“Yep. I think he’s getting soft. Tell him to move out of the city and join us.” When Beck released my shoulders, I continued to make drinks. Delaney had slid another glass next to hers.
“Cole,” I said as he wiped his glasses on his shirt and put them on. “Beck wants you to quit your job, forget about tenure at Columbia, and come live with us at the inn.”
Mason snorted. “You are a real piece of work. He has ajob.”
“Oooh, is that for me?” Pia said, spying the drinks I’d made. “Keep one on ice. My ass is frozen… I’m gonna take a super quick shower to warm up.”
She headed for the stairs. To no one’s surprise, Mason followed her.
“Anyone want a vodka soda?” I asked Cole and Beck. “I have a feeling they’re not going to be back anytime soon.”
“I’ll take it,” Beck said. The guy was an indiscriminate alcohol drinker. Scotch. Beer. Vodka. Wine. You name it, he drank it.
Cole made his way over to the liquor counter where there was entirely too much alcohol for one overnighter.
“Nice,” I said, spying the bottle of Glenlivet. Knowing Cole, likely a twelve-year-old bottle. “You don’t fuck around.”
“Depends on what you’re referencing.”
Only Cole had a way of making a sexual innuendo sound classy.
“Oh, yeah?” Beck asked. “Do tell.”
“Grab me one,” I said as Beck went for a beer in the fridge.
“I don’t kiss and tell, unlike someone I know,” Cole said, heading toward the sliding glass doors. “This is one hell of a view.”
Beck handed me a beer and joined Cole. “No shit. Nice job scoring the house.”
Alone in the kitchen, although still within earshot of the guys, Delaney and I looked at each other. “Cheers,” I said, lifting my bottle. At this point, I was feeling pretty good and assumed Delaney was too. Though no sign of a slur. The girl could hold her alcohol.
“So much for water.”
“One glass is better than none.”
She laughed. “I’m definitely gonna need a break to make it all night.”
That gave me an idea. One that would allow us a little more alone time… with other benefits too. “What if we finish these and watch the sunset.” I nodded toward the guys. “Then take a drink break in the hot tub?”
She blinked. “A hot tub… break?”
“Sure. I saw one on the deck when we came in.”
“Same.” She cocked her head to the side, considering. “I did bring my suit, just in case.”
“Perfect. What’dya think?”
“We can’t completely lose our buzz. I’ll be crawling in my bed before we have a chance to play Cards Against Humanity.”
“Ahhh, I wasn’t aware we were making it a game night?”
“Pia would never miss an opportunity for games. I think she brought like five of them.”
“Good thing I like playing games.”
“Do you?” Her tone was suggestive.
I looked her dead in the eyes. “Not with people,” I said as sincerely as possible. Whether she believed me or not, I couldn’t be sure. Delaney had been burned pretty badly, and I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t. But I wasn’t that kind of guy.
