Page 72 of Best Kind of Trouble
My heartbeat picks up pace, but I smirk at her. “That would probably mean more if you hadn’t just told me you believe singing and crystals are going to mature this beer.”
“You’re the one who started it.”
There’s not much I can say to contest that. So I settle for brushing my hand against hers again, making it look like an accident.
“Liam,” she says, her voice trembling with meaning.
I let myself remember what it felt like to have her in my lap. What a fucking decadence that was.
“Briar.We’re breaking a very important rule.”
“Let’s not break any others,” she says with a smile.
But her lips are trembling a little, and I feel like a dick for having pointed out the obvious. I feel like even more of a dick for making this so hard on both of us, constantly pushing theboundaries even though I know there’s a line we cannot cross again, no matter how much I want to take her hand and vault over it.
The door to the tasting room creaks, and more footsteps approach us.
Briar perks up. She’s obviously expecting Sorcha and a bunch of backup singers, but it’s Otis, scratching his head.
“Uh, guys, I think Sorcha just quit. I’m sorry, Briar. I swear I didn’t do anything. I offered her an Airhead, and she said it was the last straw and just walked out.” He hesitates. “Actually, maybe she thought I was calling her an airhead.”
I dart a look at Briar. “I should have put money on it.”
“Are you sure she’s gone for good?” she asks Otis, looking so sad about it, I’m tempted to run after Sorcha and convince her to come back.
He nods, obviously no happier about disappointing her than I am.
“All right.” I clap my hands. “Let’s get this going.”
She gives me a disbelieving look. “You’re going to lead this bar in song?”
A grin stretches across my face. “I’ll have you know my father, Hannah, Connor, and I were in a family band together. We were the quadruple threat of the farmers’ market. No one could go there without having to listen to us sing about dental hygiene and vegetables.”
Her laughter spurs me on. “I know. Hannah showed us the videos.”
“Then you know I was lead vocals for that one song about carrots. Do you doubt my ability to lead the crowd?”
“No, I really don’t doubt you. Or the carrots.” Her smile turns mischievous, as if she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. “But please feel free to prove to Otis and me why we shouldn’t.”
“What are we singing?” Otis asks, always game to do anything for Briar. He’s still got it bad for her.
Then again, I’m not one to talk.
I’m about to lead a bar full of half-drunk people in song to make a girl smile.
“Well?” Otis asks.
I evade his question by marching into the front room and coming to a stop next to the bar.
The tasting room is three-quarters full of people who seem to be in a competition to talk louder than one another. We’re all losing, as far as I can tell.
Constance left for her family cruise yesterday, but Ann’s here, happily wiping down the bar.
I glance back at Briar, who followed Otis and me out here, then give a wolf whistle.
Every eye in the place lands on me, except for Ann’s—which means her hearing aid is switched off again.
I almost laugh at the realization that I did this to myself on purpose.
