Page 56 of Just One Spark

Beck leaned forward, folding his arms on the table."I've seen this exact same situation before.Someone who doesn't know as much about the business gives their opinion, and when the rest of the family follows their advice, the business suffers.It also sends a mixed message to our staff.Who's actually in charge?You don't want Malcolm directing the staff."

"That would be confusing."I could see how Malcolm's interference could damage the business.I just didn't want to hurt him in the process."You would think he'd have enough to deal with being a single dad and running a restaurant.Why does he want to be involved with the brewery too?"

"He needs control.I think he's always been that way, but when McCoy came along, he spiraled.So he tightened his grip on everything."

"He's going to be mad."

"If you do it right, he'll respect you.Right now, he's walking all over us because no one has been firm with him.If you stand up to him, he'll back down."

"I'm not so optimistic about that."I knew my brother better than Beck did.He was tangled up in this place as much as we were, and extracting him would be next to impossible.

"I don't want this business to fail because Malcolm can't let go and let us run this place.He has no experience with a brewery, and he has no business ordering us or the employees around."

"I'll take care of it."I didn't want to upset my brother.But it had to be done.No one would interfere with the success of the brewery.Not after I'd worked so hard to make it a reality.

Beck nodded."Let me know if you need me to be there."

"Malcolm's my responsibility.I can handle it."The tension crept into my neck.I hated confronting Malcolm.But I didn't see any way around it.

He turned his focus to his laptop."Let's talk about how each part of the business ran yesterday and how we can improve things."

We talked through everything that happened last night and brainstormed ideas for how we could do things differently.We worked until the afternoon, when Mom showed up with sandwiches.Then we kept working until the sun set.I told Hattie I'd be working late, so she shouldn't have been expecting me.

I hated not seeing her after the morning we'd shared though.Hattie had been vulnerable, and I wanted to see her, to ensure she was okay.To let her know that I'd always be there for her.

But there was a voice in my head reminding me that she wasn't really mine.That I wouldn't be the man in her life for long.She hadn't chosen me.Not yet anyway.

I had to be patient and show up for her.But what if I was so preoccupied with the brewery that I lost her again?What if she pulled away, and I wasn't there to stop her?

The brewery was my dream.I needed to be here finalizing the details and working with Beck to make everything perfect.He was right.One bad experience could turn customers away from us.And I wanted a good reputation.One that was fitting for a Hart establishment.It wasn't the time to be distracted.

Hopefully, Hattie would understand that I was busy, and things would improve.Of course, opening a new business wouldn't be any better.But things had to slow down eventually.I couldn't keep working like this.Not if I wanted a real chance with Hattie.

I just hoped I'd have enough time.That things would work out, and she'd give me a chance.We were growing closer every day.I couldn't give up.

By the timeI got home, it was late.Hattie had left the lamp in the living room on, and a note telling me there was spaghetti on a plate in the fridge.I heated it up and ate it standing up.I rinsed the plate.

I would have loved distracting her from her task while she was cooking.I'd arrive home while she was stirring the pasta in the pot.I'd brush her hair to the side and kiss her bare shoulder.I'd run my hands down her body, maybe dipping a hand into the waistband of her leggings and parting her folds, finding her wet for me.

Now I was hard and wanting her.I went upstairs, hoping she'd be amenable to me waking her up so that we could have sex.It was selfish of me, but I couldn't get enough of her.Just the thought of her naked body under my comforter had me fisting my hands.

This time, it was dark.No light emanated from under the door.I opened the door.

"Row?"Her voice was heavy with sleep as if I'd woken her.

I walked quietly over to her side of the bed."Sorry I woke you."

She reached for me, and I took her hand, allowing her to pull me down.We rolled until I was on top of her, and her legs spread to accommodate me.

Her hands ran through my hair."I want you."

I nuzzled her neck."I always want you."

"You smell so good, like the brewery."

I loved that she enjoyed that smell because I was probably always going to smell like hops."I'm glad you like it."

She gasped when my teeth scraped her sensitive skin."I love it."