Page 11 of Best Kind of Trouble
“Okay,” I say. “We’ll go to Silver Star. No one’s there.” Those words nearly pull another sob from my chest, but I hold it back through sheer force of will.
“People are going to find out about the mass walkout,” he says gruffly. “I can’t be seen at your brewery until we get this settled.”
I swallow down fresh panic. “Okay. Then maybe…”
My mind whirrs. Other than Silver Star and the tea shop that my friends and I love, what do I have? What places in this town are mine?
There’s always my apartment. But I can’t take him there. It would feel too intimate. And my cat, Karma, hates nearly everyone, sometimes even me.
“I have someplace private we can talk.” He gestures at the back door. “Let’s leave out the back.”
Sophie gives me an encouraging smile. “Good, this is good! We’ll meet at the tea shop tomorrow to run through everything. I’m sure Dottie will have tons of ideas.”
Dottie is the sweet older woman who runs Tea of Fortune.Even though she has a huge extended family of people she’s “adopted,” she still found space in her heart for Hannah, Sophie, and me. She reminds me of my great-aunt. Her aura of kindness ripples outward, touching everyone in her presence. Just being around her makes you feel like you’re getting a warm hug.
“Am I invited?” Liam asks. The only sign that he’s teasing is the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, maybe two millimeters.
“Of course,” Sophie says. “But we all know you’re not going to come.”
He laughs, the sound low and deep, almost like the growl of a wild animal. “No,” he admits. “Not really my scene.”
I give Sophie a quick hug, then wrap my arms around my body for warmth as I follow Liam to the back door of the warehouse.
“It’s good that I didn’t take the bike today,” he says conversationally as we reach the back door. “I don’t have an extra helmet.”
“You ride a bicycle to work?” I ask, bracing myself for the burst of freezing air.
He gives me an incredulous look, his lip curling, and I feel like an idiot.
“A lot of people do,” I mutter.
“A lot of people are idiots,” he replies. He tries to hand me the thing that’s been tucked under his arm, and I realize it’s a coat. “Put it on, and let’s go.”
Offering me a coat is thoughtful, but he’s being condescending. I decide I don’t want to go anywhere with him, Mr. Miracle or not. I’m tired of being treated like a pretty imbecile.
“I’m not stupid,” I say heatedly.
He takes a step toward me, and suddenly we’re standing inches apart, both of us right next to the worn wooden door. I can feel heat radiating from him. He’s wearing a long-sleevedblack shirt that clings to his thick arms and makes him look even more intimidating as he peers down at me. “You would be if you rode a bicycle in the dark in twenty-degree weather with ice on the roads.”
“Yeah, that would be pretty stupid. Kind of like considering leaving your job of four years for no better reason than that your sister asked, so you can work for a woman whose entire staff just quit.”
To my surprise, he laughs again, and this time his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Yeah, but you’re the one who said you’re not stupid. I never made that claim about myself.”
He holds out the coat again.
“If you give me that, you won’t have one,” I object.
“And I’ve got probably a hundred pounds on you. I’ll be fine.”
I can tell he’s not going outside with me unless I put on the coat, so I do, my hands trembling slightly. So much has happened at once, and I’m still reeling. The coat smells a little spicy and is warmer than the hoodie. Once I’ve got it on, Liam opens the door again and leads the way to a run-down blue-green truck.
His mouth inches up into a half-smile as he unlocks the passenger-side door, using the actual key, not a key fob, and opens it for me. “It’s all yours, Princess.”
The nickname puts a bitter taste in my mouth, but I climb in without comment. Liam gets into the driver’s side and puts the truck into drive, leaving Big Catch behind. He maneuvers through the crowded streets of downtown Asheville, cursing liberally as pedestrians casually stroll across the street in front of the truck without waiting for the crosslights.
I expected Liam would want to talk business once we were on the move, but he doesn’t say anything. He just turns on theradio, finds Christmas music on two of the stations, and then turns it off with another curse.
I’m the one who finally breaks the silence. “I have lots of ideas for the brewery.”
