Page 27 of Whiskey Darling
“Your parents?” Allie asks softly.
“Yes.”
“They look so happy.”
“They were. Very happy.” My response is gruff. I can’t help it. I miss my father more than I ever thought possible. Because of him, I have the distillery, but I would give it up in an instant if it meant having him alive once more.
“I’m sorry about your dad. Sawyer told me how he started the distillery. How close you were. I hope you don’t mind I asked him. There’s so little information about you available.” Allie continues perusing the framed photographs, smiling at the ones featuring me. “Your mom still lives in Cherrywood Springs, right?”
“She does. She’s in Europe right now with friends. She left right before we hired you.”
“Sounds like fun. Are you two close?” The moment the question pops out, Allie whirls toward me, a hand covering her mouth in embarrassment. Her cheeks flush a pretty pink. “Oh, gosh. I’m sorry… I don’t mean to pry.”
“It’s fine. And yes, we get along. She’s a regular visitor for dinner when she’s not jet setting all over the place.”
Mom never stays put for long. She’s a whirlwind of activity, a welcome change to the despondent, fragile creature she was after Dad died.
Allie frowns.
“Oh, how sad your mom must be,” she says, studying the photograph of my parents taken at their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. All their friends helped me throw a surprise party for them that year.
“What do you mean?” I’m puzzled. “Mom has an amazing group of friends. She travels anytime she wants; money is no object. If she needs anything, I make sure she gets it.”
“But… she doesn’t have your dad.” The look Allie gives me indicates she can’t believe I’m so blind. To pain. To my mom’s loneliness. “She’s living her life without her husband. Maybe I’m wrong, but time alone must be a terrible reminder. I wonder if my mom would recover if she lost my dad. They do everything together.” She laughs softly. “They’re so lovey-dovey. It’s incredibly adorable and outrageously embarrassing.”
“Dad always said Mom could get him to go anywhere she wanted, as long as they were together.” I smile, rubbing the back of my neck. “He regretted saying that when it was time for Christmas shopping, but he always took her. Made an adventure of it, although he hated shopping.”
“My dad hates it, too. I don’t think he’d survive without Amazon Prime. And my dad, if something ever happened, he’d want my mom to do what your mom is doing. Get out there, finish living life… even if it was without him.” Allie comes closer, a sheepish expression pinching her features. “I’m sorry, Flynn. I didn’t mean to turn the atmosphere so gloomy.”
When she touches my arm, I realize how easy it is to talk about my parents, about my dad with her. Allie is the kind of person you could talk to for hours, and your secrets would be safe forever.
I’ve never been interested in lengthy conversations with a woman, other than for the purpose of getting her into bed.
It’s the number two reason I should run from Allie Darling. She’s deep. Invasive. Wiggling with ease into my life. I don’t do women like her. Ever. Relationships are avoided, and I use the distillery as a convenient excuse. I lack the time for anything else. It’s how I keep my distance.
That leaves the simple act of sex.
No dating. No attachments. No disappointments. No heartaches when tragedy strikes.
“Are you hungry?”
My question is unexpected. I’m probably more surprised by it than Allie. Staring at me, head tilting as if figuring out my new strategy, she gives a slow nod.
“Come on, then.” I marvel over how small her hand is when it slips into mine, and the warmth flooding me has nothing to do with lust. I still want her. And I’ll have her. Only, I must protect myself when I let her in. “I make a helluva grilled cheese sandwich.”
