Bourbon Springs Box Set: Volume III, Books 7-9 (Bourbon Springs Box Sets Book 3)

by Jennifer Bramseth

  “I doubt it,” Hannah said, watching as Cara happily consumed her ice cream. “The law just recently changed so we can sell liquor by the glass here at the distillery. Previously, we could only offer tastes. Now we can sell shots and mixed drinks here in the café. That means we could offer a milkshake with a bit of kick to it, in addition to the plain versions. I just need to get Goose on board since it would involve Cinnamon Garnet.”

  From the corner of her eye, Cara caught sight of Rachel and Brady standing together near the windows overlooking Old Crow Creek and remembered she needed to speak with them about Judicial College. Hannah at that moment excused herself as the happy couple and Drake returned from the lobby.

  “Need to get some more shots for publicity purposes,” Hannah explained. “We’re getting requests to hold weddings here. If we decide to do that, I want plenty of photos for our portfolio.”

  Hannah left her side, giving Cara the opportunity to gracelessly scarf down the remainder of the ice cream before Drake’s return.

  She wasn’t successful, and Drake rejoined her in mid-scarf.

  “Is it that good?”

  “You know it is!” she cried, putting the emptied container on the table.

  Cara grabbed a napkin, wiped her face, and looked down to make sure there were no large dark purple splotches of ice cream marring the surface of her dress. Miraculously the garment had escaped unscathed, and she and Drake made their way to the judges.

  After warm greetings all around, she asked whether she could leave her car at their house.

  “Of course. It’ll be great to have a car sitting in the driveway while we’re gone for several days,” Brady agreed.

  “I could drive you to their house,” suggested Drake.

  “No, I want Nate to see me leaving in my car. He sees me doing that every workday, and it will be easier for him to understand and accept instead of my leaving with someone.”

  They arranged a time shortly after dinner to meet at the judges’ house.

  “We have to take Jacob to my parents. They’re going to keep him while we’re gone,” explained Rachel.

  “Does he get upset when you leave?”

  Rachel swallowed, and her mood darkened in an instant as her husband put a hand on her shoulder.

  “No, but we’ve never left him for this long. We’ve only done a few overnights in Lexington or Louisville and completely skipped Judicial College last year.”

  “I’ve not left Nate this long either,” Cara admitted.

  “Then we can all stick together for support,” Brady said. “Starting tonight. Let’s all agree now to go to that cocktail reception at eight.”

  The judges agreed, and the conversation turned to the hope that they would serve Old Garnet at the gathering.

  Rachel and Cara turned to scan the crowd for Hannah, spotting her near the café entrance with the newlyweds, both of whom had changed clothes and were ready to leave.

  “The happy couple is departing! Come say good-bye!” Hannah cried.

  The guests migrated into the lobby and then outside. At the doors, groomsmen handed out small packets of birdseed and paper bags filled with something white and preternaturally fluffy, like cotton candy.

  “What is this stuff?” Cara heard another guest ask.

  “Byproduct of milling the grains,” Goose said behind her. “We usually just bag the stuff up and show it to the tourists although some farmers buy it for bedding. It was my idea to try to use it.”

  Cara dipped a hand into the bag and touched the frothy-foamy stuff, which was very soft and smooth between the tips of her fingers. It put her in mind of angels’ wings.

  The guests moved outside and lined the path leading into the visitors’ center and, when the couple emerged from the building, showered them with the eclectic mixture of birdseed and the white stuff. The birdseed was easy to throw but not so much the milling mixture, which floated in the air and was nearly impossible to toss with any clear direction.

  Jorrie and Mack ran to a waiting limo, waved good-bye, and disappeared into their waiting ride.

  “Not using Mack’s truck? That’s no fun,” Drake said.

  “That was a very deliberate choice,” Goose said. “They didn’t trust us not to do something crazy to his truck.”

  “Which is exactly what would’ve happened,” Harriet chimed in, waving at the limo as it pulled away.

  “You know it,” Goose said. “I feel like I’ve been cheated out of a little fun.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find ways to exact your revenge,” Harriet said.

  “He does work here, and I know what he drives…”

  Harriet pulled her mischief-minded husband back toward the cooler confines of the visitors’ center as the guests began either migrating toward their cars or back inside. Cara told Drake she needed to use the restroom, so they followed most of the Davenports back into the building.

  Cara waved good-bye to Rachel and Brady, who were headed to the parking lot. As she did so, she noticed that CiCi and Walker were leaving, which she thought odd due to Walker’s status as a distillery employee and CiCi’s naturally gregarious nature.

  “It was a lovely wedding,” Cara said as she found Hannah at her side as they walked through the front doors.

  “Yes, it was,” she said, smiling, although the smile soon faded. “But I don’t know if we can justify shutting down the visitors’ center in the middle of the high tourist season to do this again. Don’t misunderstand. Mack is family, so we’d do this for him again in a minute.” Hannah paused and looked outside where a small tour bus was pulling up to the curb. “Maybe we can’t do weddings here, after all.”

  “What if you built a special place for it? Like a gazebo out on the grounds and a nearby building for the reception spot?” Cara suggested.

  “Thought about that already,” Hannah admitted. “Not sure where to put it. And I don’t like the idea of building something new on the grounds just for a reception area. Not sure how much use we’d get out of it.”

  “But doesn’t Woodford Reserve have that conference center?” Drake asked as they stood in the middle of the lobby on the wheel.

  “Yes, but it’s in an older building. And they don’t do weddings or receptions.”

  “So build a multipurpose facility, with the gazebo nearby. I’m sure you’d like to steal some of Woodford’s thunder when it comes to conference business.”

  “Indeed we would. Getting conferences here is a long-term part of building more brand awareness for us,” Hannah said.

  “What about the part of the grounds that used to be Lila’s land?” Drake suggested.

  “I’ve thought about it but haven’t had the guts to ask her about building something down there. You know how she is about the springs. Right now we’re using her old house as a construction headquarters for building more rickhouses on the southern end of the property, although beyond that we haven’t discussed how to use it.”

  Cara excused herself, leaving Hannah and Drake to continue talking and looking over her shoulder at the steady stream of tourists entering the facility now that the wedding was over. Upon returning, she saw Drake waiting for her in front of the space between the gift shop and the door to the conference room. He was sitting on a small bench made of repurposed barrel staves and rose at once when he saw her.

  “Ready to go?” she asked.

  “Not really,” he said, taking one of her hands. “I know that when we leave, we’ll be going directly back to your house and then you’ll be off for the next several days.”

  “Not looking forward to this trip for a lot of reasons.” She was thinking not only of leaving Drake and Nate but of her inevitable meeting with Garner Robson. She checked her watch. “I think I should try to call Judge Robson now, get that out of the way.”

  “Maybe not out here,” he said, looking at the lobby which still housed a few wedding guests.

  Drake walked the few steps to the conference room door, tried the knob, and found it
unlocked.

  They didn’t turn on the lights, and Cara moved to the far side of the room along the windows, while Drake stayed near the door. Feeling unsettled, Cara tapped her phone to return Judge Robson’s call, part of her hoping he’d not answer. But he did.

  “Thanks for calling me back,” he said in an affable if distracted voice. In the background, she heard the distinctive sharp cry of an infant.

  “Sounds like you have your hands full there,” Cara said.

  “Yeah,” he said, laughing. “Home alone with the little one. She’s two months old today! Hard to believe!”

  “Congratulations,” she said.

  “Anyway, I guess you know why I called.”

  “Court of Appeals spot?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I heard you’re interested in it too.”

  “And you want to talk at Judicial College?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind. Could we please meet for dinner on Monday night?”

  She agreed and they ended the call. And she felt very confused.

  Garner sounded like a nice guy, at least on the phone. Now instead of dreading meeting him, she was looking forward to it, if for nothing else to satisfy her curiosity.

  Drake joined her at the window.

  “I suppose I need to tell you I have a dinner date tomorrow night,” she said, smiling.

  “With Garner Robson? I don’t think I have anything to worry about.”

  “Considering that he’s a married man with a two-month-old daughter? No, no worries there.”

  “Didn’t mean it that way. I happen to know that he’s a jerk. I’ve practiced against him. So do be cautious,” Drake said and put his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

  Nervous that they might be caught, Cara tried to pull away.

  “We already got caught kissing once in the middle of the lobby. I don’t want to make a habit of embarrassing myself with you at the distillery.”

  “Not a chance of that,” Drake said. “I locked the door behind us.”

  “I’m sure the owners have keys,” she teased, although she was comfortable enough to allow him to draw her to him.

  “So do you dare kiss me here?”

  “I most certainly do since I don’t see the chance of getting you alone again for several more days.”

  “So take your chance.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers and claimed her. Drake was needy yet impassioned, and she felt that same level of ardor that she’d experienced with him at the nature preserve. His lips traveled to the corner of her mouth, along the top of her cheekbone, then to her temple.

  “I’m going to miss you, Cara.”

  Cara hadn’t thought that much about being parted from Drake, only Nate. And she knew that he was giving her quite the send-off. He wanted her to remember these last kisses so she would anticipate their reunion once the conference was over.

  And it hit how much she was going to miss him.

  “Likewise, counselor,” she said, planting a small kiss on his neck.

  “I happen to have business in Harrodsburg on Thursday afternoon,” he said, mentioning one of the small towns close to Fort Shelby State Resort Park. “Could I come visit you?”

  “Inviting yourself over, are you?”

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “I think by Thursday I’ll be so tired of being around other judges I’ll want to dig a hole and jump in,” she said. “Give me a call, and maybe you can drop by.”

  “You can plan on that call, Your Honor.”

  It was either the moment to leave or crank up the intensity of their encounter.

  Cara put her hands on the back of his head, forcing his lips toward hers.

  “I’m not done saying good-bye.”

  10

  Her move startled him, but Drake soon took control of the kiss as well as her body. As his hands slowly moved up her torso to her breasts, his fingers splaying over her chest, Cara’s head fell back. She pressed against her body against him, his arousal unmistakable and growing.

  His mouth traveled to her neck, and his fingers found the zipper of her dress.

  “Drake… we shouldn’t…”

  “Please… let me touch you,” he pleaded, his forehead against hers.

  She was about to give in when the doorknob rattled.

  They immediately broke apart.

  “I thought you locked it!” Cara cried.

  “I did! They can’t get in.”

  But whoever was at the door was undaunted, continuing to jiggle the knob. She then heard a curse, followed by a man’s voice, then a woman’s.

  Metal scraped against metal as key met lock.

  Drake fell into a chair and turned away from her. “Get your phone out!” he whispered. “Pretend you’re making a call.”

  She did so just as the door opened and in walked Goose and Harriet.

  “…If Bo and Lila can have fun in the tasting room, surely we can come in here and—oh, sorry.”

  Goose and Harriet stood holding hands at the entrance to the room, eyes wide.

  Cara, with the phone to her ear, waved to them.

  “Didn’t know you were in here—did you know the door was locked?” Goose asked.

  “Oh, guess it locked behind me,” Drake said.

  “C’mon, you,” Harriet whispered at Goose. “They’ve claimed this room.”

  “Claimed it?” Goose said.

  Harriet nodded. “Cara, your phone is upside down.”

  Cara dropped the phone from her ear and looked at it.

  Busted.

  “See you later,” Harriet grinned. She snatched her husband’s hand and pulled him from the room, with Goose laughing and pointing at Drake.

  “No fooling a Davenport,” said Drake.

  “I think it’s time we go,” she said.

  “You need to give me a minute,” he said, smiling sheepishly and glancing at his lap.

  She nodded and took a seat next to him for the next few minutes before they left the room hand in hand. After saying short good-byes to Hannah and Bo, they pushed through the front door and into the blazing August heat.

  “From now on, let’s try not to steal kisses here at the distillery. It leads only to embarrassment,” Cara said upon reaching her car.

  “I’m not so sure about that. I rather enjoy those stolen kisses. But what about trying to steal kisses elsewhere?”

  She paused before opening the driver’s side door and considered his question.

  “I’m open to exploring those possibilities, provided you can suggest a more private location.”

  “I’m certain I can come up with some good ideas,” he said, laughing as they got into the car.

  Judicial College was much as she remembered: a multiday glad-handing gabfest with other judges and assorted state officials.

  It was tiring under any circumstances, but as an introvert, Cara was exhausted by the near-constant contact with people. On the first night, she was in bed by eight o’clock, only dropping by the cocktail party briefly to see Rachel and Brady. But since the bar didn’t offer Old Garnet, all three judges left early, miffed at the insult to their hometown bourbon.

  Monday had been the night she had arranged to meet Garner Robson, but he had to return to Frankfort for an emergency hearing. Cara had managed to see him before his departure, sitting with Rachel and Brady in the dining room for lunch that same day. They all ended up eating together, but the subject of the Court of Appeals race was not discussed.

  Garner was tall, thin, pale and dark-haired. He had classic good looks and exceptional manners although he did have an air of superiority about him. He dropped the governor’s name more than once, and his clothes were neatly pressed designer pieces.

  Her rival returned on Tuesday and texted Cara to make sure they were still on for dinner for that night. They agreed to meet in the dining room at six.

  “Glad that last session was canceled. I was getting tired of listening to yet another legislative update,” Garner
said once they had been seated near the window.

  The small lake glittered in the evening sun, and Cara spotted a few pontoons languidly gliding over its surface. The following night, there was an event where several cocktail parties were to be on houseboats, each one having a different theme. She had decided to attend the pirate-themed one since it seemed so appropriate and fun to boot.

  “Yes, otherwise we would’ve had to skip out on the Chief Justice’s update to keep this date, and I probably wouldn’t have done that,” she said, placing her napkin in her lap.

  “Bob wouldn’t have minded,” he said, using the Chief Justice’s first name.

  Even though they were all fellow judges and she had met the Chief Justice several times, she never addressed him by his first name. In fact, the only other judges she’d ever heard address the Chief by his first name were fellow justices.

  The waitress came to take orders, and they both ordered the buffet. Garner placed his phone on the table and glanced at the screen. It was a subtle show of power; she did not have his full attention.

  Not to be outdone, she did the same.

  “Sorry,” he said when she caught him looking at his phone. “It’s just that the baby’s been sick and my wife has been texting me almost constantly about her condition. She gets angry when I don’t respond.”

  “Oh, I hope nothing serious is wrong,” Cara said, her worried-mother instincts coming to the fore.

  “Just a bad ear infection that Ruby can’t shake.”

  “Ruby? That’s your daughter’s name?”

  Garner nodded. “You have children?”

  “A son, Nate. He’s two and a half.”

  “Bet he’s a handful for you,” said Garner with a sigh. “My wife and I can barely handle a two-month-old. I can’t imagine what it will be like for us once she starts walking.”

  “Based on personal experience, I strongly suggest you nail everything down that you possibly can,” she said, getting him to laugh. “My mother and I are sometimes at our wits’ end with the boy. Just a few weeks ago he—”

  “You and your mother?”

  “Yes, she lives down the street from me and helps me with Nate,” Cara explained. “My husband died when Nate was one year old.”