Page 42 of Silver Brewer

“When did you get here?” she asks, lowering her glass and looking up at me. So many questions in those eyes, and I want to answer everything.

“About an hour ago. Took a bit to get here from O’Hare.” I don’t travel much. My nephew Jaxson is in charge of sales and distribution, and he’s the one who visits places. I’ve already been halfway around the world and back, so I’m happy in my mountainous backyard now.

The bartender hands me a local beer, and I sip, letting my tongue roll to distinguish the ingredients. It’s not bad. My brother Billy is more a brewmaster than I am, though. He’s a closet chemist, and my father learned too late of Billy’s benefit to the company. Fortunate for me, I extort my kid brother’s skill.

“Did you get a room?” She hesitates as she asks.

“Changed in the bathroom and asked the front desk to hold my bag,” I clarify.

“I have a room.” Her eyes sheepishly leap to mine. “I didn’t want the hassle of driving home, plus I have the send-off breakfast tomorrow morning, which is suddenly optional, and then that’s it.” Her definitive tone tells me she’ll finally be finished with obligations and can let this fiasco go. Time to move on.

“Optional?” I raise a brow.

“I might be busy in the morning.”

This woman. Her teasing brings a grin to my lips, and I take another sip of my beer. The night isn’t passing fast enough.

She doesn’t mingle, but as people approach her, she introduces me. Family and more family. Business acquaintances.

Finally, she gives her toast and leads me from the ballroom.

“We didn’t dance,” I mock although I’m not a good dancer. She laughs as she drags me toward the elevator, holding my fingers like I held hers on our hike. God, I missed her laughter.

When the elevator closes, I waste no time before I rush up to her and flatten her against the back wall. Her heels raise her closer to my height, but I still dip my head.

“I want to be naked with you.” I don’t know where the words come from, but they’re every bit the truth. I want to be bare and raw and honest with her. I said things I shouldn’t have said, and I need to apologize. With my hands. With my tongue. With my dick.

“I want to be naked with you,” she whispers, her voice shy, but her hips buck forward, and my hand lowers for one. My mouth waters, but I don’t kiss her. Once I start, I won’t stop because I didn’t kiss her enough when I had her on the mountains.

She leads the way to her room and holds the scan card over the magnetic lock. The sharp click releasing the catch is like a pistol shot, and I’m ready to race. When she steps inside, she stops and spins to face me. The door closes with a soft thud, locking us.

“This is more my camping speed,” she teases, swiping out her hand. “Bathroom.” She gestures behind me. “Comfy bed.” She chuckles. “A fridge.”

I laugh with her, but I can’t take my eyes off her dress. It isn’t her. It’s pretty enough, but it’s not my Cricket.

“What are you wearing?” I ask a second time.

Letty tugs at the loose material over her breasts and lets the fabric fall back.

“It’s a dress. I think. Buttercup yellow,” she clarifies.

“It looks like margarine on a biscuit. And the 80s called, they want their prom dress back.”

Letty laughs, a bubbly chuckle, and I’m reminded of pebbles in rain puddles. My spine shivers with the sound. I like it too much.

“Take it off,” I demand, torn between wanting to talk and needing to skip the formal stuff. She turns her back to me and points at the zipper along her spine. Slowly, I unzip, and the dull yellow material spreads. The dress slips to the floor, pooling at her feet, and she turns back to me. Her hands come to her hips, and I swallow.

“You’re the prettiest thing…” I falter, roaming slowly over the nude-colored strapless bra and matching thong in lace. “Fuck that. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve laid eyes on.” Her head tips, and her smile grows, but I can’t take my eyes off the bra where her nipples nearly pop over the edge and the G-string of material covering her lower region. And her heels. Fucking strappy and high. She’s a fantasy of epic proportions.

I tug the tie from my neck and shrug off the jacket, throwing them at the bed. As I slowly unbutton the cuffs of my shirt and then a few at the neck, I keep my eyes on her.

“So, this is your idea of roughing it, huh?” Once I’ve loosened enough of my shirt, I tug it and my undershirt over my head from the back of my neck. I kick off my fancy shoes.

She purrs at me, watching me strip. Her eyes are hungry looking, and I’m starving for her. I hold out a hand for her.

“Let’s check out the bathroom first.”

Her head tilts, but she follows me as I walk backward to the large bathroom. Once we enter, I spin her for the sink, and my hands roam. Up her spine and around her sides, cupping her breasts. I watch in the extra-large mirror.