Page 140 of Best Kind of Trouble
“Yeah, I know all about that.” She sighs. “You’re aware of how Travis and I met. Do you want to get a drink so you can tellme everything?” She lifts her hands. “Not the sex stuff. I’m open-minded, but notthatopen-minded. I’m just going to assume every Moroney is a tornado in the sack and leave it at that.”
That’s so Hannah. My cheeks are burning, but I can only smile at her. “Yeah, I’d like to have that drink.”
Hours later,I let myself back in through the front door of the brewery, buzzing with the need to see Liam.
Talking to Hannah felt…God, it felt so good to be fully honest with her after weeks of lying by omission. She actually teared up when I told her that Liam had told me about Julia—and then punched me in the arm for making her cry.
After we hugged it out and went our separate ways, I went home and got dressed for my dinner with Liam. A green sweater dress, since green feels like a significant color for us now, and thick black stockings to keep me from freezing. I wore his coat over it, because I like it better than mine. It still smells like him, and every time I put it on, it’s like I’m getting a big Liam hug.
Despite everything that’s still standing in our way, I feel…giddy and happy. Just happy.
When I reach the office, he’s waiting for me on our couch, his arm slung across the back. He’s wearing a green sweater that matches my dress, a coincidence that nearly makes me laugh with pleasure. The color brings out the gorgeous color of his hair, and he’s wearing a pair of worn jeans that fits him so well poems should be written about it. I want to climb onto him. I want to sink into him.
From the way he’s looking at me, taking in my dress and his jacket, he feels the same way.
“You ready to step away, boss?” he asks, lifting his eyebrows.
“I think I’d go anywhere with you.”
“That’s good, because we’re going back to Sunshine Diner.”
“Very funny,” I say as he rises to his feet.
“We still haven’t tried everything on their dinner menu. Maybe they have one perfect dish.”
“I doubt it.” I wrap a hand around his arm and hold his gaze. “Hannah and I talked.”
“Was she rude to you?” he grumbles.
“No. I think she just wants us both to be happy.”
He layers his hand over mine and smiles. “Then she should be thrilled. Come with me.”
I expect him to lead me outside, but he takes me down the hall to the barrel room.
I open the door, and the magical sight inside makes me gasp. The table is set for two, and there’s a charcuterie board set on top of it. Also two champagne glasses and a carafe full of?—
“Our beer,” I say in wonder.
He and Otis kegged it earlier today.
“Ourbeer.” He grins. “But first I have an offering for you.”
He leads me to the side of the room, where one barrel sits against the wall. It has a huge square topper, as if someone decided to turn it into a table, covered with a red velvet cloth.
He tugs off the covering, smiling at me like a magician revealing a rabbit.
A gasp rips from my lungs.
I’m very familiar with this particular piece of wood, having sat beneath it, under threat of squashing, for years.
“Liam. The rules. How…?”
“Probably exactly how you’d think.”
“But that’s so dangerous.” I step forward and put both of my hands on his chest, needing to touch him and reassure myself that he’s whole. “They have an alarm system, and?—”
He wraps an arm around me. “Cormac’s a genius, it turnsout. He disabled it temporarily and helped me get the plaque out of the house. The kid was our getaway driver. Your great-aunt Sky says hi, by the way. She showed up while Cormac’s hand was caught in this metal scrollwork in the hallway. She gave us her blessing. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
