Page 83 of Bourbon and Proof

“Law Riggs, and the pleasure is mine. And my wife does the whole brooding thing too. They’re a good time together. I think you and I will balance it all out very nicely.” He claps his hands in front of him with a shit-eating grin. “Now, how about I show you around this place. Then we can talk about our newest addition.” He looks over at me, and then back at Hadley. “I think it’s the motivation for coming here.”

I met some of the Riggs family on my last trip out here, but this time, it’s less about being schmoozed for selling them some great bourbon and more about seeing firsthand some of the big tourist boosters they’ve created in the past few years. The Riggs family, much like mine, wants to see their small town thrive.

We head on out and get a complete tour of the small mountain town, with Law’s wife Contessa joining us. I’ve only ever been once when we were first negotiating a specialty bourbon for Law’s exclusive events and VIP adventures, but I didn’t take the time to see the parallels of this place and Fiasco. The landscape is entirely different, but there’s originality to what they offer. For them, it’s mountain sports, and for us, it’s the mix of horses and bourbon. Riggs Outdoor is busy, the offices bustling with people working on ad campaigns and social media shoots. There’s an expansive indoor rock climbing facility that hosts Olympic climbers as trainers and a sports rehab center that works with the U.S. Olympics Ski and Snowboarding teams.

“We’ve tripled the amount of people we can host and accommodate during our busy seasons, and then doubled it during the summer months as well. The mountains absolutely draw the most attention, but it’s the exclusive excursions and adult-only adventures where we’ve seen the most growth.”

Law’s almost too excited when he says, “My sister-in-law runs a tattoo shop if you were feeling like something to mark the occasion. And I know that, Ace, you enjoy rock-climbing. You should consider an adventure outside, since it’s the perfect season for it.”

“Atticus Foxx, how have you kept this place a secret?” Hadley asks with a smile.

Tessa cuts in and says, “Ace tells me you own a speakeasy?”

“Midnight Proof,” she answers with a nod. “Doors have been open just over five years now. It delivers on that sexy, sultry 1920s Gatsby glamour. I have a phenomenal cocktail menu and brought in a resident burlesque dancer who performs with a talented jazz trio.” Her smile shows her pride. “It’s a labor of love, and I’m lucky for its success.”

“It’s not luck,” I say as I look at my wife. “You work hard, know what people want, and deliver. You’re a helluva businesswoman.”

Tessa looks at me with a knowing smirk. “Marriage looks good on you. I wasn’t sure I’d live to see the day.”

“That’s part of the motivation behind our trip,” I tell her, taking a sip of my bourbon blend. I forgot how good this one came out. It was a small batch—four barrels only. “Enjoy some time away from our businesses and maybe research a little of the magic you’ve packed into this place. See what might translate to our corner of the world.”

The truth is, I didn’t tell Hadley exactly what places we would visit while we’re out here. The progress and investments the Riggs family had made to see their town flourish are impressive.

“Tomorrow night, if you’re up for something a little taboo,” Law says, and then pauses, glancing at his wife. They have a private exchange of some kind, and then he continues. “There’s a place here that I can imagine your wife might find...inspiring.”

It’s what I was hoping they’d suggest. A place that aligns exceptionally well with a bourbon brand, a speakeasy owner, and adults looking to play on a getaway.

Hadley’s blue eyes bounce around the table before landing on me with interest. I try my best to hide my smile, but end up moving my hand across my mouth and jaw.

“Oh Foxx, you didn’t tell her what she was getting into, did you?” Tessa asks. She leans closer to my wife and speaks quietly to her. The moment I see Hadley’s smile crack, then eyes widen, I know I made the right decision in making it a bit of a surprise.

She fist pumps. In the middle of a restaurant, thrusts her closed fist into the air, and says, “I’m sorry, but if I had told myself that I would be sitting in this exact scenario, like, a year ago, I would have laughed so hard, I would have peed a little.” She points at me, giddy as can be. “I love you.”

But she realizes what she says a fraction of a second too late. Her mouth snaps shut, and she only blinks, knowing she can’t backtrack. Not in this company.

So I lean into it. It feels too good to hear it. My brave fucking girl. I let those few words, whether she meant them or not, linger for just a few more seconds. Moving my hand under the table, I slide it onto her thigh and squeeze. “I know, sugar. Me too.”

I watch her throat bob as she swallows, eyes locked on mine as Tessa continues to chat with her and Law with me. We both said something that was never meant to be said when you’re in a supposed fake marriage.

“I have a few masks you might like to choose from for tomorrow evening. Since it’s an anonymous club, all faces must be covered in some way,” Tessa says, pulling my focus back to the plans forming in front of me. She glances at Law. “It’s how we met, though. Women were the only ones wearing masks at that particular establishment. It was ladies’ choice, so the men had to be brave enough not to wear a mask if they wanted to participate. For men at our place, it’s optional.” Bringing her attention to Hadley, she says, “I know Law wanted to try to convince your husband to make another small batch of his specialty bourbon for us, so how about you come with me and tell me all about your speakeasy. I want to hear more about this burlesque dancer.”

Hadley nods, already grabbing her purse. “Well, she’s incredible and my sister-in-law, if you can believe it.”

“Oh, I can. I have a small handful of those myself,” she says as they get up from the table. When Tessa moves to leave without saying a proper goodbye to her husband, Law calls out, “Bunny, do not leave this room without kissing me.”

Hadley smiles at me as she watches Tessa roll her eyes and walk over to her husband begrudgingly. I crook my finger twice, tellingmywife to come to me. And she doesn’t hesitate, loopingher arms around my neck and sitting sideways on my lap as she says, “I have a feeling we’re about to have way more fun this weekend than I expected.”

I think she’s fucking right.

Chapter 34

Hadley

June: Following the white rabbit

Anything worth talking about and remembering is always heavily impacted by the way it’s presented. It’s why Midnight Proof is half as successful as it is. The experience is just as impressive as the lighting and mood of the curated style. It's exactly how I feel riding the elevator to the highest level of our hotel. I would’ve never known it’s here, and I think that’s the point. While places in Strutt’s Peak are named after the mountains and lean into the vibe of mountain sports, this place is hidden in plain sight. It can only be accessed by key cards that were delivered to our room, and I learned that the vetting process to even be allowed entry is quite extensive.

The doors to the elevator open, and along each side of the hallway are full-length windows looking out onto what appears simply as a darkened sky lit up with stars and the outline of peaks shadowed in the foreground. At the end of the hallway,there’s a single door. There’s no name or words, simply a gold statue of a rabbit head wearing a monocle. It opens with the swipe of a card and a greeter stands behind the door.

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