Page 35 of Sweet Whiskey
With a tight jaw, Maverick shakes his head. “No. It’s already getting late into the afternoon. I’ll call over to set us up in the meeting hall for Monday morning.”
Even I grimace at Maverick's harsh command and wipe my hands on my jeans. “Then how about we all wash up and grab some food?”
Kinsey steps away from us. “I think we’ll just head back to the inn and meet up with you guys Monday.”
“Breakfast then. Don’t pull away from us, Kinsey. Please,” Colt says. He wipes his hands on his jeans and takes a step closer to her. “Just give me a chance to explain.”
Brooks clears his throat. “We wrangle horses for a living. We got the patience and the stubbornness to wait it out.”
Kinsey’s lip quirks, and she rolls her eyes before nodding once. “Fine, breakfast then.”
CHAPTER 16
KINSEY
My cheeks hurt from forcing a smile, and I’m only three hours into my shift. I lean against the bar top, catching my breath as Tracy loads up the tray for the party’s order.
“How are you feeling today? Marley told me you had a rough night?”
I give my boss a weary smile. “Kind of. I’m fine. As long as certain alphas don’t walk in, I'll be absolutely…fine.”
She smiles when I blow out a long breath. “They’re good men, but at the end of the day, they’re still men.”
My lips quirk in amusement. “No, it’s not them. I just need to work through some things myself. It’s like when you’re mad, you know you shouldn’t be, but you can’t get over it.”
Tracy hums, setting the last bottle onto the tray. “Maybe just let them grovel anyway? Give them something to focus on.”
She taps the counter, pushing away to saunter over to the other side. Grabbing the tray, I deliver them to my tables with a smile before letting it fall as I walk away. Brielle comes up to my side, nudging my shoulder.
“You good?”
I nod, sighing and leaning against the counter as our eyes sweep over the bar. “Yeah, I think I’m just waiting for people to show up when I know they won’t. They’ll give me the time I asked for.”
Brielle fiddles with the strings of her apron before glancing over at the corner. “Maverick is here if you want to talk to him.”
I bristle at the thought. “Did he ask to talk to me?”
She shakes her head. “No, but he seems like the stubborn type. You know the ones where sometimes it’s easier to hit them upside the head than change their mind.”
Her eyebrow raises, implying she knows someone just like that. I nudge her shoulder back, wiping my sweaty palm on my jeans.
“Do you think he’ll want to talk to me?”
She grips my elbow, leading me to the booth. His eyes are on hers, soft and wanting, before turning cold when they shift to me.
Brielle wags her finger in his face. “None of that. She’s my best friend. Treat her with kindness.”
I shrug off her hold. “It’s okay, Brielle. He’s protective of his dad, I get it.”
Maverick’s jaw tics, glancing between us and landing on me. “Can I see the photo again?”
My fingers shake as I pull it out of my back pocket and hand it over to him. His eyebrows furrow as he stares at me. I clear my throat. “My mom kept it on her nightstand. I was sixteen when I finally asked her about it. She saidit was my dad.”
“And she was positive about that?”
I scowl. “Are you asking if my mom slept around?”
He shrugs.
