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“No. Do you have any thoughts on where he might be?”
He brings his glass to his lips, sipping, then thoughtfully says, “I’ve wracked my brain trying to remember if he said anything at the convention. He’s spontaneous, but I can’t think of a single thing he said. Being married, sometimes I lived vicariously through him. I loved hearing his stories. He always had one or two in his back pocket that he saved for the perfect situation.”
Vanessa certainly inherited his spontaneous genes. “He was one heck of a storyteller. He could make something as mundane as going to the grocery seem like an adventure,” I comment as I think back to my high school days when I would have dinner at their house.
Suddenly, Mr. Lockland lets out a boisterous laugh. “I remember when she used to run around in pigtails…with you.” He points to Vanessa. “Ms. Barron seems to have stepped right into her father’s shoes.”
I take a sip of club soda and chuckle. “No, she’s kickin’ ass in stilettos. Not quite Mr. Barron’s style.” Harlan laughs. “She was born to do this. Her ideas are spot on.”
I think about it for a minute. If she would have followed me in the military and ended up living on a base while I was overseas, she would have been so lonely. And she would have never gotten to this point of leading her family company into the future. More than likely, we would already have two kids and a dog that she would have been raising by herself while I was in the Navy.
Another man approaches us. “Well, if it isn’t Edward Fitch. How the hell are ya? And how’s the new batch of Honeysuckle Trace?” Mr. Lockland asks.
“Good, but nowhere near the buzz of Barron’s 12-Year Special Reserve. She’s a natural born leader, Ms. Barron. We’ll follow her anywhere.” He eyes Vanessa, who is lighting up the room with her bright smile, round, glittery green eyes, and that vivacious personality.
I scan him. “Don’t forget, wherever she is, so am I,” I assert as an uneasy feeling filters through me. He doesn’t appear to be someone I should worry about, but I can’t discount him.
“Do you know Rome Lennox?” I ask, shaking the ice in my glass before taking another drink.
A mischievous grin curls the edges of Edward Fitch’s lips. “I’ve been to his club.”
I bet you have. With the velvet drapes drawn, no doubt.
Vanessa takes long strides toward me, and I meet her halfway. “You have to call Hayes and ask him two things.”
She’s bursting with enthusiasm, and I’d love to take her in the bathroom, place her hands on the sink, lift her dress and make her even happier. It’s been twelve hours since we’ve had sex—we’re making up for lost time.
But I don’t. I have another company coming for a one day team building session this afternoon.
“Whatever you want, babe. Are you ready? We can call him in the car.”
Edward Fitch grabs Vanessa by the waist. “You and I should make a deal. Your dad would want us to combine forces,” he says, as his hand skims her ass.
I grab him by the shirt collar with his tie bunched up in my hands. “Touch her again and die,” I command through gritted teeth and a clenched jaw. I stare at him before I jerk him one more time and let him go. “If you think I’m kidding. I’m not.”
Vanessa takes my hand and kisses me, letting everyone know I’m notjusther bodyguard. Her eyes narrow at Mr. Fitch. “If you think you can put your hands on me because I’m the only woman in charge of a distillery, you are dead wrong. My father trusted me with his company, and when we locate him, I’m determined to have a heartfelt conversation about aligning with someone who touches his daughter without an invitation.” I pull Beau away and then peer over my shoulder and command, “Touch me again and I’ll file a restraining order.”
I’m quiet as I think about Edward Fitch and his sleazy hands touching my girl.
“Thanks for defending my honor and scaring him to death.” Her fingernails lightly scratch the back of my neck, and the muscle tension instantly fades away.
“No one touches what’s mine. He better hope he learned his lesson.” I let out a long breath. “Ben called and they’ll be ready to serve as your bodyguard by the Bourbon Ball, if that’s what you want,” I say with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on her thigh.
“I told you to decide. This is your area of expertise. But it might be good to have someone watching us so we can be a couple at the Bourbon Ball. We can dance and I can be the focus of your attention. That sounds much more enjoyable than having you scanning the room for potential problems all night.”
“I’d like that too, babe. I’ll set it up, but I’m still wearing an earpiece. I can’t take any chances, especially with Edward Fitch around.”
She belly laughs. “I love jealous Beau and the look in your eyes when you’re about to hit someone over me. Can you call Hayes now?”
The virtual assistant connects to my phone. “Call Hayes Dieslich.”
It rings a number of times, and just when I think it’ll roll into voice mail, he picks up.
“Hey, Beau. What’s up, man?”
“I need a favor.” Vanessa holds up two fingers. “Well two, actually. My girlfriend, Vanessa Barron, is the CEO of Barron’s Bourbon Distillery.”
“Nice, you found your way back together. Good for you.”
