Trouble Brewing (In Ashwood Book 2)

by Kinney Scott

  After spending the day surrounded by throngs of strangers and friends, he craved time alone with her. “Linnea, can I persuade you to stop by my place tonight? You could pick out a movie.”

  Her face lit up, past the fatigue of the day. “I’d like that.” She said, as her mood brightened instantly.

  The pair locked up and crossed the lot to their vehicles. A familiar sound chirped from Rick’s phone. A tone she knew, and was learning to dread. He checked the screen and sighed, “Another time?” He apologized as she stepped close for a quick kiss goodbye.

  Adrenaline must have hit him, because the kiss he bent to take from Linnea’s lips was devastatingly thorough. She came away, dazed and distracted in the best possible way. Rick dashed off to the station to suit up for a fire call. Linnea drove home to curl up alone with a book, following this exhausting day.

  Inside the brewery, Wade wandered alone, soothed by the hum of the pumps and coolers. The healthy breathing of machinery tethered him to Mosquito Creek Brewing.

  EIGHTEEN

  A nearly hysterical laugh overwhelmed her tears. “Why am I always stuck without a car in this town?” She moaned aloud.

  Her papa’s signature knock brought her back to her senses. Crawling down the stairs from the loft, she cracked the door open.

  “What has happened, Ravenna, to make you cry?” He asked as he stepped into her little home. She hung her head onto her father’s chest, and allowed him to wrap her in a secure hug that smelled like home.

  “Ah, it will be alright.” He sighed, as her body shook in barely audible sobs. He waited. Just like her mother, she would talk when she could. Only after her tears had cleansed some of the pain from her heart.

  Leo ran over the day in his mind, struggling to recall anything that could have brought this on. He glanced around, and noticed Steven’s laptop was no longer open on the small kitchen island. Perhaps selfishly, he hoped this man was gone. Ravenna’s momentary pain couldn’t make up for the coldness Leo sensed in Steven’s calculating nature.

  Several minutes passed before her voice calmed enough to speak. “I’ve made such a mess of things, Papa. I can’t see a way to repair the damage. I’m such a mess of a girl!”

  “No, no, sweetheart,” he soothed, “Come, sit with me. Tell me all that has happened.”

  “I’ve betrayed Wade.” Her head sagged, and a dark halo of hair concealed her features. She shuttered with a breath still teaming with tears, an exhale trapped in her throat.

  “Steven manipulated me for information. I’m afraid Wade will never trust me again. At least Steven is gone. Along with ridding myself of that cruel man, I’m afraid my career may have gone with him.”

  Her father shook his head. “He doesn’t have that kind of power. Do you want to stay on with Coalition?”

  “Yes, if only to help Wade. If he will let me, and find a way to trust me again.” Small sobs racked her body, as her father wrapped his arms around her. As she wept, he struggled to sort through the slim information and understand what had caused Steven to leave. “Papa, I’m so tired…can we talk about this tomorrow morning. Right now I just want to sleep.”

  “That’s probably a good idea. I’m right next door. Please, if you need anything, wake me. I don’t want you bearing this alone.”

  “I’ll be okay,” she smiled. “At least Steven is gone.” Her face brightened a bit. Leo admired the strength of his little girl.

  He bent and placed a kiss on her head, as she remained tightly curled on the sofa.

  “I love you. Wake me if you need anything at all.”

  “I love you too, I feel better already.” She reassured him with a weak smile.

  Sinking into the sofa, after he pulled the door shut, she replayed the entire day in her mind. This morning she never could have anticipated her shift in circumstances. When she reflected on Steven, her emotions swung from pain to anger and back to guilt. How could she have been so foolish?

  The thought of facing Wade brought a wave of nausea that sent her to the bathroom, where she spotted her puffy eyes and swollen face in the mirror. She gasped, as a stuttered laugh followed, “I’m such and ugly crier!” She moaned and ran cool water over a cloth to place over her eyes.

  All day she’d been surrounded by beer, but never consumed a drop. Maybe a drink would help her find sleep.

  Fortunately, Steven had one good quality, his expensive taste in single malt scotch. At least he left behind something worthwhile. She poured a bit and downed it quickly, struggling for air as the vapors took the place of oxygen. Pouring a second, this time she sipped the amber liquid. The heat seeped past the knot of pain, loosening her anger and guilt.

  Lost in thought she sat in the dark, the inky black night cloaked her sadness, along with the second, or was it the third shot of scotch. A giggle erupted from her mouth, as she recalled the nasty bite she had sunk into Steven’s lip. She hoped it swelled. His vanity would have him obsessing. He despised any flaw to his perfectly groomed exterior.

  “Too bad I didn’t bite him harder,” she growled.

  Her fists flew up in short jabs aimed at Steven’s phantom face, “take this,” she jabbed the air -. “Take that! This will teach you to pick on tiny fierce women.” Her voice raised as she stepped to her feet to finish an imaginary round.

  Wade heard Ravenna’s voice as he came over to lock up the side entrance closest to both tiny homes. He planned to make a final check of the property before driving to Seth and Natalie’s for the night. Her loud voice raised in confrontation had him sprinting, worried that Steven had returned. Wade burst through her front door, expecting the worst.

  Startled in the dark by the sudden movement, Ravenna fell back onto the couch - dizzy, disoriented, and confused.

  “I didn’t think imaginary-Steven could hit back,” She laughed.

  Wild giggles took over as Wade stood above her. “You…Are…Big.” she giggled, and added, “Big Everywhere. I bet.” She laughed aloud and curled up on her side.

  His eyes open wide in amusement. Until he turned on the lights and spotted the stain of tears on her beautiful face. “Ravenna, are you okay?” he asked. Wade picked up her abandoned glass and took a taste of the high quality, high-octane scotch. No wonder she lay collapsed on the couch.

  “It’s so bright; turn down the lights. Please Wade.” She asked shielding her eyes. He found the light over the stove and turned it on before dimming the main switch.

  “Better?” he asked, studying the swelling around her eyes. He hated the man who made her cry, and longed to wipe his memory from her mind, her lips, and her body. Unfortunately, he would not do that tonight.

  She nodded and patted the spot next to her, encouraging Wade to take a seat, as she wiggled down the couch. The scotch filled the small space with a pungent warmth that mingled with her intoxicating citrusy scent.

  “Have a drink with me Wade. Drinking alone makes me sad.” She said as she pulled a pillow under her head. Reclining flat on her back, with her knees bent, her red painted toes just touched the heat of his thigh.

  “I can do that. Whatever makes you happy.” He said as he accepted a swallow from her glass. He could have got another, but that would mean moving away from her heat.

  A smile put a little flicker of happiness in her eyes, and warmed her expression. “I want you to be happy too. I’ll fix this mess. I promise.” She added with adorable determination.

  “You don’t need to fix anything, Ravenna. You’re perfect.” She stretched both legs across his lap, barely brushing his growing arousal.

  “I bit him, Wade.” She blurted out.

  “Bit who?” He asked, confused.

  “Steven, I bit him, when he tried to kiss me. After I bit him, he left.” A pout took over her lips, a pout he wanted to tease with his tongue. “Can you believe the dick took my car? Stranded again.” She covered her mouth with a grin after she swore.

  “Did he hurt you, Ravenna?” his anger pulsed. How he wish he could get his hands on
Steven.

  “No, he didn’t bite me! I bit him!”

  Smiling at her proud determination, he couldn’t resist touching her. He stroked her feet, ankles and calves, but was determined to go no higher. Ravenna reached for the almost empty glass then downed the remainder of the scotch.

  Moving to pour more, she sat up too quickly, and grabbed his bicep. “Oh my, the room is getting fuzzy.”

  He tucked her into the corner of the sofa and smoothed a blanket around her, “Stay here, I’ll get you some water and food.”

  “No more scotch?”

  “No more scotch.” Wade shook his head, as he put the bottle in a high cabinet, intentionally out of her reach. Finding a glass, he filled it with ice before adding water.

  “Drink this, while I make you a grilled cheese sandwich.”

  Both of her small hands wrapped around the tall cool glass. Taking a steady drink, she settled back to watch him prepare dinner, enjoying the way he moved. His strong calloused hands steadily held the knife, slicing cheese and buttering bread. She smiled as he flipped the sandwich in the pan. A toasty sizzle filled the room.

  “Tell me something I don’t know…about you.” Ravenna asked as he stood waiting with a spatula in his hand.

  “Anything?” he asked.

  She squinted as she considered the rules. “Yes. But it can’t be about brewing.”

  “Okay, if you think of something too.” Wade found two plates and placed them side my side on the counter.

  “That’s fair” she nodded.

  He pulled the sandwiches off the heat to let them cool, “I have an addiction to guitars.”

  “How bad of an addiction?”

  “I own twelve. So, pretty bad.”

  “That’s serious. Electric? Acoustic?” she asked as he cut the sandwiches in triangle shapes.

  “Both. I played in a band in Yakima for a while, but it didn’t amount to much. We had fun, until we decided money was important for survival.” Wade came to sit next to her again on the couch, sandwiches in hand.

  “Thank you, that smells yummy. I’d like to hear you play.” She took a bite. The warm cheese hung for a moment between her lips and the sandwich. Her fingers caught the tendril, then she captured it in her mouth. “This is delicious.”

  Her fingers, her lips, and the slight slur of whisky in her speech distracted him. “I still write music.” He wondered why he let those words slip, so few knew this personal detail.

  “Have you written a song for Iris?” she asked with a little pang of jealousy hidden in her words.

  “No, I didn’t have time, before we ended things…that’s over now. I won’t be writing a sad break up song.”

  “I’m sorry.” She lied.

  He shrugged. “Iris and I are better as friends.” Wade finished off his sandwich. He stood to put away the bread, and rinse the pan now that it was cool. “Your turn, Ravenna, I’m ready to be amazed.”

  Having just taken a bite, she held up her hand, thought for a moment, and then spoke. “I know how to ride a unicycle.” She laughed aloud, “dorky, right?”

  “Why? How?” he tried to picture her on a unicycle. A different image won out. Ravenna in a sexy sequenced circus get-up. Better not go there.

  “I had a bike, and tore around on it, inside the brewery. But Papa thought I would break by neck, or run over someone. He got me the unicycle to slow me down.”

  “Sounds dangerous, did it work?”

  “Until I broke my arm. Once it healed, I was back on. Mama had a fit. I think I loved it because it let me be close to Papa all day long. You know I’m an only child, right?” She finished off her sandwich, stood slowly, and took a quick sideways step to correct her balance. He moved quickly reaching out to help her balance by the soft rise on the side of her hip.

  After pulling his hand away from her intoxicating heat, he added, “Yes, Leo told me years ago. Your father mentioned he felt lucky to have you. I’m guessing they tried but could not have more children.”

  “Mama didn’t talk about it much. There were complications when I was born, but I never felt lonely. I’m close to my cousins on both sides.” She moved next to Wade in the kitchen. Her body swayed a bit, and he placed a steadying hand low on her back. The span of his fingers filled her with warmth.

  Ravenna leaned into Wade’s torso. Her eyes drooped as she inhaled his scent. “I’m so tired.” Now that the effects of the alcohol were spilling from her system, the stresses she’d endured were taking an exhausting toll.

  Stroking her back, he felt her melt into his touch, “Ravenna, you need to rest, why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll tuck you in and leave.” She nodded and wandered into the compact bathroom. He heard the water running. She kept it on while she flushed, and he smiled at her shyness. By the time she emerged, he had finished washing the dishes from their quick meal.

  Turning from the sink, Wade hung up the dishtowel, while his eyes travelled. Beginning at her pink, painted toenails, Wade’s gaze drank in the contours of her body, from bare legs to the edge of her cotton sleep-shorts. Her thin tank-top could not conceal the disk of her dusky rose colored nipples, that pebbled the moment his eyes lighted on the peaks of her breasts. Nothing made him happier than the sight of her freshly scrubbed face, now free from any trace of tears.

  Her whiskey colored eyes met his, as her pink lips parted, tempting Wade. She looked so small, Wade wanted to pick her up and take her anywhere she wished to go. Gazing with vulnerable longing, she sought his comforting touch, but he could not risk even one kiss, not tonight. Not after the scotch.

  He took her hand and guided her toward the loft. Responding to his heated expression, she asked, “Wade will you lay down with me?”

  “I wish I could, but not tonight. I will tuck you in, and see you tomorrow morning.” He followed the sway of her hips up the stairs. The thin sleep shorts revealed that she wore nothing underneath. A painful groan escaped as his cock tightened against his zipper.

  The bed was rumpled, her pillows dented and damp from her earlier cry. Turning the pillows to a fresh cool side, he smoothed the covers before she crawled under crisp sheets. Her lemon perfume filled the air as he tucked the blankets around her tired body.

  Ravenna curled, closing her eyes without hesitation. “You make a mean toasted cheese Wade Michaels,” she mumbled. “And you make me feel hot and melty too.”

  His fingers carefully smoothed her hair. “Sleep well.” He whispered. Her head tilted slightly pressing into his caress. Tucking a stray strand of her sleek dark hair away from the soft line of her cheek, he caressed her jaw with the pad of his thumb. Each breath became more relaxed as her body gave into her desperate need for rest. When he was sure she was asleep, he placed a small chaste kiss on her temple, and she hummed in satisfied response.

  Locking her door as he left, Wade sent Seth a quick text. I decided to crash in the office.

  NINETEEN

  Now that the Taproom was open, Linnea knew her schedule would change. Busier on the weekends, with Monday and Tuesday off, at least that was the initial plan. For now, she just accomplished what needed doing. Wade was already hard at work in the brewery when she arrived Saturday morning. When she spotted his crisp new Mosquito Creek Brewing T-shirt. Linn wondered if he had left at all.

  She wandered toward him. Once he spotted Linnea, a tired smile spread across his face. The dark shadow under his eyes concerned her, “Did you crash here, or spend the night at Iris’ place?” she asked.

  “I was here…too much on my mind. I wouldn’t have slept much anyway.” Wade turned with a shrug. “I wanted to let you know, Iris and I aren’t seeing each other any longer.”

  “Wade, I’m so sorry. What happened?” Linnea admired Iris, and hoped her brother would explore their future together.

  “She realized I wasn’t her forever-guy,” he said, knowing Iris had ended things more gracefully than he deserved. Acute guilt mingled with pain. Perhaps he wouldn’t feel so disgusted with himself if s
he’d punished him for his indiscretion with a well-deserved tirade. He got away with being such an ass.

  All morning, he’d mentally wrestled to reset his equilibrium. Closing his eyes to fight off a strange off kilter sensation, he struggled to remember what normal felt like.

  “Well I hope you two can remain friends, because I’m not picking sides. Iris is one of my favorite people here in Ashwood.”

  “Don’t worry Linn. Iris and I will settle out as friends. This town is too small to have it any other way.” Wade was growing tired of his own thoughts, and shifted the conversation to his sister’s new relationship. “I noticed you have been spending more time with Rick.”

  “You’re starting to sound like Dad.” She smiled.

  “Dad wouldn’t ask questions. He’d just castrate Rick.” He laughed aloud, his comment far too close to the truth.

  Linn didn’t even smile. “I think dad may have got to him yesterday,” she worried.

  “Yes, I saw that. Dad was grilling him, but Rick seemed to be able to take it. I admire the guy if he didn’t run off with his tail between his legs.”

  “Promise me,” she pleaded, “you won’t make it any worse.”

  He liked this change in his sister, her self-assured increased confidence, “I promise.”

  Linnea’s phone buzzed with a call from Mom. She turned the screen for her brother to see the contact info - “Looks like Dad talked to her. Here comes a lecture.”

  “She’s on your side, sis. Find me after you’ve talked.”

  Her mother called to find out the details of the opening at the taproom. Linnea gave her a sanitized version that stripped out all details of Steven. Wade needed those events to remain contained.

  Finally, she relented, and spilled enough about Rick to keep her mother happy. Their conversation ended with her mother’s assurance that her father would not show up in Ashwood, if Linnea promised to bring Rick to Yakima for a visit.