AllFreeNovel
Share Us
***
“You look lovely this morning,” I say, taking Quinn’s hand and closing her hotel room door for her.
She looks down at her plain black pants and short-sleeved, flowy red blouse paired with a small black heel. Her sling is in place over her shirt. She holds a small notebook in her hand. “Is this outfit all right? The email said business casual. I’m not gonna lie, I had to Google what that meant. I own mostly jeans and rock band tees. And shorts and tanks for the summertime.”
I grin. “It sure is. It’s perfect.”
“Thanks, whew! I was so worried,” she says as we head toward the elevator. “You look very nice yourself.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Except maybe all the men staring at you,” I comment as I stab the lighted button with one finger. The elevator doors open immediately, and we step in, and I’m grateful we’re alone—for now.
“What do you mean?” she asks, looking up at me. She’s wearing more makeup than usual and it looks pretty on her.
“The brewery industry is a very male-dominated one. In the last few years, more women have begun to rise to higher positions of responsibility—like yourself, for example. Some are even owners, or the daughters of tycoons who took over the business after achieving degrees in business and going to specialty training.”
“Don’t the men who take over their father’s business need that education and training, too?” she asks.
Smart girl.
I nod. “Yes, they do. I suppose I wasn’t clear in my point that a lot of women didn’t seem to be interested in the past few decades, but now that’s changing.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
We’re quiet as we ride down, seeming to take forever. Our rooms are on the thirtieth floor, though.
“Listen, are we okay?” I ask in a rare moment of vulnerability I hate to show, especially outside of the bedroom.
She looks up at me and cocks her head to the side. “Yes, of course. Why?”
“I just thought, since you didn’t want to stay with me…” I grab her hand and gently squeeze it.
“I needed some time to think and be alone. I also thought maybe you were disappointed in me that I didn’t, uh, couldn’t, you know…”
I feel like we’re a couple of awkward high school kids who can’t talk about sex, which is ridiculous.
Turning her to face me, I grab both hands and say, “I want us to talk about it. Not now, obviously, but tonight. Let’s order in, pull up a movie, and then we’ll talk. Or no movie. It’s up to you.”
She smiles. “Oh, that would make me happier than a pig in mud.”
I chuckle. There she is. She’s back.
The elevator doors open right on time, and we walk without touching to a long table manned by the convention employees. We each give our names and are handed a packet and a lanyard to wear before we go into the conference room for a long day of lectures, slideshows, and keynote speakers.
***
“That was so interestin’!” Quinn says as we load onto the elevator, crowded with at least six other people. “I won’t lie, I thought it was gonna be boring.”
I hear a few snickers from the others, and I, too, have to bite back a smile.
“I did as well,” one woman confesses. The name badge on her lanyard readsSusan Milford. “First time here?” she asks Quinn.
“Yep, just got me a promotion so I got to come to this fancy convention. This here’s my boss, Lincoln.”
“Susan,” she says, with a head dip, keeping her hands linked in front of her.
“You with Milford Brewing in New York?” I ask.
“Yes, sir. Daddy retired last year, it’s all me and my brother now.” She points to the man next to her.
