Page 67 of Any Luck at All

“They’re your friends. They’re worried about you.”

A wry grin twisted his mouth. “They like to butt themselves into my business.”

“Because they care about you.” Her heart tightened, and she found herself saying, “I wish I had friends like yours.”

He stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Are you drunk? Did Lurch’s Pee Brew take an hour to kick in?”

She smiled up at him, lifting her hands to rest on his shoulders, and flutters filled her stomach. “My friends in high school weren’t the lifelong type, you know? And my college friends too. Let’s just say that I became so focused on Moon Goddess, I let a lot of my friendships die. The few I have aren’t that close.”

Why was she telling him this? She was making herself sound like a driven asshole, but then again, maybe it was good he knew the truth. Maybe it would help him realize they really could only press pause on reality for so long. He had commitment issues, apparently, and she was too committed to work. A nonstarter.

“I didn’t make Moon Goddess what it was without personal sacrifice,” she continued. “Buchanan Brewery will likely be the same way.”

He studied her for a moment. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to tell me. That after tonight you’re going to be so driven you won’t have time to see me?” His eyes twinkled a little. “I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of each other—in a professional capacity—but I understand the rules, Georgie, and I respect them. What happens tonight won’t have anything to do with our working relationship. We’re both grown-ups. We can set boundaries.”

“I’m a fair boss, but sometimes I’m—”

He kissed her lightly. “No work talk.”

“But I just want—”

He kissed her again, letting it linger this time, sending shivers all the way to her toes. “We’ll compartmentalize. Tomorrow you’ll be the boss and I’ll be the employee, but tonight…” He kissed her again, slowly slipping his arm around her back and pulling her closer so her body was flush with his. This kiss wasn’t as fiery as the one behind the house, but it was full of seduction and promise. “Tonight, it’s just the two of us, River and Georgie, two people who find each other irresistible.”

The puppy yipped at Georgie’s foot, tugging on her shoelace.

She laughed. “You mean the three of us.”

River made a face as she glanced down at the interloper.

“Do you need to take him out?” she asked.

“No, Maisie did before we got home. Let me put him in his kennel with a chew stick and his sandal, and he’ll be sufficiently entertained.”

“Okay,” she said, bending down to pick up the fluffball. “Good thing he’s so cute.”

She glanced at him and caught him looking at the two of them as if he wanted to memorize the image.

He took the puppy from her and headed into the kitchen. Georgie suddenly felt awkward. Should she wait for him here? She still needed a shower. Would it be best to take one now? Or maybe wait and ask him to join her?

Her past relationships had been different, more perfunctory. Men who had required little from her yet failed to hold her interest. Men her father and brother would have approved of—if they could be bothered to meet any of them.

Was that why she was so attracted to River? Because he was everything her father and Lee would object to? Was this an act of rebellion?

But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true.

He returned and frowned when he glanced at her face. “Having second thoughts?”

Was she? Her head was starting to protest again, but her heart—and her body—needed this. She needed to know that there could be heat and passion. That she couldfeel.

She slowly shook her head.

“It just occurred to me that you never ate,” he said. “Are you hungry? Maisie got—”

It was her turn to quiet him, closing the distance between them and placing the tip of her finger on his lips.

“The only thing I’m hungry for is you,” she whispered.

River’s dark eyes turned even darker. He lightly kissed her fingertip, and then his tongue darted out, barely touching her skin, sending a bolt of heat down to her core.

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