by Kinney Scott
Dashing out to her car for a phone charger, Linnea spotted Natalie as she pulled in front of Whitewater homes.
Nate waved her over, needing help with two trays holding eight cups of coffee and two pink boxes from Goldfinch Bakery. Heaven disguised as baked goods.
She balanced one tray of hot drinks in each hand. “Natalie, you bought all the coffee in Ashwood! Where do you want me to take these?”
“I didn’t know how many to buy. Who is around this morning? I know Ravenna may need a friend, some sugar, and caffeinated courage, after all the drama yesterday. So, if you want to take half to the taproom then meet me at her place, I’d love for you to go visit her with me.”
“You’re right. God, how could I be so self-absorbed? Steven drove off in her car, and left her here to cope with the mess he made.” Linnea now added Ravenna to the list of people she would worry about today.
Natalie nodded, “We need to support her. No matter what Amanda claims, I’m convinced Ravenna has been honest with us.”
“I agree. She’s caught in the middle, and that must be a very frightening place to be.” Linnea found Wade and let him know coffee and apple fritters waited for him in the taproom, courtesy of Natalie and Goldfinch Bakery. She dashed off to join Nate in Ravenna’s tiny home.
***
Barely moving, Ravenna needed water, gallons of water. Her eyes squinted against the dim light spilling through her windows. She pulled on her soft robe, trying to remain in that half-awake place that allowed her to choose sleep again, if this gnawing headache persisted.
The tap at her door sounded too soft to be her Papa, so she peeked to see who was standing outside. Natalie waited with a tray of paper coffee cups in her hand. Thank God, caffeine. I may live after all.
As the door opened, Nate knew in one glance, that Ravenna’s night had been terrible. “Can I come in? I have caffeine and sugar.”
“My two favorite food groups, of course you can come in. Unfortunately, I may not be the best company. I vaguely remember a date with a bottle of Scotch last night, and he was not kind to me. Let me brush my teeth, and I’ll join you in a second.”
Ravenna took her time, trying to put herself back together. Nothing could erase the puffy eyes that always made her regret wallowing in a good long cry. By the time she came out of the compact bathroom, Linnea had joined Natalie.
Linnea took one look at Ravenna, the moment she emerged from the bathroom and sighed, “Oh, honey. Tell us everything that happened. It looks like Steven left his mark on everything yesterday.”
The love and empathy from women she respected had her eyes rimming again with tears. She took a moment to gather her emotions before saying even one word.
“I can’t believe I trusted that snake, I feel so manipulated.” She said as her small hands wrapped carefully around the smooth paper of her warm coffee cup. The bitter hot liquid had never tasted so good.
Alarm filled her expression as she recalled yesterday’s details. “Last night, before Steven left, he bragged about taking Wade’s financial information. Please, you have to know, I had nothing to do with that. I feel wretched for inviting him to Ashwood. Somehow, this is still all my fault.”
Natalie shook her head. “Steven acted on his own, but that is not why we are here. Linnea and I wanted to make sure you are okay,” she said, hoping to reassure her friend.
Linnea added, “We know you had feelings for Steven. Even if he deceived you, we understand if you feel bad about losing him.”
“No, I don’t feel anything, only disdain. The man who left here last night was not the man I’ve spent months with. No one capable of that level of deception deserves a single ounce of my love. I wasted so many kisses on that miserable man. How could I be blinded by his good looks, and calculated charm?” Tears slid down her face again. “I’ve got to stop crying! My eyes swell, and my nose gets all runny. God, I hate crying.”
Natalie took Ravenna’s coffee cup, set it on the table and slid her arms around her slim shoulders. Linnea wrapped both girls in her embrace. The tangle of warmth seeped into Ravenna, soaking her soul in desperately needed comfort.
After a few moments, their embrace loosened, and she said, “Does that pink box has something with chocolate?” She laughed a little - it was either laugh or cry at this point and laughing felt so much better.
Chuckling, Natalie nodded as she opened the confections. “Your addiction to double chocolate cookies has the town of Ashwood talking. Of course those are in this little pink box!”
“I feel loved, by you girls, and by chocolate. Thank you.” Her smile finally reached her eyes as her teeth sunk into the rich taste that magically made her world slightly better.
Ravenna asked questions, sorting through the details she had missed in the wake of Stevens run through the computers. Later, once the fog lifted from her brain, she wanted to meet with Wade to form a plan.
Leo had observed Ravenna’s friends as they walked with sugar and determination toward his daughter’s temporary home. He took a moment to call his wife, and form plans of his own. Her friends would lend all the support his daughter needed to see this project through to completion. While it would not be easy to step away, his presence was not essential. This was not his place, nor his time.
After about an hour, he finally made his way next door. Laughter spilled out the open window, bringing a smile to his face. Knocking, the giggles died off quickly. Her door swung wide. “Papa! I’m so glad you are here. I’ve put on a pot of fresh coffee. Come in and join us.”
Linnea stood. “Good morning Leo, I need to get over to the Taproom, but I’m certain I’ll see you there later.” He did not let her escape without a bear sized hug and a whispered thank you.
“Yes, I will come and say goodbye a little later.” Leo added, having already booked a flight this evening from Portland.
“Leaving so soon?” Natalie said as she stood to leave Ravenna and her father alone.
“Yes, I have a business to see to in Oregon, and I miss my wife.” He said truthfully. The couple had rarely been apart for more than a day or two from the moment they met so many years ago.
Once they were alone, Ravenna sat with her father. “I understand. You need to get home. I will miss you, but I think I will be coming home before too long.”
“Take time to make sound decisions,” he encouraged. “Your place within Coalition is secure. That may work to your advantage. As long as you don’t step out of your role assisting this brewery and taproom, you will be fine.”
His daughter studied him carefully. His friendly exterior disguised a wise businessman. “Papa, have you been on the phone with your contacts in the company?”
“Yes, but I’ve only been able to confirm what you have correctly suspected. CCC appears to have an unusually pointed interest in the Michaels’ family, which extends beyond the brewery. Be patient. These things have a way of sorting out. Watch and listen. After we finish our morning coffee, I will need a ride to the airport.”
“What? I thought you would be driving home?”
“Steven took your car, and I can drive my faithful little pick-up for a while.”
He said as his eyes lit up. “Look, I already purchased a ticket. You will be proud; I accomplished this with only my phone! I already have my ticket right here.” He turned the screen to her, a smile of pride on his face.
“Aren’t you the savvy traveler?” She laughed, with her technology challenged papa, knowing how much his world had changed. She loved that her father was a bit old fashioned. He preferred face-to-face talks to phone conversations, and did all he could to avoid the detachment of texting.
“Come. Let’s see what needs to be done at the brewery before my flight. This afternoon we will have an early dinner together in Portland, before you leave me at the airport.” He led the way into the brewery, where she felt safe in his presence.
Each face that greeted her with a smile helped heal pieces of her heart that Steven had left frayed and expos
ed. This was her place for now - Chicago would never be home again.
***
Surrounded by tall evergreens, inky darkness swallowed her headlights. Ravenna pulled around Whitewater, parking near her tiny house. Next-door, Wade already settled in, now that her Papa’s visit to Ashwood had ended.
During her drive back, her mind spun with every scenario that might end with her trapped beneath Wade, caged in his strong arms. Incredibly tempted by his lean taut body, she knew that getting involved with him needed to wait.
Reason fought craving, Wade was too valuable to waste on a rebound romance. The risk was too high. Waiting for this Coalition mess to untangle was the prudent choice. At least that was the advice her mind had tried to convince her body for the last sixty miles.
Before she could slide quietly in her front door, Wade appeared, and her resolve nearly shattered. “Ravenna, I’m glad you’re back.” His presence smoldered. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to abstain from the heat of his tempting embrace.
“Wade, let me put my purse inside. Can I meet you on your front porch in a few minutes, so we can talk?”
Talk? He longed to follow and lay her across any horizontal surface. Hell, he’d be willing to push her up against any vertical as well. Anything to trap her body against his.
He cleared his throat. “Sure, I’ll meet you out here when you’re ready.” Wade reluctantly watched her step away. Talking, she wants to talk. Well I’m willing to start there.
Ravenna dashed inside, put on a big, unattractive sweatshirt, and pulled her hair back into a severe ponytail. Anything to build an armor between herself and that stunning man.
She climbed the steps onto his porch and curled into the seat next to Wade. A sheen of sweat covered her palms, at the sight of his snug shirt pulled tight across his chest, and banding over the ropey muscles of his arms. This was exactly the kind of vision she was hoping to avoid.
She might as well get this over with. “Wade, I wanted to apologize for last night.”
The expression on his face shifted from smoldering to surprised, so she pressed on. “After I broke things off with Steven, I obviously had too much to drink.”
Her controlled smile masked her craving. “I hope I didn’t embarrass myself. Parts of the evening are still a little fuzzy. Thank you for…behaving like such a gentlemen.”
“Ravenna, you didn’t embarrass yourself. Believe me, I’ve thought about you constantly since that kiss. About last night, I will need you fully aware when we spend our first night together. I want you to remember my touch vividly.”
His words nearly had her crawling into his lap. She longed for that vivid touch to be as soon as possible. “Yes, I agree, but…”
Damn, not the “but,” he worried. Before he could close the distance between them, she added.
“I also want our timing to be right. I don’t want to be your rebound any more than you want to be mine. I need…time.”
Wade needed her, in his arms, in his bed…Now.
His mind rolled up the blueprint he had planned for tonight. No consuming kisses, no possessive touch, no branding of her body with his heat, leaving no doubt in her mind that she was only his.
“Ravenna, please don’t tell me you need to find a rebound after Steven. I cannot stand by and watch you work Steven out of your system with some random guy. The thought makes me insane.”
“Oh, no, Wade! Not at all. Time. I just need some time. Can you give me that?”
“Yes, Ravenna. I can give you anything you need. Just ask, and I’m yours.” She could see the pain in his eyes as he surrendered to her wishes. Her temptation doubled, his arms looked so inviting, his lips so tender. Why had she convinced herself this was the best possible choice? Because it was.
“Thank you, Wade. I’m exhausted.” She said truthfully. “Can we meet tomorrow morning? You know, to go over what happened in the office with Steven?” she said with a slight grimace as the man’s name crossed her lips. “How does ten sound?”
That man’s name tightened Wade’s expression, “Sure, see you around ten.” He agreed, as she stood and walked off the deck of his home.
Still obsessing about waking with her in the morning, her ebony hair tumbling across his pillow - he could almost feel his hands nestled in those dark waves. He shook his head to clear the image of Ravenna trapped beneath him. Closing his eyes, he pushed back the desire to have her soft warm body pinned beneath him, buried in her tight heat.
Wade sat in the dark, paralyzed by need. He slowed his breathing, and replayed the short conversation in his memory. He didn’t think she was attempting to put distance between them. That thought shot a bolt of fear through his chest.
No, she was frightened. Not surprising, the connection they shared was potent and dangerous. She was wise to move carefully. Now, he was determined to gain her trust.
***
Wade woke early and drank in the morning air. Cool and rich, crisp pine mingled with the warm scent of freshly cut hay. From his porch, he could pick up the aroma of his hops, pungent and tangy.
By now, his patented crop of Rusk Hops would be climbing the trellis, the bines twisting toward the sun. So much depended on that new strain. An innovative crop that he hoped would set him apart.
More than two weeks had passed, and Wade still struggled to maintain his equilibrium around Ravenna. Her supple movements, her bright laughter, each smile left him senseless. When she leaned over his shoulder to glimpse at the computer screen, he lost his mind in her citrus perfume. When she helped Linnea in the taproom, bending to unpack a box or stow supplies, the soft curve of her ass froze his senses. This growing tension might kill him, yet she wanted, she needed, more time.
“Hey, Wade, have you made a decision?” Erik asked.
“About?”
“On the schedule. For the next festival. We were just talking about it. Are you feeling okay?”
Wade took a breath, “I’m fine. Yeah. I will take the Colorado festival. Maybe the miles behind the wheel will do me good. You and Trisha need a break.”
“We can keep an eye on both breweries. It won’t be any problem.” Erik nodded.
“Thanks Erik. Placing several miles between himself and Ravenna may help to clear his head. Hundreds of miles to focus, and another cold shower. Both would help.
***
Steven reclined in his supple calfskin leather chair, ensconced in his sleek office, overlooking the contoured Chicago skyline. Across from him, Phillip Davis looked over the information Steven had procured during his recent trip to Washington State.
“I trust you’ve had time to pick out any relevant information.” Phil growled annoyed by the high drama his colleague preferred. “Just tell me what you found. I pay people to look at this shit.”
“Fine. Once I digested all the information, two details stood out. Unfortunately, Wade’s father did not sink any money into Mosquito Creek Brewing. He never has,” Steven explained.
“Fuck, so we have no leverage against the hop farm? No way to get our hands on that asset.”
“I didn’t say that.” He tilted back a bit further and forced Phillip to wait.
Phillip despised this man’s need for exhibition. Steven’s limitless ego could place Coalition in a difficult spot, if he ever let the attribute consume him.
Steven went on, “I was able to confirm that Wade does have a highly successful and promising new strain of hops in the ground. I will find a way to shift that patented asset from Wade Michaels to Coalition.”
“How?”
“By sabotaging his ability to make this year’s minimum goals. If he can’t produce enough Double Deet, we gain control. Then I’ll offer him his freedom in return for the patent.”
“And how do you intend to pull that off?”
Steven steepled his fingers, his elbows resting on the arms of his expensive chair. “Let me worry about those details, Philip. Ravenna isn’t my only pawn in place. While she is nearly useless to me now. Her shift
in loyalty won’t deter me.
“Do you really think Wade will bite, in order to keep Mosquito Creek?” Phillip questioned.
“Absolutely. His freedom means everything to him. After the way I left things with Ravenna, beating me will override his common sense… I’ve become a worthy adversary, because of some tits and ass. I knew that this relationship would have fringe benefits that were more interesting than the tight spot between her legs.”
Phillip masked his disgust with a smile. At least he wasn’t the target of Steven’s ruthless ambition. Once this was over, he was determined to find a way to remove this evil snake from Coalition Craft Corporation.
***
Coordinating the Colorado festival, and running back to Old Mosquito, while fine-tuning the new brewing operation in Ashwood kept Wade more than busy. At least the insanity drained his overwhelming desire for Ravenna.
All three trucks sat in the immense gravel lot ready to leave in the morning. Wade planned to drive the refrigerated truck, loaded almost entirely with Double Deet, to meet the outrageous demands of Coalition Craft.
Linnea brought Wade a sandwich and a bottled water, her brother’s schedule left little extra time. He frequently missed lunch. “I heard your stomach growling from inside, and thought you might need a bite.”
“Thanks Linn - I’m starved.” His teeth sank into the roast beef, as he leaned on the fender of the large rig.
“How much of the Sweet Venom have you loaded?” She asked knowing her brother wanted to bring his loyal customers the new popular summer beer.
“Not enough. Being forced to load so much Double Deet pisses me off.” The sandwich was half-gone, and he took a long drink of water. It had to be close to ninety, and sweat was trickling down his back.
“Our fans expect something new. It’s not my fault this Sweet Venom kicks ass.”
“How were you able to get the execs to sign off on anything other than Double Deet?” She wondered, handing him a stack of chocolate cookies. He smiled, recognizing Ravenna’s favorite.