“I’m the brains, actually. And maybe the looks.” I tug on a wayward strand of her hair. I’m not the heart. I’m the background guy. The ideas guy. I don’t think anyone at Prince Bourbon wants me to be the CEO except for Aiden.
In the distance, the Crownhaven gates clang closed.
“That’ll be Ryan,” she says, but makes no move to stand. I hold myself still, fighting the wave of irritation at his interruption.
“Tristan,” she whispers urgently. “Can you give me kissing tips?”
My head whips around. She’s looking at me expectantly.You signed up for this, asshole. Help her get laid and stop mentally volunteering for the job.
I swipe my tongue over my bottom lip, picturing how I start a kiss. Picturing how I’d start with her. “Start slow,” I say, my eyes on her mouth. “Start slow and see what he likes.” Her lips part. My head feels light. “The right man will let you lead. Don’t go for tongue too soon. Test the waters. If he makes a sound, you’ve got him.” My gaze goes back to her face. Her pupils are dilated.
My own breath is shallow.
“Is that what you like? I mean, what you do?”
I swallow. “Yeah, Bailey.” I clear my throat. “That’s what I do. That and more.”
I can’t help the way my gaze dips to her mouth again, wondering what it would feel like to have hertest the waters. Would she moan? What would it be like to let her lead?
My insides feel like warm honey.
A car door slams.
I let her wrist drop.
Katie’s head jerks in that direction. She blinks furiously, then stands in a rush and smooths her shorts.
“He’s here.”
I nod, at a loss for something smooth to say.
She starts walking away, and everything inside me tenses at handing her over to him. What if the date is bad? What if he’s not a safe driver?
“Katie.”
She looks back. “Yeah?”
“Call me. If you need anything, okay?”
Her brows lower. “You’ll be in meetings. You have a date. It’s fine. I’ll—”
“I’ll step out if I need to. Call me.”
She nods and then disappears into Ryan’s car. I have theunaccountable urge to put my fist through the side of the truck next to me.
This is what she wants.
I’m not a fist through the car kind of guy. I learned long ago that wanting things you can’t have will only get you into trouble.
I shove my hands into my pockets and walk back inside to get ready for my meeting.
Thirty minutes later,I’m in a suit and tie and I’m sitting across from Aiden in the small conference room at our office. The head distillers are on videoconference.
We’re making small talk, but only half my attention is on the screen. This feels wrong. I hit the mute button.
“Next time, let’s do this in person. These guys aren’t videoconference people.”
Aiden startles, then nods. “You’re right. My mistake.”
