Page 68 of Vodka and Violets (The Hamiltons)

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I wasn’t trying to put any pressure on you, sprite. Forget I said anything.”

He tried to step away from her, but she tightened her arms around his waist. “Slow down. Just because I didn’t answer doesn’t mean that I don’t like the idea. I love it, Xander. I really do. You just shocked me into silence. I have so many questions. The first and most important of them is you. Could you see yourself doing that? Would you want to? And if you did, could you see yourself enjoying it? You’re no more into wine than I am.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, that was the first thing that occurred to me. Since neither of us are big wine people, would it have to be a wine bar?”

She stared at him. “What then? Just a bar bar?”

He laughed. “Now you sound like a sheep. But yeah, why not? Just a bar. The restaurant in the lodge has a great selection of wines. It’s not as though people can’t find what they want in that respect. From what everyone’s told us, it doesn’t sound as though the wine bar concept was a huge hit here from the beginning.”

“That’s true. In fact, Rachel told me the other day, that she did feel kind of guilty. The wine bar was her idea. Ian wanted it to be just a bar bar. She thinks that they might have done better – that the business might have survived – if she’d listened to him.”

“What do you think, then? Should we go in there and see how the place feels? I can tell you that as a customer, it didn’t have a great vibe. Do you want to go and see how it feels to you as a prospective owner?”

Her heart thundered in her chest. “You’re serious about this?”

“I am. I like the idea. If you do. I will ask you one thing, though. If you don’t want to – if you don’t like the idea. If you have any doubts at all, please, Tori, will you tell me? Don’t go along with it because you think it’s something I want.”

She met his gaze. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so earnest. She rolled up onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I promise. I do have one condition, though.”

“What’s that?”

“That you promise to do the same with me. I’ll bet you’ve never in your life imagined owning a bar. You’re only doing this for me. I want you to think seriously about whether it’s something you would enjoy for yourself.”

His hand came up to cup the back of her neck, and he claimed her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. “I promise,” he said when he lifted his head.

Tori smiled up at him. “You’re not allowed to kiss me like that if we go into business together. I have no idea what we were just talking about.”

He chuckled. “You do realize that you just told me how I can get my own way when I want to?”

She reached up to touch his cheek. “I do. And I’m okay with that. I trust you completely.”

Chapter Eighteen

Xander opened the door to the wine bar and stood back to let Tori go in ahead of him. He hadn’t planned to say anything to her until he’d seen the place again. But he was glad that they’d talked about it before they came in. He still wasn’t sure if running a wine bar – or just a bar bar – was something that she would enjoy. He wasn’t sure if it was something that he would enjoy either, but they’d each promised to be honest about how they felt.

Looking around as he followed Tori to the bar, his reaction surprised him. Instead of seeing the gloomy interior with a few scattered tables of bored-looking customers, he saw something else entirely. In his mind’s eye, the scene before him transformed into a bright, buzzing sports bar.

He frowned as he hurried to catch up with Tori. A sports bar? He could see himself feeling at home with that concept, but it was hardly Tori’s cup of tea – or glass of wine. He watched Tori greet Rachel before giving her a quick nod.

“Thanks for coming in again,” said Rachel. “What can I get you?”

“I’d like a glass of Jacobs Estate H Blend,” said Tori. She turned to him. “What do you think – will you drink that? Should we have a bottle?”

He shook his head slowly. “Let’s get the bottle.” He knew that Tori was more interested in paying for it than that they should drink the whole thing. “But I’m in the mood for a beer.” He turned to Rachel. “What do you have on tap?”

It didn’t bode well when she turned to look and check.

“I’ll tell you what, give me the pale ale.” He pointed at the taps, pleasantly surprised to see that one of them bore the logo of a local microbrewery. Kenzie had given him the pale ale when they were at the resort – it was good.

Tori gave him a puzzled look while Rachel got their drinks. He just smiled – he’d explain it to her later. When Rachel set the beer in front of him, his questions were already answered. She might be set up to serve beer, but she had no knowledge or understanding. His first sip confirmed that assessment, and he did his best not to make a face.

“So, how are you doing?” Tori asked Rachel.

Rachel shook her head sadly. “I actually feel a bit better – I’ve made my decision.”

“And what have you decided?”

“I’m closing down at the end of the week. I talked to the guy who manages the Plaza. They’re going to let me break the lease.”

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