by D. L. Gallie
They look at me with pity.
They treat me like I’m broken, made of glass.
One wrong move and I’ll shatter, never to be mended again.
But they’re wrong, I survived.
I won’t let him or anyone ruin my life.
I refuse to let them win.
I am Mackenzie Merlot. I am strong. I am a survivor.
Beer: it’s all I ever loved.
It’s all I ever thought about until she came crashing into my life; literally.
I missed my chance at the beginning, but now that I have her, I will do anything for her and our dream; but I failed.
I’m Jordan McRoberts; I will do anything to make sure she gets her happily ever after.
Copyright © DL Gallie 2016
First published 2016
Email: [email protected]
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a database and retrieval system or transmitted in any form or any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the owner of copyright and the above publishers.
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be stored or reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher
Malt Me, book 1 in the Liquor Cabinet series
ISBN [ISBN number]
Edited by Karen Hrdlicka, Barren Acres Editing
Cover Designed by Murphy Rae from Indie Solutions
Interior Formatting by Elaine York from Allusion Graphics, LLC/Publishing & Book Formatting
This book contains content this is not suitable for persons under 18. It touches on sensitive matters. Drugs, alcohol, sexual content, including rape and course language are included in this book.
If these subjects offend then this book probably isn’t for you.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the produce of the author’s imagination or used factitiously. Any resemblance to the actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Some of the chapters repeat themselves, as they are given from both points of views. I have added extra and tweaked them, so that these scenes are not exactly the same.
The legal drinking age is Australia is 18.
This book contains Australian slang as it is set in Australia and uses Australian spelling.
Here is a glossary to help you out:
Missus – Wife/Girlfriend/Partner
Arvo – Afternoon
Headjob – Blowjob
Undies – Panties
Franga – Condom
Singlet – Tank
Trackies – Track pants
Thongs – Flip Flops
Hinterland – Mountains
Esky – Cool Box/ Cooler
Ambo – Ambulance Officer
Up the duff – pregnant
Obs – vitals – blood pressure, temp etc.
Maccas – McDonald’s
Bottle-O – Liquor store
Mines – that is mine
To my husband, Troy,
For giving me the confidence to take this leap
and for always loving me, especially when I am being irrational
Prologue
Part 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Part 2
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Malt Me Playlist
About the Author
Upcoming Releases
As I stand on the mezzanine level leaning on the timber railing with my foot resting on the wire cable I look down and realize that we did it; we actually did it. Our dream of opening a brewpub has actually come true. I never imagined the path to get to this point would have been as rocky as it was, but despite it all, here we are. Malt Me is now officially open and it’s currently full, yes full. The beer is flowing, the kitchen is pumping out orders, and it seems like everyone is having a blast. You cannot wipe the smile off my face; I’m glowing with pride and achievement.
Looking towards Jordan my heart flutters, just like it did all those years ago when we first met. I can see that he is just as happy as I am. He looks up at me and smiles. After all these years, his smile still makes me weak at the knees. He takes the checker plate stairs that wind along the side of the room, two at a time. He saunters over and wraps his tanned muscular arms around me, lifting me up into a hug, spinning us around whispering, “We did it, Kenz, we really did it.” Lowering me down, he places the softest kiss on my lips that quickly turns heated.
I step back, gently pushing him in the chest, “STOP! We have to be professional.” He pouts, so I place a quick kiss on his lips and whisper into his ear, “Later, I promise to make all your dreams come true.” I wink as I pull back.
“Kenz, all my dreams have come true. I have the girl of my dreams in my arms and we are standing in OUR brewpub.”
He bends down for another kiss and from below I hear Mike yell, “Get a room, you two!”
“Fu…whatever, Mike, if I wanna kiss my missus, I’ll kiss my missus.” Turning his attention back to me, Jordan says, “Come on, baby, lets go play boss and mingle”
“I’ll be down in a sec, I just wanna stay here for a moment and take it all in. I still can’t believe we did it, Jor. There was so much in our way and at times, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this and then Clint happened.” He goes to interrupt me, but I put my finger on his lips to stop him. “I’m not dwelling on that, Jor, but it happened. It’s a part of who we are and a major part of this journey. I just want to enjoy this moment, cause I’m still amazed that we did it. Now, go and have a beer to celebrate and tell Mike to behave. I’ll be down in a sec to celebrate with you, promise.”
Jordan leans down, gives me a quick peck on the cheek and says, “Don’t be too long, Kenz.” He winks at me and walks away. His wink still sends shockwaves to my girly parts.
When he gets to the top of the stairs, he looks over his shoulder and says, “I love you, Kenz, and I promise to look after you and
our beers forever.” I laugh as he jumps down the stairs, and when he gets to the bottom, he yells, “Beer me baby” and throws his arms wide. I cannot help but laugh, like really laugh.
“Wait for it!” Mike yells, and then I snort. Yes, I snort laugh for everyone to hear and laughter erupts from down below.
I take a bow and since everyone is looking at me, I clear my throat and say, “While I have your attention, Jordan and I want to thank you all for being here today, at the grand opening of our baby Malt Me. The journey here hasn’t been smooth, but we got here thanks to the support of many of you. We both thank you all so very muchly. BUT I want to give a special shout out to my partner in crime…”
Mike interrupts and yells, “Naw shucks, Kenz, you don’t have to thank me!”
“As if, Mike. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I want to thank Jordan. We would not be here today if it wasn’t for his love of beer and his passion for everything beer; specifically one awesome drunken decision that was made at the Oktoberfest all those years ago. Jordan, I love you so very muchly and I’m so proud of you. Together we are going to make beautiful beers and live hoppily ever after.” Everyone below laughs at my beer joke. “So, if everyone can raise their drinks and toast Jordan. Congrats on making your dream come true baby.”
“You mean our dream!” he yells.
Below everyone says, “Cheers, to Jordan and Kenzie.” They all start congratulating Jordan and waving for me to come down. I walk towards the stairs with a huge happy smile on my face. I look down at everything and freeze, something by the front doors catches my eye and I stumble. Before I know, it I’m tumbling down the stairs. I vaguely hear someone yelling “Kenzie!” Then it all goes dark…Again.
Seven years earlier …
This past summer has been amazing. I finished high school before Christmas and had an amazing weeks holiday with my bestie Sarah for schoolies, we went island hopping in the Whitsunday’s. I finally turned eighteen and to top it all off, I was accepted into the college course that I had my heart set on. Today I’m moving into my first apartment.
This time tomorrow I will officially be a college student. I was accepted into Stratton’s School of Business and I will be completing my diploma of Tourism Management, which is twelve months in length. If I enjoy it, I can transfer my credits to university and do a Bachelor of Tourism.
I found a cute apartment, a short ten-minute bus ride to the city. Thankfully I have my inheritance from Dad, now that I turned eighteen to help with expenses. There are six apartments in total and mine is number two; they are in a two story red brick with the apartment being on one level and the garage and laundry underneath. As it’s my first apartment, the majority of my furniture I had to buy. It’s being delivered later today, so apart from my clothes and personal items, all the heavy lifting is taken care of.
Hoping I’d get an uber hottie to deliver my stuff; luck wasn’t on my side and I ended up with a balding beer bellied rough nut, who stinks, just my luck. Thankfully, he gets everything unloaded pretty quickly and placed into the rooms I want, now all I have to do is put it all together. I love to hate IKEA flat packs. I love that they are cheap, but hate having to put them together.
I quickly change into my grey trackies and fluro pink Wine Time Finally singlet, grab a bottle of wine, and I decide to start with the bedroom stuff first. After all, I’ll need to get a good night sleep in order to be fresh and ready for college tomorrow. Pouring a glass of wine, I try and decipher the bed instructions when my phone starts to play Love Shack by The B-52’s. I glance at the screen and see Mum’s smiling face looking at me. “Heya, Mum”
“Hi, Mac, how’s the unpacking going?”
“I’m drinking wine.”
“That good, huh?”
“I’m starting to wish I had paid extra and gotten them to put it all together for me. Why am I such a tightass?”
“Language, honey, but if I can put a BBQ together, I am sure you will be fine with a bed and a few shelves”
“I know, I know, I’m just not in the mood for it tonight.” We both laugh “I’ve decided that I’ll put my bed together tonight and then work my way through each room. Enough about my flat pack hell. How are you?”
“I’m good, missing my baby girl.”
“I’m eighteen, Mum, not really a baby anymore, but I miss you too. You know you can always move here. There is nothing really keeping you guys there, and Skye can always go to school here, in the city!”
“I don’t want to disrupt your sister’s schooling, she was doing really well at the end of last year. She has decided she wants to be a nurse.”
“For this week?”
“Mac, that’s not fair. You were just as indecisive as her. If I remember correctly, you were going to be a chef, remind me again what you are studying?”
“Fair enough, Mum, I was just teasing. Look, I’d love to chat, but I really need to get this done and get a good night’s sleep. My first class is at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Tell Skye I love her, I’ll give you guys a call tomorrow night and let you know how my first day went.”
“Sounds good, baby girl. Good luck with the furniture and I’ll chat to you tomorrow. I love you, Mac. Your dad would be so proud.”
“I love you too, Mum and I hope he would be. I still miss him.” Tears rise to my eyes when I say that.
“I miss him too, honey, and I know he would be because I’m very proud of you. I’ll chat to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mum, I love you.”
“Love you too, baby girl.”
After hanging up, I grab my family photo out of a box and I sit and stare at it, a lone tear cascades down my cheek. I still miss Dad, even though he died five years ago. One minute he’s mowing the front lawn, and the next, we are organising his funeral. He had a bleed on the brain, also known as an aneurysm and the ambos were unable to revive him. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. I stare at the photo. “Love you, Dad,” I whisper, as I kiss my finger and place it on his head. I put the frame on my chest of drawers, the only non-flat pack item. Grabbing my wine, I take a sip, turn up the tunes and dive in.
It only takes me three hours to put together my bed and shelf. I’m putting away the last shirt and Baby One More Time by Brittany Spears comes on, I grab my brush and sing at the top of my lungs, shaking my booty around my new bedroom. This has been a great day. I quickly grab a shower and put on my new, silk, Peter Alexander PJ’s before jumping into my newly built and made bed. I’m pretty proud, as I managed to get the draws and the intricate headboard shelf thingy put together with only one tantrum, and I didn’t damage the chocolate brown timber either.
I snuggle under my sunflower comforter that my Mum and sister bought me for my high school graduation present. I still can’t believe Mum and Skye got me this; I pointed it out months ago when we had a girls’ shopping day. When I went back into Talking Pillow to get it, they’d just sold the last one; little did I know it was Mum and Skye who purchased it. It’s the softest Egyptian cotton, and it’s covered in sunflowers with a bluish green background. The thousand thread sheets are a buttery yellow, with blue accents that match the comforter. My mum always says you need to sleep like the dead and to do so you need comfort. She’s a total sheet snob, and I have now inherited this trait too. I snuggle down, looking forward to the new adventure that starts tomorrow.
My alarm goes off at 6.30 a.m. and I’m so excited. Jumping up, I race to the kitchen, and turn on my coffee machine; while the coffee is brewing I grab a quick shower. For my first day of college, I settle on my Wrangler jeans that hug my curves and make my ass look amazing. A wine coloured sleeveless shirt with black lace at the top, which I pair with my black Diana Ferrari ballerina flats. I look in the mirror and I’m pleased. I look sophisticated, yet sexy. Perfect for my first day of college.
Pouring my coffee into my travel mug, I grab my bag, lock up and I walk to the bus stop. I catch the 115, which is an express into town, and depending on
traffic, I should arrive with plenty of time to spare. Traffic is light for a Monday morning so I don’t have to rush. I get into town early enough that I head to the coffee shop, Java Lava, which is next door to the college and grab another coffee, I’m totally addicted to coffee…and wine.
After my coffee, I head to college. Walking up the front steps, I admire the building. I’ve never seen so many windows before; they’re that reflective stuff, which has always fascinated me for some weird reason. Gazing towards the building, I bump into someone while my neck is craned and I fall flat on my ass.
Looking up, I see the hottest guy I have ever seen, he has an electric smile, likable lips, bulging biceps and the most mesmerizing eyes. His sandy blond hair is short on the side with a waved fringe, and I imagine myself running my fingers through it, while biting those luscious lips.
“Um, sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I say, as a slight blush creeps onto my cheeks, due to my inappropriate thoughts.
He puts out his hand to help me up, and I wrap my fingers around his. I feel an electric spark between us when our hands touch and he helps to pull me up. I feel sad when he drops my hand. “No worries, I probably should not have stopped in the middle of the walkway. I’m Jordan McRoberts.” He lifts his hand to shake.
Reaching my hand out, I grip his hand and shake. “Nice to smash into you, Jordan, I’m Mackenzie Merlot.” I feel the same spark that I felt moments ago. Letting go of his hand, I push my golden blonde hair over my shoulder and smile.
“Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
I snort laugh at his comment and can’t help but smile. “That’s the cheesiest line ever, dude, but thank you for the compliment. I’m really sorry about bumping into you, I was mesmerised by the building and all the windows.”
“It’s partly my fault too, I should have been paying attention and not playing on my phone.”
Stepping around him, I look over my shoulder. “I hope to see you around.” I shamelessly wink at him as I walk up the stairs into the building.
Heading to reception, I fill out more paperwork, finalise my registration, get my amended timetable, and head to my first class. I walk into the classroom and I take a seat in the middle. My gaze moves towards the seat next to me. There’s this guy sitting there, just staring at me. He has wavy, dark brown hair that hangs just below his ears, and his eyes match the darkness of his hair. Great, I’m sitting next to a weirdo. I consider getting up and moving seats but he looks over and smiles. His smile lights up his face and he looks less creepy now. His smile makes his dark eyes pop and sparkle, making him less of a weirdo and spunky, a Patrick Bateman from American Psycho kind of spunky.