Page 6 of Sweet Whiskey
Her mom? Now that I think about it, she does seem very similar to the woman in the photo. She doesn’t look like anyone I’ve seen, but sometimes genetics aren’t so copy and paste, so that doesn’t mean anything. Or her mom could be someone who simply raised her, but is her mom nonetheless. I would understand the feeling of that more than anyone likes to admit.
“Kinsey, you could barely handle dancing in front of Jerald Donovan during a social. You think youcan work a job like this?” her friend says, and a flash of jealousy courses through me. Who the fuck is Jerald Donovan?
Kinsey rolls her eyes. “Brielle. I wasn’t nervous to dance in front of him, he kept moving his hand off my hip and to my butt. I was trying not to punch him.”
Through my anger, I snicker. “Atta girl. No man should be touching a woman without her permission.”
Brielle, the fiery blonde, turns to me with a raised eyebrow. “Okay, cowboy consent. Who invited you to this conversation?”
Kinsey grabs her hand. “Down, girl. I invited him. He offered me a drink.”
Her friend narrows her eyes before dragging them down my body and then pursing her lips. She steps back, as if she finds me somewhat worthy of continuing to converse with them.
The auburn-haired beauty, who still holds most of my attention, sighs and turns to me. “Sorry, she’s really protective of me, especially from…uh, strange men in bars.”
A smile pulls at the corners of my mouth. “No worries. I understand.” I nod back to the bar top as the song ends and the girls climb down. “Hope that doesn’t send you running. It would be a shame to never see you again.”
CHAPTER 3
KINSEY
Throwing my hair up in a bun, I tug on an oversized hoodie and shove my feet into the faux-fur-lined slippers. I could feel the chill of the morning through the door, but I needed coffee after only a few hours of sleep. I was pleasantly surprised to not wake up with a hangover since I’m usually such a lightweight. Thankfully, the elderly woman at the inn didn’t take long to check us in and lead us to the room with minimal chitchat so we could finally pass out. Brielle will need coffee whenever she wakes up. I shake my head when I see her spread out on the bed, knowing whoever she ends up with is going to need a big one for her nest.
I pause to look up, a smile lighting my face at the bright colors scattered across the sky with the rising sun. It’s a sight that never gets old and one of the reasons I was excited to get away from the city I grew up in. Tall skyscrapers blocked most of the view, and the mornings were usually thick with clouds the rest of the time. Brielle isn’t one who is in tune with nature, but even she can appreciate the beauty of this small town.
Tucking the hoodie tighter against me as if it’s gonna shield me from the cold, I jog across the street to the small coffee shop I’d seen when we drove past. A small bell goes off when I enter, and I could moan at the delicious smell immediately overwhelming my nostrils. The same café is softly lit inside with a few older people already sitting at tables and reading the newspaper. It tugs at my heart, knowing this is a peace that only a few understand. An early morning while the majority are still asleep is like cuddling in front of a warm fire after a long day, energizing while healing a bit of your soul.
A bubbly barista with curly brown hair sticking out all over smiles at me. “Oh! Hi. You’re a new face. What can I get you?”
“Whatever is your strongest coffee and a strawberry banana muffin.”
She nods excitedly. “Good choice. Those always sell out fast.”
“Same for me too, Connie. You can put it on my tab,” a deep, rumbling voice says behind me. A small shiver travels down my spine as I face the man from last night. My eyes widen seeing him clearer in the day because he’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I almost thought I had drunk goggles on last night because there’s no way someone like this just happens to live here. His dark brown eyes are like melted chocolate, a warmth that makes me want to swim in them. A rugged beard trimmed along his jaw doesn’t hide his sharp chin, and I can assume his hair is trimmed just as neatly under his beige cowboy hat. I swallow my tongue at his dark gray Henley, fitting snugly enough to show off his muscular frame, and the worn-in jeans hugging his thighs, before sighing at the boots on his feet. He’s like every woman’s fantasy, exactly what you imagine when you think of a hot Southern man.
“Hi,” I breathe out, unable to come up with anything else as my face flushes. I clench my thighs together as I feel the tingle of slick starting to leak out. I’ve never had such a visceral reaction to someone before.
His nostrils flare, but he doesn’t say anything as he tips the front of his hat between his thumb and forefinger. “I’m glad to see last night didn’t take too much out of you.”
“Your order, Colt,” Connie says at the counter, and I move to the side as he grabs them.
Colt.
Fuck me, that’s a cowboy name if I’ve ever heard one. But seriously,fuck me.Like right now. I curl my hand into a fist to stop the urge to fan myself.
He grabs one of the coffees and hands it over to me before snatching up the bagged muffins.
I huddle the warm cup to my chest. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. There’s cream and sugar on the cart over there,” he says. When he doesn’t hand over my food, I take it that he’s going to wait for me, so I quickly dump some cream and sugar inuntil it’s a perfect nude color. Taking a sip, I sigh into the delicious elixir.
I walk back over to Colt, who has been watching me amused.
“Cream with a side of coffee?” he teases.
“Not all of us have the chest hair to handle straight black coffee,” I say with a fake pout.
His eyes dip to my chest and I’m reminded of the outfit I had thrown on before leaving the inn. I swallow down the groan that nearly escapes, knowing I look like a mess. Thankfully, he knows what I look like in my lucky jeans and titty enhancer tank top. It’s my only saving grace at the moment.
