by Kinney Scott
***
He woke early and surprised Iris with breakfast. They relaxed into a slow morning together, talking in her kitchen over his masterfully prepared omelets and coffee.
“Iris, it looks like I’m going to be on the road again, this time to Yakima, to oversee the spring planting of a new hop variety. Linnea and I will both be gone, so I have a lot to accomplish before we go.”
“After last night, Wade, I may need that long to recover! We both have complicated lives, and as you can tell, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” Iris assured him, as they were cleaning up breakfast.
“I’d like to think you enjoy it when I take care of you,” he murmured trapping her body between his hips and the farm sink. Nipping the side of her neck he trailed kisses, as he stroked the bottom swell of her breasts under her shirt. Pulling her close with the expanse of his hand, he teased the top of her pants with his pinky and Iris shivered at the promise of pleasure.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he chose for a moment to ignore it. But, when a second call followed within thirty seconds, Wade spun Iris around to plunder her with a thorough goodbye kiss.
She pressed her body to his, sinking into the heat of his embrace. Iris was tall, even in bare feet, but loved the caged feeling when locked in his strong arms. Wade wrapped her tight while he explored her tongue and lips, stealing her breath. “I need to leave,” he whispered against her neck.
“So do I.” She would be remembering this kiss for hours to come. Wade pulled away, gliding his hand down her back and over the rise of her butt, leaving a trail of heat that Iris felt lingering long after he left.
***
Mentally ready to take on Coalition Craft, he pulled his truck into the lot glancing in the office he shared with Whitewater homes. Spotting Linnea already inside, Wade chuckled, wondering who had inherited a greater portion of their father’s addiction to work. So far, his sister had him beat. Before he could make it inside, Seth pulled up beside him.
“Hey, I didn’t realize you were back. When did you get the new rig?”
“I picked it up in Vegas, and decided to drive it back.”
Seth circled the truck, envying the slick clean detailing on the new model. “Wow, did you plan on that, or just get an amazing deal?”
“I wasn’t really planning on it, but I have had my eye out for a new truck for a while, so I knew what I wanted. Seth, you know me. I needed space to get my mind clear.” Wade added with a shrug.
“I get it. How were the meetings?”
“Eye opening. I don’t regret the expansion, but I need to be more assertive with CCC, or they will dictate every move I make.”
“Crap, I’m sorry.”
“I’m just glad you have my back. Coalition doesn’t know you own the old mill, and the rest of these buildings. I plan to keep it that way. The less they know about the strength of our family the better.” Seth nodded, silently agreeing with his cousin.
Linnea jumped up as her brother walked in, and grabbed him for a quick hug. “Wade! I’ve never been so happy to see you walk through that door.”
“Rough week? I’m sorry for leaving you with such a crazy work load.” He apologized.
She stood back and took a long look at him, “I don’t think my week was as difficult as your vacation in Las Vegas. All those execs have been blowing up our phones and e-mail with questions for you.”
“Let me grab a cup of coffee before we take a look. Linn I can’t thank you enough for all your help.”
Wade poured a cup of coffee for himself, and refilled his sisters as she filled Wade in on all the moving parts of the past week. Every department had questions, product development, marketing, distribution - the list went on and on.
Linnea told him a woman named Ravenna Silvestre should be his highest priority. Her insistent calls and emails would subdue many of Coalition’s main concerns. Just seeing her name sent a pulse of awareness straight through Wade, and he counted himself lucky that several states separated him from that tempting woman. Before visiting his tiny home, Linnea guided her brother through the taproom and brewery going over the progress made during his short trip.
Wade spotted Rick working on the spacious customer bathrooms. “Thanks Rick, I’m speechless. I can’t believe how much has been accomplished.”
Rick turned around at the sound of his name. Linnea couldn’t help staring, he looked so sexy without even trying. His faded jeans stretched tight over his muscular thighs. Dust and water from the tile saw peppered his shirt. Rick’s eyes smiled before his grin tilted his lips.
It took effort to control his reaction to Linnea. His eyes reluctantly shifted away from her to answer Wade. “Nice to have you back, how was Vegas?”
“Well, the best part of the trip was seeing the strip in my rear view mirror.” He laughed with a telling groan.
“Yeah, Linn told me you bought a truck and drove on home. I do my best thinking on the road too.” Rick glanced at Linnea, remembering the past couple evenings they both worked late and talked. He didn’t usually stay past five, but the thought of her alone at the shop bothered him.
Wade glanced between his sister and Rick noting the obvious connection. Seth hadn’t known about my new truck and detour home, but Rick did…
Rick sensed Wade’s pointed scrutiny and turned, “I better get back to work on the tile.”
“See you later at lunch, Rick.” Linn said as she walked away. His eyes followed the sway of her hips in her snug jeans. Rick loved her lush shapely ass, and would have something to think about until he found her again during his break.
Linn and Wade Cut through the back, behind Mosquito and Whitewater to his temporary home on the far side of the property. Wade took in the rapid changes of spring. The willows had fully leafed out, and yellow wildflowers now replaced faded purple blooms.
“Linn, is Natalie having some repair work done on her tiny home?” he asked when he spotted the larger home on wheels parked a small distance away.
“Not that I know of, I thought she kept it down at the lake.” The door swung open. Natalie appeared with cleaning supplies and a broom in her hand.
“Welcome back, Wade. I was hoping to run into you. You will have a neighbor for a few months.”
“Is Ben planning on staying in Ashwood for a while?” He asked.
“No, his company has him working in North Carolina for a while. I got an email from someone looking to stay temporarily in Ashwood. I don’t know much about her, but she has an interesting name. She must be Italian.”
He felt his stomach sink. No, it could not be possible.
Natalie continued, “Her name is Ravenna Silvestre, isn’t that a beautiful name?”
A simultaneous groan rose from Linnea and Wade in painful unison.
“What, do you know her? Wade she isn’t an old girlfriend trying to stalk you?” Natalie said with a nervous edge to her voice.
“Worse.” Linnea said looking skyward for help from a higher power. “She works for Coalition Craft Corporation. That woman has been dogging Wade, trying to micro-manage every aspect of Mosquito’s expansion.”
Wade wished this petite woman with caramel colored eyes was only haunting him professionally. His mind reeled with the news, yet his body responded in an opposite and wholly volatile way.
“When?” he muttered flatly, as his mind battled with his physical response.
“Day after tomorrow. Wade, I am so sorry. I would stop her if I could. Ravenna has already sent her deposit and signed a lease.”
“It’s okay Nate,” he said. He raised his body up to full height to fight the weight of this unexpected news. I can handle this. Time to battle Coalition and this beautiful raven-haired nemesis head on.
***
“Hi Papa, I have made it to Portland.” Ravenna checked in with her parents each time her job took her to a new city.
She spent her childhood at her Dad’s brewery, and understood the demands of the craft. Even if a new brewer p
ushed back, by the time she finished her assignment, most appreciated her experience and thanked her for her help.
Ravenna valued her papa’s input, especially when beginning a new project. “I’ve got a question for you, if you have some time.”
“I always have time for you, Ravenna.” Leo waited while his daughter took a little longer than usual to gather her thoughts.
She finally sighed and asked. “Papa, I’m pretty sure you know the brewer I’ll be working with for the next few months. Do you remember Wade Michaels?”
“Mosquito Creek Brewing, sure I know Wade. He took my craft brew crash course almost a decade ago. We have kept in touch over the years. Solid man, great instincts for brewing. I was surprised when I found out he signed on with CCC.”
“I agree Papa. Wade doesn’t fit the profile Coalition tends to go for.” Her voice clouded with more than concern.
He wondered, and asked, “Are they after something else? What does Wade have that Coalition might want?”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been wondering,” she said.
Leo heard the edge of stress over the line, “Keep your eyes open, Ravenna. You will figure it out.”
“Papa, in the meantime if you hear anything unusual in your circle of friends, please let me know.”
“Be careful. I don’t want you to risk your career. Wade’s capable of looking after himself.”
“Don’t worry Papa, I won’t risk too much for him. He’s not exactly my biggest fan.” Ravenna’s voice dropped, and Leo sensed defeat in her tone.
Always her encourager, he said. “Ravenna, he chose to sign on with Coalition. My dear, you are just doing your best to help him transition. Wade Michaels has to live with the decision he made, even if he loses some independence.”
“Thanks, Papa. You’re right. I’ll talk to you once I get settled in Ashwood tomorrow.”
“Bye honey. I look forward to driving up to see you in a couple months. Love you.”
“Love you to.” He ended the call.
She laid her phone on the desk in her sterile hotel room. Her company car wouldn’t arrive until morning. Feeling confined, trapped in the rectangular space, the thought of dining in the lobby restaurant alone caused a sick pit in her stomach.
She grabbed the room service menu to order a seafood salad, and a bottle of wine. Preparing to take a long hot bath after dinner, she dug her e-reader from her luggage. The luxurious soaking tub tempted her to stay submerged until her fingers had gone pruney.
***
Reclined in Adirondack chairs, Seth and Wade sat on the deck overlooking Osprey Lake. Spring was finally taking claim on the season. Seizing time outdoors was addicting, even if the air was still cool.
Standing to go in Natalie said, “I’m going to curl up with a book, Seth. Do you need anything?” her empty glass of wine in hand.
“No, we’re good. Love you, babe.” Seth added as she moved toward the glass French doors.
“Love you too.” Her smile warmed him from within, a contrast to the chill of the evening air.
“And Wade, sorry again for the Ravenna mess,” she apologized.
He shook his head, easing her concern, “Don’t worry Natalie. This girl is tenacious. She would have found a place in Ashwood either way. At least I can keep an eye on what she’s planning, if I keep Ravenna close.”
Natalie felt terrible for renting her place to Ravenna. She invited Wade up to apologize with a homemade lasagna dinner. He pulled her in tight for a bear sized hug the moment he arrived, a bottle of wine in hand. Over dinner, Natalie felt Wade keeping the conversation intentionally light. Recognizing their need to talk, she left to give them space.
Settling in as the sun set, Wade swallowed another sip of whiskey. The heat of the gold liquor burned, clearing his mind with its potent smoky taste. Seth lit the outdoor heat lamp to fight the chill as they discussed the tangled details of Mosquito brewing.
“So tell me, what’s this girl like? Natalie talked to her a few times, and seemed to think she was friendly, she’s usually a good judge of character.”
“Damn, Seth. That’s what makes this so complicated. Ravenna is exquisite.” He sunk forward, recalling the power this woman had over him. Resting his elbows on his knees, Wade spun his nearly empty whisky glass between his hands, and lost himself in thought. “Just being in the same room with her, makes it difficult for me to think straight.”
Seth brought up the problem he knew had to be eating at Wade, “What about the relationship you’ve started with Iris?”
“You know about that?” he said, his head still hung low.
Seth sympathized, “Small town, no secrets. You know the drill.”
“Iris is great. We have a lot in common. She’s smart, she’s sexy.”
“But…”
“But, even when I didn’t know Ravenna would be coming to Ashwood, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Now that she will be living fifty feet away from me…God, I’m obsessed.”
“Shit, Wade.” They sat in silence for a time. Seth was closer to his cousin than he was his own brothers. He wanted to find a solution and knew just sitting and having a drink together helped.
After talking for more than two hours, the propane tank firing the outdoor heater finally hissed out. They stood, stretching the ache from their legs, and gave up to the chill of the night.
“You are crashing here tonight Wade. Between the two of us we have killed most of that bottle.”
“Hadn’t planned on driving. Thanks Seth. Thanks for everything.”
NINE
By noon the next day, everyone’s nerves sat on edge waiting for Ravenna to show up. The family united first thing in the morning to support Wade. Seth and Natalie, Amanda, and his sister Linnea huddled in the brewery. Very little work progressed. Sensing the underlying tension, Rick, Kent and Carlos all hovered unproductive, in the shop nearby.
Wade groaned in exasperation, pacing nervously, “This is ridiculous, everyone needs to get to work.”
“Wades right, we all look like fools sitting around waiting.” Linnea agreed.
“I’m starved,” Natalie finally admitted. “I’m headed to the Stop and Shop, can I pick up lunch for anyone?”
“Amanda and I will go with you.” Linnea grabbed her jacket while Amanda took orders from the crew.
Rick took the break in tension and asked Seth for direction on a project. Now that the office had cleared, Wade stood alone, wondering what the hell to do. He had prepared for a battle first thing in the morning, but the little warrior was nowhere in sight.
During this rare quiet moment, Wade called his head brewer, Erik, up at Old Mosquito. Sweet Venom, a blackberry infused wheat, was nearly ready for summer release. His phone buzzed with a text. Wade put Erik on speaker while he checked the message.
An apology from Ravenna hit him in the gut, Sorry for bothering you Wade, but I don’t have anyone else in the area on my contact list. I hit a chunk of metal with my rental car. Now it’s making a terrible noise. I’m about thirty minutes outside of Ashwood. Can you send a tow truck?
Wade was already out the door, “Erik, I need to make a call. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“No worries Wade, everything’s smooth here. Do what you need to do.” Erik said, hearing the tone of crisis in Wade’s voice.
“Later.” Wade called her immediately.
She didn’t pick up right away, each ring increased Wade’s apprehension. Why isn’t she answering?
Finally, he heard her voice. “Wade thank you for calling back. Do you know a tow company in the area?”
“Ravenna, are you okay?” He was already in the cab of his truck.
“Yes, I’m completely fine. But my car isn’t.” She laughed, with stressful edge.
“Where are you?” He started his truck, and pulled onto the highway closing the distance between them.
“On Highway 141. I passed a whitewater rafting business a few miles back. They might be open. I could
walk that direction..”
“Stay where you are, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” She could hear the engine of his truck growl over the phone as he picked up speed.
“Thank you, Wade. See you soon.” Typically, she lived her life with independence. Finding comfort in Wade’s need to rescue surprised her. Sinking into the seat of her broken rental, she allowed the stress of the day to slide away by increments.
One glance at her surroundings revealed a need for a four-wheel drive as a replacement vehicle. The wide two-lane highway had gravel side roads branching off at the next crossroads. Occasionally the clouds would part on the northern horizon, revealing a glimpse of an imposing mountain, the flanks blanketed in snow.
To pass the time she checked her emails, and groaned. Three different managers already demanded an update on Mosquito Brewing. She sent each a quick response, promising to keep them informed. The intense scrutiny from so many departments disturbed her. Something about this deal with Wade Michaels was different.
Wade hauled ass, hoping the sheriff patrolled a different section of highway today. He knew several families living on the stretch of road near Ravenna. It wouldn’t be long before one of the locals offered help to the dark haired girl in her broken down car. He intended to beat them to it.
He spotted her car as he came up over a rise on the road. A practical sedan. Nothing flashy or extravagant on the company dime, he liked that. His stomach began to ache when he spotted her sitting behind the wheel. With her head tilted down looking at the screen of her phone, her dark hair fell forward veiling her face. As he drew close, she tipped her eyes up, and her head followed. The moment she recognized him, a heart-stopping smile brightened her expression. Wade was in serious trouble.
Using the map on her phone, she had calculated the distance from Ashwood to her disabled car. Wade arrived ahead of schedule. His long hair rested in disheveled choppy waves on his shoulders. She knew he had recently worried his hands through the sandy strands, a habit she noticed in Vegas. Ravenna imagined her fingers tangled in the smooth strands, but arrested the thought - I have a boyfriend. Steven.