Page 56 of Silver Brewer

Letty looks back and forth between us a second. “I don’t understand that one.”

Billy’s expression slowly falls, and he tilts his head. “What do you mean, love?”

“Roald Dahl,” Letty explains, and Billy’s eyes shoot up to me.

“You told her the family secret?” He’s aghast. “She really must be special.”

I glare at my brother, not liking the direction of his comment.

“Roald Dahl?” a feminine voice says at my side, and I turn to see Roxanne McAllister, owner of the bookstore and my brother’s nemesis. One brow rises in question as she glares at Billy. No one understands the deal between these two. They act like they hate each other. Roxanne glances over at Letty. “Billy is the name of a character in a short story called ‘The Minpins’ by Roald Dahl. It’s a cautionary tale about not going into the woods.” Roxanne glances back at Billy with malice in her eyes. “Seems appropriate.”

Letty covers her lips with two fingers, biting back a chuckle. “Oh my,” she says under her breath, and I tug her to me.

“What would you know about playing in the woods?” Billy mocks.

“More than you’d know about reading a book,” Roxanne snaps.

Letty’s mouth falls open, and I watch as the two spar.

“Oh, good one.” Billy covers his chest over his heart with both hands. “Ouch, I’m hurt that I don’t read.”

“It’s better than being anywhere near your wood,” Roxanne retorts. Her eyes narrow on Billy.

“Go away,” he stammers, shooing her with the back of his hand.

“With pleasure.” Then she turns to Letty. “If you need a good book, come visit me.”

“And if she needs good wood, she can come to me,” Billy adds, puffing up his chest as he bellows his comeback. Only I’m not liking what he said one bit.

“Fuck that,” I say, glaring at my brother.

“I didn’t mean…” Billy turns red, which isn’t easily accomplished on him, and Roxanne chuckles as she turns and walks away.

“That woman…” he groans, turning back for the bar.

“Well, they certainly sound familiar.” Letty chuckles, and I peer down at her.

“What do you mean?”

She responds by pointing back and forth between us.

22

Hot tubs are hot.

[Letty]

Tipsy and tired at first, I have renewed energy when we return to Giant’s home. I’m not going to be able to fall asleep so easily tonight.

“Mind if I try out that hot tub downstairs?” I ask, my words a bit slow but not too slurred.

“Mind if I join you?”

I’m happy he asked. We’ve had a good night. Lots of laughs and him holding me under his arm. He’s been kissing my temple and making a real show of me as his to this town. People have given us a knowing smile all night, and I feel like they know more than me, but by the time I was three beers in, I no longer cared. I still don’t. I just want to continue enjoying him.

We decide to strip naked for the hot tub, and I sink into the bubbly warmth. With the crisp fall air coming through the screens, the juxtaposition of heat from the water is soothing. Giant and I sit opposite each other, shyly smiling while our toes brush underneath the water. Eventually, he grips my ankle and pulls my foot to his mouth. He bites the pad, which causes my knee to jerk, but I’m not as repulsed as when he suggested kissing my feet while we were camping.

“You should put one of these up on the mountain. Maybe at your cabin.”