Brew Ha Ha Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bria Quinlan

  I’m guessing with Jenna, six stories might not be high enough.

  17

  “Jenna, what part of no do you not understand?” Max's voice pushed its way through the front door of the condo, a little more forcefully than I would have expected for a game night chit chat.

  “I'm not telling you to date her. I'm just saying she's really nice and super cute. Don't think I didn't notice you checking her out.”

  “Checking her out is one thing. Taking her out is completely different. I'm not dating someone who needs to be managed that much. She can't walk across town without creating A Situation.”

  I could even hear the capitals on the last two words.

  Who the hell did Max think he was judging me on a couple bad days? It's not like I was throwing myself at him like all those girls on Twitter...and probably half of them around town, too.

  “Right. Sure. Like I said, you don't have to date her. Just be nice and make her feel welcome.” I could picture the look on Jenna's face while she humored Max and I doubt I liked it any more than he did.

  “Listen to my words, Jenna. I—”

  That was enough of that. I knocked on the door, thankful for the silence that fell from the other side followed by light footsteps rushing over.

  “Kasey! I’m so glad you're here.” She pulled me into a hug while clicking the door closed behind me with a solid thud.

  Behind her, Max stood, hands in his pocket as he leaned against a kitchen island. “Kasey.” He gave me a curt nod.

  Yeah. Game night. Fun.

  “Kasey!” Ben strolled out of a back room, obviously comfortable with the new living arrangement after one night. “We're so glad you could come. We haven't had even teams in...”

  The fadeout wouldn't have been that interesting if it hadn't been accompanied by a glance in Max's direction.

  That was interesting.

  No. No, it wasn't. I wasn't interested in anything to do with Max. No matter what Jayne said about him being hot or the weird Kitten Calendar Dream.

  But then a horrific thought crossed my mind. “What about the other people?”

  “Hailey got caught up writing and she's running a few minutes late. Dane shows up when he wants.” Jenna started putting together a fruit tray, completely focused on not meeting my gaze. “Which will be almost on time since I threatened to post his dating history online if he didn't start being more considerate of his friends.”

  She was not someone to cross. Amazing how she balanced being so sweet with the tiny, little dictator who peeked out occasionally. “You guys head into the living room and make yourselves comfortable.”

  I smiled at Max, annoyed at how much he didn't want to date me. Not that I wanted to date him. But he didn't have to be so vocal about how uninterested he was in me. I turned toward the other end of the open set up where a set of overstuffed living room furniture made a welcoming corner.

  “So...” I glanced around looking for something to say that didn't scream I heard you talking about how repulsive you find me. It was harder to come up with than you'd think. “Did you work today?”

  “Yup.”

  “Anything interesting happen today?”

  “Nope.” He settled in the chair across from me. “So I'm assuming you didn't leave the house?”

  I could feel my shoulders stiffening up. “No. I did. You may want to check the local banks.”

  The corner of his lips quirked up and he glanced back toward the kitchen. “I probably would have heard about a bank being robbed.”

  “I'm that good, obviously. You won't find out for another week or so. But, don't worry. I'll keep your name out of it when they bring me in for questioning.”

  Max shook his head, the smile still fighting those lips I definitely wasn't looking at. Just as he opened his mouth to reply, the front door flew open.

  “Sorry I'm late, but look who I found hitting on one of your neighbors in the lobby.”

  I turned toward the voice and...stalled out.

  The most stunningly good-looking guy I'd ever seen stood in the doorway behind an unconventionally pretty girl, a grin on his face that showed he was absolutely not feeling guilty about being late so he could flirt with some stranger.

  He moved into the room, a gait made to watch, and hugged Jenna before shaking Ben's hand. I'd lost track of the girl who'd come in with him while watching him move. It was a thing of beauty.

  “Great. Another one drops under the supercilious good-looks of the playboy.” Max kicked one leg up to cross the ankle over his knee and leaned back in the chair studying me as if he’d have to file a report at the end of the evening.

  “What?” I knew what he was talking about, but I wasn't stupid enough to admit to it.

  “Dane. You're reacting just like every other girl does when she sees him. Now he's going to spot you, a new girl in the room, sashay over, and flatter you into falling at his feet.”

  “I'm sorry.” I shook my head at Max as he started to look surprised at my apology. “I didn't realize guys sashayed. Is that a new thing or is it just a Dane-specific swagger?”

  “Oh, he's got tons of swagger. Everywhere we go he manages to use it to the best of his advantage.”

  “Jealous?”

  “That he's going to come in here and see if you're stupid enough to fall for it like ninety-five percent of the female population?” Max gave a small snort as if answering wasn’t even worth his time.

  “Obviously you're not jealous that he might try to hit on me. I mean, why would you be interested in someone who keeps creating situations?”

  Max's arms dropped to his side, a blush creeping up his neck.

  “Listen.” He leaned forward, even as he glanced away. “I didn't mean to be insulting. I just...you're not my type. It's not you.”

  “Don't worry about it. It's not like I’m sitting here throwing myself at you. I think you're safe.”

  “No. Kasey. It's...” He glanced toward the kitchen where Jenna was mixing drinks and obviously keeping everyone very busy while Max and I sat in the living room falling in love—at least, I'm pretty sure that's what she was convinced was happening. “It really isn't you. I just got out of something a while ago and she was a bit too wild for me. I'm not looking, but when I am, I'll be looking for someone a little less...complicated than you are. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not what I’m looking for.”

  He studied me as if I were going to burst into tears at this announcement. Who was the cocky one in the room? I glanced toward Dane, awed again by his gorgeousness and wondered.

  “Don't worry, Max. You're totally not my type. I get the not-personal thing. You're the last guy I'd date, so you're safe from me.”

  He nodded, his smile still looking forced. “Well, good.”

  We sat there, an awkward silence between us as I watched the foursome in the kitchen.

  “Why not?”

  My gaze drifted back to Max. “Excuse me?”

  “Why not?”

  “Why not, what?” He really could not be asking what I thought he was.

  “Why am I not your type?”

  “You're kidding me, right?”

  “Yeah.” He paused and looked toward the kitchen again. “Well, kind of. You know, I’m just curious. Nothing more. Just wondering why...you know.”

  “Why I'm not interested in dating you?”

  “Yeah. That.”

  Guys are crazy. They talk about how nuts women are, but this was exactly the type of thing that proved they were far less sane than we are.

  “I don't need any more alpha male crap in my life. I'm starting over. This is my chance to be my own woman and not stand in some guy's shadow who's going to tell me what the best way to live my life is and shoe horn me into his. I want someone interested in the same stuff and looking for the same lifestyle. I don't need a guy who is, you know...”

  Now he wasn't looking so embarrassed. He was looking a little annoyed.

  “No. I don't know.
What?”

  “Come on, Max. Not only would you expect to tell me what to do all the time, but you're a cop. How much could we really have in common? You're all walking the street fighting crime and I'm more interested in designing stuff and making time for foreign films.”

  “Foreign films?” He was looking at me as if I'd just said I was going to fly to the moon. “What's the last foreign film you saw?”

  Was this a test?

  Crap, what was the last foreign film I'd seen? I can't even remember the last movie I'd seen. Did British films count? Actually, I'd snuck out to see that X-Men film Jason refused to see based on it being pop culture trash that was skewing the American view of politically acceptable behavior.

  “Do you even really like foreign films?” he asked, all but calling me a liar.

  That was a good question. Did I? And, why did he sound like Jayne suddenly?

  “Maybe. But, if I do then I want a guy who is going to see them with me.”

  “Any guy you date should do stuff you enjoy with you. Even if it's a suck-it-up situation. Every once in while he'd go to the cinema with you.”

  “Fine. If I wanted to see foreign films, you'd suck it up and go with me. Got it.”

  “I like foreign films. I've been looking forward to that new French film about the Riviera in the 40s and the writer’s movement that went on there.”

  “Great. We could go see that.” As soon as I said the words, I was annoyed with myself. “If we were dating. Which we're not. Because you think I’m annoying and complicated and I'm resetting my life on my own.”

  “Right.” He re-crossed his arms and leaned back.

  “So, we'll just, you know, not date.”

  “Good.”

  “Great.”

  Perfect.

  “I said, blue not moo. I don’t even know how you could confuse the two.” I glared at Max ready to throw the board game at his head. “Is it your hearing or your listening that’s the problem?”

  Across the table, Dane snorted and Hailey, a sweetly sarcastic girl I liked immediately, elbowed him.

  “Maybe if I weren’t wondering what type of chaos you were going to rain down any second I would be able to focus on the game more.”

  A low, oooohhhh whispered from the silent pair at the end of the coffee table.

  “And yet, the only thing that’s happened is the huge loss we seem to be having because of your inability to listen.”

  “I’m listening,” Max shot back. “I’m also hyper-aware of any other disasters that could strike at any moment when you’re present.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Snappy come back there, Kasey.

  “Yeah. I—”

  “That is enough.” Jenna stood up and threw the decorative pillow she’d been holding down. “If you two are going to ruin game night, you can both go home.”

  Oh, no. I was ruining game night. I glanced around the group knowing I’d just worn out my welcome. I made it through almost half a week with new friends and look what I did.

  I was the wrecker of all things good.

  “I’m so sorry.” I tried not to literally wring my hands, but they were hanging there at the end of my arms doing nothing. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I do,” Hailey said and nodded her head toward Max.

  Dane snorted again. “Yeah, not yet.”

  My gaze shot toward Max and watched as his neck slowly stained red as he glared Dane down.

  “You know what?” I set down my drink and stood. “I’m really sorry. I’m just…tired. I’m going to head out. Thanks so much for having me.”

  “No.” Jenna picked up her pillow again and threw it at Max, taking him by surprise and knocking him upside the head. “You don’t have to go.”

  “It’s okay. You guys finish the game. I’m just going to go get some rest. Thanks.”

  I rushed toward the door, knowing it was rude even as I did it. I felt like crying for the first time since everything that had happened. I had no idea what had gotten into me. Max Darby just rubbed me the wrong way and I was letting him get to me. I don’t know why. You’d think after years of not noticing how horrible Jason was, Max’s little nudges wouldn’t bother me.

  I pushed through the foyer’s door and had to take a moment to figure out which way was home. With my luck, I’d just start walking and end up at my old place. I’d made it halfway down the block, before I heard the footsteps rushing after me.

  “Tuesday!”

  Yeah. Like I was going to answer to that.

  “Kasey!”

  Okay, I should answer to that, but I just wanted to get home. I was blowing Step One of my Begin Again plan. Unless it had magically become, New Friends…tick them off.

  Then I was all, Check! on that one.

  “Kasey, wait.” Max caught up with me and slowed to match my steps.

  I looked up at him, not wanting to apologize to the guy who nagged me into humiliation. I knew it was on purpose. Every time I said something he had a comeback. Everything I did he insisted on the opposite. It was as if he’d spent the night trying to drive me out. Well, out I was. I’d apologized for my part of it, but that’s as far as I was going.

  I just shook my head and continued down the street, enjoying the crisp evening air.

  We walked on, Max at my side, the street quieter than the early evening bustle of when I’d arrived.

  “You don’t have to walk me all the way home.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Actually, I’d rather you didn’t.”

  He stopped. Just stopped. I couldn’t tell whether it was because I’d offended him—again—or if he was just taking me at my word.

  I decided to believe it was the latter. I walked the blocks, listening to the sounds of the city during the evening. The birds that seemed to come out of nowhere as I got closer to the tree-lined neighborhood. The cars got nicer…and quieter. I hadn’t thought there were peaceful places right in town. But The Village gave that idea a run for its money.

  And that’s why I heard the quiet, steady steps half a block behind me, walking along, measured with mine. There was no tingly spine or nervous twitches. I knew, just knew, it was Max back there making sure no one else was following me home.

  When I got to my building, I climbed the elegant arched staircase and turned back to see him standing in the tree-shadowed spot under a streetlight waiting for me to go in. I raised my hand, annoyed through my thankfulness, and watched as he stood there stubbornly waiting for me to head inside.

  Part of me wanted to stay there, waiting him out and see what he’d do. But, goodness knew Max was obstinate. He’d probably wait until I got all the way up to Ben’s apartment and he saw the lights go on before heading home.

  After climbing the steps to my new front door, I was tempted to slip inside and try to make my way among the boxes to the window and watch for his reaction to the long darkness. But, with my luck, I’d get close to the window before tripping over something and taking a header out my new third story home.

  Then Max would probably have to do something and there’d be paperwork. That’s all I needed to be.

  More paperwork.

  18

  When my alarm clock went off the next morning, I asked myself why I was still bothering to set it. If my life was going down the toilet, I should at least get to sleep in. I rolled over, slamming my hand down on the snooze button and settled back in under my blanket.

  I lay there, contemplating the night before and wondering if I should go back to The Brew to work. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I was reenergized. I had work to do. I had a new business I was passionate about. Yes, I may have isolated my new friend, but life wasn’t over. I was no worse off than five days ago. Although, that whole don’t know whatcha got until it’s gone thing was feeling true.

  I got up and checked my email. Three people I’d sent my press release to had already responded letting me know they were disappointed I no longer worked at Brockman and promising to
pass my name on to any smaller businesses looking to hire a capable boutique.

  Well, that was a win. I figured if they didn’t mean it, they’d just hit the delete button.

  Checking out my website stats, I had twenty-two hits from the mailing. Not bad for a weekend.

  Pulling myself out of my pity party, I headed toward the shower, my mind already racing with how I’d take over the marketing world. Or at least a tiny corner of it.

  At the sidewalk, my feet automatically turned and headed toward The Brew. It was what it was. And also, since it was a Sunday maybe Jenna would be taking the day off. I wouldn’t have to run into her and see if she was as annoyed as I thought she might be because of me ruining game night.

  I pushed through the front door, sucking in the sweet smell of blended drinks and baked chocolate treats and stalled out.

  Not only was Jenna there, but all of them were sitting around the little beat-up coffee table drinking frothy beverages and eating scrumptious desserty breakfast things.

  Crud.

  Jenna caught my eye, but before she could say anything I gave a little wave and headed to the other side of the room. I pulled out my laptop and set it up making it obvious I was there to work. Work was why I was there. Yup. There was work to be done.

  Not that work was a lie, but I wanted it super clear that I had things to do.

  I really didn’t need a pity invite over to their cool kids’ table.

  Before I could finish setting up, Jenna slid into the seat across from me.

  “Hey.”

  It was that smile. She used it like a weapon. Oh, she looked sweet. She looked like one of the nicest people on the planet. But then she gave you that smile and made it so you couldn’t say no to anything she suggested.

  I was going to say no. I was going to be strong and say no.

  “Hi.” I used my own smile like a weapon.

  Or, at least I thought I did, but when Jenna looked at me like I could possibly be deranged, I wished I had a mirror.

  “So, you’re working today?” She glanced at the table I’d taken over with my mock ups, potential customer list, and to-do sheets.