Page 16 of Brewing Brilliance

She looks sexy as fuck right now. Her cheeks are the perfect rose color either from a day spent in the sun, or judging by her clothes, a day spent out hiking. Either way, the color reminds me of the flush from my lips sucking on her nipples and I’m instantly hard. It takes a second to realize she’s smirking at me because I’m too busy checking her out. I smile because there’s no way I’m going to hide my desire for her as I make my way to her.

“Hi Sweets. This is the best surprise I’ve had in months. What brings you to my neck of the woods?” I can’t help my cocky grin because there’s only one logical answer to that question and hopefully it’s the answer I’ve been dying to hear since yesterday.

“Oh, quit smirking at me like that. Like you don’t know exactly why I’m here.” She tries to seem put off, but the corners of her lips are currently fighting to stay in place and my heart skips a beat at the possibility that she’s in on my plan.

“Do you have some place we could talk in private?”

“Absolutely. Want a drink since you’re here?”

“Sure. Surprise me.” So, I pour her one of the lemon beers she had that first night over at my house and smirk when she hums as she takes the first taste. If I’m not mistaken, her cheeks turn an even darker shade of rose as her eyes meet mine.

Once we’re in my office, I gesture for her to take a seat on the small sofa that I have pushed up against the back wall by the windows that look out towards the town. She sits and I snag a spot at the other end, turning my body to face hers so that I can give her my undivided attention.

“Alright Sweets, what can I help you with?” She’s fidgeting with a string on her shirt and not making eye contact, so I just wait her out. She blows out a deep breath before squaring her shoulders and looking me straight in my eyes.

“I’d like to take you up on your offer and fake date.” I can’t help the huge grin that spreads across my face or my hand that slides to hers and gives it an excited squeeze. She slowly pulls it away and I deflate just a little, but try to not let my disappointment show.

“That’s fucking awesome, Spencer. Thank you for doing this for me. And I hope this will help pave the way to get things back to normal for you at the school.”

“You’re welcome and I think it’s a good start. But, if we do this, there’s going to need to be rules.”

“Eh, I haven’t always been known to follow the rules, but I can definitely give it a shot. So, what were you thinking?”

She pulls out her phone and opens an app before sliding it my way. I take it and give her a questioning look until I realize that she has a list typed up.

Rule 1: No physical relationship outside of casual touches or kisses when out in public.

Rule 2: Minimum of 1 date per week for three months. Doesn’t have to be anything over the top, we just need to be seen.

Rule 3: Even though we aren’t technically together, no hooking up of any kind with another person during the agreed upon three months.

Rule 4: The relationship will end before Thanksgiving amicably.

Rule 5: We will have minimal interaction with each other’s families. I do not want to grow attached and then have to say goodbye, and the same goes for you.

Rule 6: If at any point, serious feelings start to develop, we immediately tell the other person and renegotiate the terms.

Rule 7: We don’t tell anyone about the arrangement.

“Hmmm, I guess you really have given this some thought. These all look good to me, but I may have already told Gage that I asked you to be in a fake relationship with me. And I think you should tell your sisters about it being fake. If we are supposed to make people believe this, we’re going to have to do stuff with your family. I may be new here, but I also know how the Wilson sisters are a packaged deal.”

“Oh, yeah. I didn’t really think of it that way. It also would be nice not having to lie to them. I hate lying to my sisters. Are you going to tell Olive?”

“If that’s alright with you. After all the shit we’ve been through together, it doesn’t seem right to keep something like this from her. We’re usually pretty open to each other about what’s going on with our lives. Our parents don’t live here, obviously, but they were never super involved. They weren’t bad parents by any means, but they were both very career oriented. Olive and I have always depended on each other more than them.”

“That sucks but is also really sweet. I think it’s a necessity to tell her then. I don’t want to blind side her. Especially since Chayse is technically her boss.” I just nod my head because she’s right.

“Alright then. Here, give me your phone so I can text myself and we’ll both have each other’s number.” I hand over my phone and a minute later I hear hers vibrate. “So, nothing you want to add?” She nibbles her bottom lip and I want to be the one doing that, but I can’t and I’m just going to have to get used to it.

“No, I think this is a great start.” I hold out my hand as a dazzling smile graces Spencer’s face. She shakes my hand and stands to leave. My eyes instantly go to her gorgeous ass in those skin tight exercise pants and I know I’m totally fucked. I don’t know how I’m going to pull it off, but one way or another, I will keep my hands to myself and do everything in my power not to break her heart.

Chapter Nine

Spencer

It’sbeenaweeksince I’ve seen Maverick and it’s surprisingly flown by. We haven’t gone on a public date yet, but we’ve been texting non-stop and even spent a few hours on the phone. I shouldn’t be surprised since the conversation was so easy that first night, but I am shocked with how at ease I feel with him and how easy he is to talk to. We’ve covered all the basics that a couple would know about the other, but so much more than that. We have a lot of similarities that I never would have guessed.

Maverick is an introvert like me. He says people just don’t realize it because he has to put on his bartender, high end chef persona when he’s at The Tavern. Being new to town, he knew he’d have to step out of his comfort zone and try to win the town over and that included interacting with his patrons even if it wasn’t his favorite thing to do for his business.

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