Page 36 of Vicious Sabotage

She cocked her head in an inquisitive fashion, seemingly unfazed by his direct jab at her dad. “The bar was actually paid off when I inherited it. That meant I could put the profits back into the business.”

He touched the empty shot glass with a fingertip. The last drop of amber glimmered in the bottom from the light of the industrial lighting. “Why rum? Don’t tell me—you love a good rum and Coke.”

She waved a hand. “This is an artistic endeavor.”

His lips quirked. “I bet you put that on the label.”

“You bet I do.”

They shared a laugh. She really was lovely when she smiled. As if she could hear his thoughts, a light pink flush climbed into her cheeks.

He stared at her for another long heartbeat that felt like it was going too hard, too fast. “So this is your dream.”

She tilted her head again, an action he was quickly beginning to see came with her process of thinking, just like her dimple appeared when she was riled.

Finally, she drew a deep breath. “I’d rather have a brewery.”

Her revelation came with a deeper red flush from her and made him blink.

“So why are you making rum?”

“It was always my father’s dream. But the people in these parts are beer drinkers. Do they look like they crawled off a pirate ship to you?”

He laughed again, loving how her mind worked, and her wit and humor definitely kept him on his toes these past few days.

She directed a thick wave of hair over her shoulder, which pulled her top tighter across her breasts, flattening the letters making up the Badlands logo.

“I’d love to make Badlands Beer. It just has a ring to it… I’ve never admitted this to anyone—not even my dear friends Meadow and Ivy—but my heart isn’t really in the rum.”

“I think Badlands Beer sounds brilliant, Livia.”

“Oh, it would be!” Excitement caught hold of her, and her eyes gleamed. “I’d make a few varieties of craft beers to start with. I wouldn’t get ahead of myself. I’d perfect each recipe before working on another. I think it would really take off around here—with tastings and game nights.”

He could envision her vision, and he had to admit he caught her excitement. “You could offer it at local restaurants through a partnership.”

“What a great idea!”

“A few tweaks to the rum label and you’d have one for beer.”

“I’ve already worked up a couple designs!” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and swiped a finger over the screen. When she passed the device to him, his cock jumped at the warmth of her flesh clinging to it.

He studied the two designs side-by-side on the screen. He almost didn’t want to pass the phone back to her. Knowing where she stowed it against her round ass left him with a deep desire that no amount of rum would be able to kick.

“They’re both really good designs. I prefer the one on the right, though. It’s—”

“Clearer,” they said at the same time.

He returned her phone, and her hand brushed his. Unwilling to let her move away too fast, he covered her fingers with his own, trapping them.

Livia sucked in a breath. For a long heartbeat, their gazes locked.

Damn, this woman was going to be the end of him.

Chapter Eight

Livia glared down at her cat. The white, long-haired ball of fluff was curled up on Carver’s chest. Angel never got this cozy with Livia.

Traitor! she mouthed.

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