomach, “what’s for dinner?” He smiles wide.
An hour later, dinner is cooked and the three of us are sitting around the table.
“So, Colton, do you have any good stories about growing up with this one?” Celeste asks, motioning toward me.
Colton laughs. “Do I!” His eyes open wide.
I clear my throat, a warning he picks up on but ignores.
“One time, Drake thought he could jump out a second-story window with an umbrella.”
Celeste sucks in a loud breath. “Did you get hurt?”
Colton laughs. “A broken ankle later, he learned that Mary Poppins wasn’t real.”
Celeste laughs and shakes her head.
“Then there was the time he thought he could collect four turtles and a rat and turn them into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He was so mad when the one with the orange X painted on its back wouldn’t eat the pizza he tried feeding it,” Colton says, laughing.
“All right,” I say, interrupting. “Why don’t we just eat, huh?”
“And then, he got his first girlfriend. They kissed and he was scared to death he got her pregnant.”
“Because you told me that kissing led to babies!” I defend. “I was only eight. Come on!”
Celeste laughs harder. “Why were you kissing girls when you were only eight?”
I shrug. “We saw two teenagers making out in the back of the bus one day. We thought we’d try it.”
“Who was the girl?” she asks.
“Her name was Judy. She moved away when we were in the fifth grade.”
“There are so many more good stories,” Colton insists.
“No. No more stories. Eat your food before I give it to Tatum and throw your ass out,” I threaten.
“Fine. Celeste, why don’t you tell us some of your childhood embarrassments?” Colton picks up his fork but his eyes never leave Celeste.
She swallows a bite of spaghetti. “Well, I don’t really have any. I never did anything dangerous. I was kept pretty busy as a kid.”
“How so?” Colton asks.
“I had school five days a week. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, we always went to church. I was also in gymnastics, dance, and cheer. When I got a little older, I moved into volleyball and softball. I ran track. I also had private tutors growing up, so studying was a must.”
“A gymnast, huh?” He wags his brows at her.
I pick up a roll and toss it at him, smacking him in the head with it. I know exactly where hi
s mind was going.
“Hey!” he yells, angrily looking over at me.
“Keep your mind out of the gutter,” I tell him. Celeste can’t do anything but laugh at our antics and shake her head.
Dinner eventually ends and Colton says his goodbyes by giving Celeste a hug and smacking me on the back. I walk him out while she insists on helping me clean up.
“Well, brother, I think you’ve gotten yourself in over your head with that one,” he says, opening his truck door.
I laugh. “And how’s that?”
“I watched you in there. Every time you thought you were alone, you couldn’t keep your hands off her. You were smiling and laughing. You’re happy with her. Which is great, don’t get me wrong, but that also means you’re going to be twice as hurt when she leaves in a year.”
I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it, Colt. I know how to keep myself in check.”
He rolls his eyes. “I highly doubt it. Enjoy it while it lasts.” He climbs behind the wheel and starts the truck. I stand back, watching him drive away before turning back for the house.
When I walk in, Celeste has the dishwasher loaded and everything cleaned up. “Thank you,” I say, pulling her against me. “You didn’t have to do that.” I press my forehead against hers, breathing her in.
“Thank you for dinner. Before I got to know you, it’d been a long time since I’d had home-cooked food. And my motel room options are hot plate or microwave-only.” She wraps her arms around my neck, so I press my lips gently to hers. I don’t want things to get out of hand. I feel like we’ve done nothing but screw since we agreed to the terms. But kissing without sex does feel like I’m getting in over my head.
“Want to stay here tonight?” I ask against her lips.
“I really shouldn’t. I need to get back to my room and do some laundry for work this week. I also have a few things to do for some other clients.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, walking her backward. I press her back against the fridge and run the tip of my nose against her jaw. Her eyes flutter closed and she takes a deep breath.
“No,” she giggles out, “but yes. I’ll see you Monday.”
I step back. “Promise?” I ask, not letting go of her hand.
“Promise. First thing Monday morning, I’ll be in your office, so you better be ready,” she says over her shoulder as she moves toward the door.
I stand back and watch her go, feeling twice as lonely as I ever have before. Something about her has pulled me in and trapped me. I’m a different man when I’m with her. It took months of dating Casey to feel this way. But with Celeste, it was immediate. It’s not something I had to force myself to feel. It was forced upon me by something unseen—God, destiny, whatever you want to call it. It’s like she was made for me. She was placed directly in my path. And that scares me beyond belief.
I lock the door and move toward the bathroom for a shower. Stepping beneath the hot flow of water, I close my eyes. The only thing I see is her. I can see the way our future could play out together: I see myself bending down on one knee to propose. I see her smile and tears of joy as she accepts. I see our summertime country wedding, her beautiful white dress, and the flowers in her hair. I see lovemaking—a lot of lovemaking. I see her stomach big and round, supporting our growing baby. I see us bringing the baby home, watching as he or she grows, watching as we grow. I see us old and gray, sitting out on the back porch in our rocking chairs, talking and watching the setting sun.
It all feels so real and perfect. It would be so easy to let myself fall head over heels for her—so easy. But I know none of it can happen. She’s a big-city girl who’s meant for much grander things than me. She’d never be happy living the country life. She needs a big penthouse apartment and fancy things. She’ll go back home in a year, find some rich guy who’s worth her time, and settle down with him, forgetting all about me. She’ll get my dream. The only problem is, I won’t be in it.
No, I’ll still be here, alone and bitter, wondering how the hell I ended up that way. Instead of waiting for Casey, I’ll be waiting for Celeste, hoping and praying she’ll come back to me one day, but knowing deep down she never will.
I have to be careful when it comes to her. Being with her once wasn’t enough. Being with her these last 24 hours still wasn’t enough. It’ll never be enough. The most I can do is enjoy it while it lasts, just like Colton suggested. Have the time of our lives now and wait for it to end. All good things must come to an end eventually, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy them while they’re happening.
Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do. I’ll keep her at arm’s length, making it that much easier to watch her walk away from me for good.
Eleven
Celeste
SIX MONTHS LATER . . .
* * *
DRAKE is wearing a wide smile as I slap all the paperwork down on his desk. “You did it?” he asks, looking up at me, eyes wide and full of excitement.
“I did it! Took a little longer than I thought it would, but we got all the signatures and you’re free to build your expansion,” I say around a giggle as I bounce up and down.
He leaps from the chair behind his desk and picks me up against him, spinning us in a circle. My arms go around his neck, holding on for dear life. I knew he’d be excited, but not this excited. Over the past few months, Drake has really opened up to me. He’s smiling and laughing more and barking out orders less. I think even Harrison has noticed a change in him. I’m over the moon seeing him this happy, but deep down, I worry that he may be getting too attached. Hell, I’m getting too attached, but I’m not worried about breaking my own heart. I’m worried about leaving him with a broken one.
“When are we breaking ground?” I ask as he pulls away.
“As soon as possible,” he answers around a wide smile. His hands move up to cup my cheeks. His smile fades away but his eyes remain locked on mine. Slowly, he pulls me in for a lip-crushing kiss. His tongue dances with my own, sending shivers up my spine. He pulls away before I’m ready.
“Will you be there with me? I couldn’t have done this without you.”
I place my hands over his. “If you want me there, I’ll be there,” I promise.
“Great,” he says, pulling away and rushing back to his desk. He picks up his phone. “Harrison, contact the construction company and see when we can break ground. Let me know as soon as possible,” he says, smile still in place. He hangs up the phone and turns to look at me. “Let’s celebrate.”
His happiness is infectious and I can’t hold back my own excitement. “How are we celebrating?” I ask.
“I’m taking you to dinner . . . in the city. Someplace nice and fancy. There will be wine and fine dining. Go put on your best dress.” He points an index finger at me as he smiles, backing toward his desk.
“Oh!” I say, turning on my heel and heading for the elevator. Stepping inside, I feel giddy. These six months have been spent quietly—hidden away from the town. We spend most nights at his place, and a few at mine here and there. We don’t really go out to eat at the diner in town. If we do, it’s for a “meeting,” where we go over paperwork while having our meal. A real date, though, that’s different. Over time, Drake has opened up to me like I never would’ve thought. I’ve seen him go from a serious, almost-miserable guy to the funny man who’s come out of his shell lately. I can’t wait to see him in full-on date mode.
I rush back to my motel room and immediately shower, taking my time and shaving every extraneous hair on my body. I take extra time perfecting my long blonde curls and makeup. My green eyes are almost glistening against the dark eyeliner and mascara. I line my lips with a deep red pencil, and fill it in with matching lipstick. I slide on a little black dress that sweeps off one shoulder and ends mid-thigh. I pair the dress with my favorite black heels. Standing back, I check over my reflection. The diamonds in my ears catch the light, and my skin is a deep olive color compared with my red lips, which make my teeth look e
ven brighter than usual. I quickly swap my normal purse for a cute black clutch that glitters and sparkles.
I’m all ready to go, but I haven’t yet gotten a call from Drake saying he’s on his way. I grab my phone and send him a quick text.
Me: I’m ready for our fancy date night!
I drop the phone onto the table and look around. I don’t want to sit and wrinkle my dress, but I’m too tightly wound to stand and not do anything. I busy myself dusting off every surface, being extra careful to ensure none of it clings to my dress. I fluff the pillows on my bed and sort through my laundry. Finally, my phone beeps. I rush over and pick it up. My heart sinks when I read the message.
Drake: I’m so sorry, Celeste. Something came up and I won’t be able to make it. Rain check?
I can’t believe he’s canceling. He’d given me the impression that he was looking forward to this date as much as I was. I wonder what could’ve come up to make him cancel?
Me: Is everything okay? Do I need to come back to the brewery?
Drake: No, everything is fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
My shoulders slump as the phone slips from my fingers, back to the table. Feeling defeated, I finally sit down, looking around my now-sparkling-clean room. I feel a tear well up in one of my eyes, but I will it away. I refuse to let myself feel upset. Drake has never canceled on me before—well, other than not initially making it to the auction when we first met—so whatever the reason, it must be important. I take a deep, cleansing breath.
All dressed up with nowhere to go, I decide I’ll go to the bar, have dinner and a drink, and talk with Stephanie. I grab the keys and head to my car.
It only takes minutes before I’m pulling into the bar parking lot. There are only a few others parked, so it must not be very busy. I walk inside, finding Stephanie behind the bar just like I knew she would be.
She whistles loudly. “Looking good! What’s the occasion?”
I sit down, dropping my clutch on the bar. “Nothing now. Can I get a salad and a drink?”
The Slade Brothers: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection Page 15