Page 37 of Brody
“Let’s go,” I managed, my voice a stranger’s, husky and breathless.“We have work to do.”
CHAPTER9
ROZI
My footsteps faltered as we approached the converted barn.My heart stuttered, an annoying reminder of how Brody’s proximity affected me even after all this time.Damn him.Damn my traitorous body.
Afternoon sunlight blazed across polished copper and glass, transforming what had once been a simple agricultural building into something almost magical.My cheetah stirred beneath my skin, suddenly alert, instincts humming with both caution and curiosity.The air tasted different here, charged, expectant.
A hand-carved wooden sign featuring a distinctive botanical motif was above the entrance, withThornbern Brewstilleryburned into the aged wood in elegant script.I traced the letters with my gaze, wondering how much of himself he’d poured into this place.
“This used to be the old grain mill,” Brody said, his voice closer than I expected.The heat of his body radiated against my back, not quite touching but near enough that every nerve ending screamed with awareness.He jangled keys from his pocket, the casual movement drawing my attention to his hands—strong, capable hands that I remembered all too well.“I had it converted when I decided to open Thornbern Brewstillery.Needed space for both traditional methods and modern equipment.”
I stepped away, needing distance, needing air.My enhanced senses were already overwhelmed by his proximity, the rich, earthy scent of him beneath sandalwood.Years hadn’t dulled that awareness one bit.Infuriating.
As we approached the entrance, an intoxicating blend of aromas assaulted me, yeasty fermenting grain, oak barrels, fragrant hops, and something herbal, wild, that made my cheetah arch and stretch beneath my skin.The scents intensified as Brody pushed open the heavy wooden door.His shoulder brushed mine in the process, a brief contact that sent electricity sparking through my veins.
“Let me show you where we’ve set up your lab,” he said, his eyes catching mine with an intensity that made my mouth go dry.
I stepped through the doorway and froze.Every clinical assessment I’d prepared scattered like startled birds.My lungs seized mid-breath as my senses flooded with input—sights, sounds, smells that overwhelmed me.
The main brewing area was a symphony of contradictions.Rugged exposed wooden beams stretched across the high ceiling, throwing dramatic shadows across polished concrete floors that gleamed like silver water.Massive copper fermentation tanks reached toward the rafters, their burnished surfaces reflecting amber light that warmed my skin even from across the room.Steam rose in delicate wisps from various apparatuses, dancing in the shafts of sunlight that streamed through strategically placed skylights.
My cheetah prowled restlessly beneath my skin, responding to something primal in this space.Something ancient and wild that called to my beast, that whispered of transformation and power.I forced her back, struggling to maintain my professional demeanor despite the riot of sensations.
Along one wall, oak barrels were stacked in neat rows, their wood rich with the scent of aging botanical extracts.The central area housed a complex network of distillation components.Tubes, valves, and gauges formed an intricate system that looked more like an alchemist’s dream than modern machinery.Handwritten recipes in elegant script lined another wall, generations of botanical knowledge captured in fading ink.
A spiral staircase of wrought iron and wood curved upward to a mezzanine office that surveyed the entire operation like a watchtower.
“I do quick sampling during the brewing process and quality control over there.”He pointed to a corner with a rustic bar crafted from wood with leather-backed stools.Behind it, bottles of various shapes and sizes displayed Thornbern’s product line—amber, mahogany, and opalescent liquids.
I gestured to the entire space.“This is…” Words failed me, a rare occurrence.
Brody’s lips quirked upward in a way that did dangerous things to my heart rate.“Not what you expected from a small-town Brewstillery?”
“Impressive,” I admitted, hating how my voice softened.“You’ve built something extraordinary here.”
Nothing was accidental.Every pipe, every valve, every beam had been placed with intention, creating a space that was both beautiful and brutally efficient.Just like the man himself.
“What I really want to show you is this way,” Brody said, his voice a low rumble that I felt more than heard.He gestured toward an archway, and then his eyes locked on mine.He led me toward the rear of the main area, where a heavy security door stood out like a steel sentinel among the rustic elements.The contrast was jarring.Cold, impersonal metal amid all that warm wood and copper.A biometric scanner glowed softly beside it, the only visible concession to the modern world.
“Your lab,” he announced, pressing his palm against the scanner.The door hissed open with a pneumatic sigh, revealing a decontamination chamber with air locks.
I stepped forward, my heartbeat quickening.Now this was my world.The transition was immediate and absolute.We moved from the warm, aromatic brewing area into a cool, sterile space that felt like crossing a threshold between realms.The chamber sealed behind us with a soft hiss that made my ears pop, and ultraviolet lights flashed briefly overhead, bathing us in alien blue.
“Standard decontamination,” Brody explained, reaching for lab coats hanging on hooks along the wall.Our fingers brushed as he handed one to me, a fleeting touch that sent heat racing up my arm.“To protect the compounds from outside contaminants.”
I slipped the pristine white coat over my clothes, suddenly aware of his eyes on me, tracking the movement.My breath caught when I noticed the embroideredDr.R.Dhahabuon the breast pocket.Such a small detail, but it spoke volumes about the preparation that had gone into this.
“You’ve been planning this for a while,” I observed, tracing the stitching with my fingertips.
His gaze was steady, unwavering.“Longer than you know.”
His words were heavy with unspoken meaning as the inner door slid open.
The laboratory beyond stole my breath completely.
Cold.Pristine.Immaculate.My sanctuary.
