“Oh God,” she moans, her eyes closing. I keep it up, those deep thrusts, knowing she’s close. I’m ready to damn near explode, gazing at her gorgeous body, watching her tits bouncing around. Her long silky hair is cascading over her shoulders and her head’s tipped back. She looks fucking beautiful.

  “Yes,” she pants. “Don’t stop.”

  I flip her on her back and thrust into her, taking her across the finish line. Then finally, I let myself go.

  “That was…” She pauses to catch her breath. “Not what I expected.”

  I move off her and lay beside her. “What were you expecting?”

  She looks at me, still breathing hard. “I didn’t think it’d be that good. I didn’t think it could ever be that good, with anyone.”

  I smile, pleased with myself. But it wasn’t just me. It was both of us together. We may do things differently when it comes to business, but in bed, we’re clearly in sync.

  “We have to do that again,” she says.

  “When?”

  “Whenever you’re ready.”

  Is she serious? I thought this was a one-time thing, but if she wants to do it again, then hell yeah, I’m all for it.

  “Give me a minute.” I roll on my side and kiss her. “Can I use your bathroom?”

  “Of course. I’m going to get a drink. You want anything?”

  “I’d take some water.”

  A few minutes later, we meet back in bed. I’m not in a rush this time so I slow down, kissing her lips, her neck, her tits. I make my way down her body and before long, we’re at it again. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but it’s even better the second time. And it lasted longer.

  We fall asleep and wake up just before noon. I really need to get to the brewery and do some office work before we open. But I’d rather stay here with Gina. There’s something about being with her that feels natural and comfortable, like I’d feel with a girlfriend. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced for a long time, not since Kendall, the girl I almost married.

  “Sawyer!” Gina yells from the shower. “You still here?”

  “Yeah, what do you need?”

  “You.”

  I smile. The girl’s going to wear me out. But I’m not complaining.

  Going in the bathroom, I open the glass shower door and join her. Her back’s to me and seeing her perky ass and slippery wet skin has me ready to go again. I pull her against me and kiss the side of her neck.

  “You’re insatiable,” I growl in her ear.

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Fuck no.”

  After a third round, I finally get dressed and pack up my tools to leave.

  “Thanks for stopping by,” Gina says, smiling as she opens the door.

  “Anytime.” I smile back as I reach in my pocket for my keys. They’re not there. “I think I left my keys in your bedroom.”

  “I’ll get them.” Gina runs off as my phone rings.

  It’s my mom calling. “Hey, Mom, what do you need?”

  “I was hoping you could join us for dinner tonight. We’re eating early since Nash and Callie need to drive back to Chicago. Your brothers agreed to be here and I’d really like you to join us.”

  “I don’t know, Mom. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” I step back into the apartment as Gina brings me my keys.

  “You can work later. Dinner won’t take long and we’re eating at four. The bar isn’t busy that early, and you have Wade working tonight, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Please say you’ll come. It’s so rare for all us to get together.”

  “Okay, fine,” I say, sighing. “I’ll be there.”

  “Why don’t you bring Gina with you?”

  “Why would I bring Gina?” I ask as I look at her.

  She was walking to the kitchen, but turned back when she heard me say her name.

  “It’d be good for her to get some time away from work and I’m sure she hasn’t had a home-cooked meal for awhile.”

  “Mom, I’m not asking Gina. She has work to do, and she’d feel weird being at our family dinner.”

  “I’d go,” she says from the kitchen.

  “You would?” I mouth the words so my mom can’t hear.

  She nods.

  “Okay, I guess she’ll be there,” I say to my mom.

  “Honey, you haven’t even asked her. Talk to her and let me know.”

  “I will. Bye.” I put my phone away. “So I guess you’re coming to dinner.”

  Gina smiles as she walks over to me. “You don’t sound too excited about it.”

  “I just don’t want to deal with all the questions. They’re going to assume we’re dating.”

  “Then let them assume.”

  “You don’t know my family. If they think we’re dating, it won’t be long before they’re planning the wedding.”

  She laughs. “I’m sure you’ve brought girls to dinner in the past.”

  “Yeah. Kendall. The girl I was engaged to.”

  Gina’s eyes widen. “You were engaged?”

  “In my early twenties. She decided she didn’t want to live in a small town so we broke up.”

  “Do you still talk to her?”

  “No. I don’t even know where she lives.”

  “She was the only girl you brought home to meet your family?”

  “No, but she’s the only one I brought to a family dinner. I don’t usually have to introduce a girl to my parents because in a town this size, there’s a good chance they already know her.”

  “Why do you think your mom invited me?”

  “Because you’re new here. My mom feels the need to welcome people to town.”

  It’s true, but only part of the reason. My mom’s good at reading me. She can tell I have feelings for Gina. This dinner invite is her not-so-subtle attempt to play matchmaker. Like Nick said, Mom’s going to try harder to find me a wife now that Nick has Lyndsay. I keep telling my mom I’m not ready for that, but she doesn’t listen.

  “My cousin will be there with his fiancé,” I say. “They’re driving back to Chicago tonight so dinner’s at four.”

  “Good. We’ll be done before the bar gets busy.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. Speaking of the brewery, I should get going.” I go out the door to the hall. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Yeah. Bye.” She closes the door as I leave.

  That was awkward. I didn’t know how to end it. Should I have kissed her goodbye? It kind of seemed like she wanted me to, but that’s something you do when you’re dating, and Gina and I aren’t dating. I considered offering to pick her up for dinner, but again, that would make it seem like we’re dating.

  I have no idea what we’re doing here. We spent the morning together, had great sex, but now what? Where do we go from here?

  “There you are,” Wade says as I walk into the brewery. I forgot he was coming in early today. “I thought you were upstairs, but I went up there and nobody answered.”

  “Did you need something?”

  “I had a problem with one of the taps, but I was able to fix it.”

  “I’m going upstairs to change. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

  “Sawyer!” Wade yells before I reach the stairs.

  I walk back to the bar. “What do you need?”

  He smiles. “Who was she? Anyone I know?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The girl you were with. Who was she?”

  “How do you know I was with a girl?”

  “Because you got that look on your face.”

  “What look?”

  “The look that says you just had sex.”

  I can’t hold back my smile. “Okay, you caught me. How do you know this shit?”

  “I’m a bartender. I see that look all the time. So who was she?”

  “You don’t know her. I need to go clean up. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” I take off and go up to my apartment. I should be thinking about all the stuff I need to get done, but instead I’m thinking about Gina. I almost text her, but then don’t, remembering that we’re not dating.

  After three hours of working in my office, I come out to the bar and find Wade talking to Milo.

  “You just get here?” I say to Milo.

  “Yeah, I’m a little early.” He glances at Wade, then back at me. “Hey, I um, had a question for you. A personal question, but it’s also kind of work-related.”

  “What is it?”

  He walks up to me. “That girl. The one who helped fix the register last night?”

  “Yeah. What about her?”

  “You said she’s just a friend, right?” Milo seems nervous. He’s never nervous. He’s one of the most laid back people I know.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I just wanted to make sure. When you had her at your place last night I didn’t know if it was because—”

  “We’re just friends. What’s this about?”

  “I want to ask her out. But I wanted to make sure you were cool with it since she’s kind of our competitor.”

  “She isn’t kind of our competitor,” I say, raising my voice. “She IS our competitor.” I go past him to the end of the bar. “The answer is no, you can’t go out with her.”

  “Why? I’m not going to tell her anything. I just want to take her to dinner, get to know her.”

  I storm over to him. “She’s not going to date you. Gina’s not looking for a boyfriend. She doesn’t have time for one. And even if she did, you’re too young for her.”

  “I’m 25. That’s not too young.”

  “Then go ahead. Ask her out. See what she says.” I go around him. “I’ll be in the back.”

  Going in my office, I slam the door and take a breath, trying to calm down. I totally overreacted just now. Milo’s probably out there wondering what the hell happened. I never yell at him like that, and I shouldn’t have done it. I lost control hearing him talk about Gina, wanting to ask her out.

  I’m not even dating her and I’m acting like she’s mine. But she can’t be. I’d be stupid to get involved with her. I’m not risking my business for a girl, even if it’s a girl I really like and could see myself being in a relationship with. I want a relationship, but not now, and not with a girl I’m not sure I can trust.

  “Sawyer.” Wade knocks on the door.

  I open it. “Hey, tell Milo I’m sorry about how I acted out there. I’m just tired.”

  “Don’t worry about it. He’s good.” Wade leans against the door frame. “So about that girl. I didn’t know.”

  “Didn’t know what?”

  “That you and her are a thing.”

  “We’re not.”

  He laughs a little as he rubs his beard.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You, trying to deny it.”

  “There’s nothing to deny. I’m not dating her.”

  “Maybe not, but you’re sleeping with her.”

  I glance away.

  “Hey, man, I don’t care what you do. It’s none of my business. But you don’t need to lie to me.”

  “It was one time, and it’s not happening again.”

  “Yeah, right.” He chuckles.

  “Okay, maybe it’ll happen again, but it’s just sex. We’re not going to date. How did you even know?”

  “You wouldn’t get that pissed at Milo if you didn’t want her for yourself.”

  I sigh. “Yeah, I was worried that might give it away.”

  He half smiles. “You really like this girl.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I like her. It can’t go anywhere. If I got involved with her, I might tell her something I shouldn’t.”

  He nods. “I get that.”

  “Don’t tell anyone about this. I know you’re new to town, but I’m sure you’ve figured out how people gossip around here. I don’t want some rumor starting that I’m with Gina.”

  He nods again. “Understood. I’ll let you get back to work.”

  I try to work, but can’t. Every time I start to, my thoughts go back to Gina. I keep imagining her with some other guy. It’s not often a hot girl moves to town, and when it happens, every guy wants to date her. If Gina wants a boyfriend, she’d have plenty of guys to choose from. She can go out with whoever she wants. I need to be okay with that and accept that she’s not mine. But damn, I wish she was.

  14

  GINA

  “You’re going to meet his parents?” Aria asks as I race around the office, trying to find the tax form I know I printed out.

  “I’ve already met his parents. His mom only invited me because I’m new to town. She’s just being friendly.”

  “Okay, wait.” Aria grabs my arm, stopping me.

  “Aria, I need to find this form. It’s due this week. I know it’s here somewhere.”

  “Just print out a new one.” She stands in front of me. “I know you don’t like talking about personal stuff but there’s something going on with you and I’m pretty sure it has to do with Sawyer.”

  I sigh. “Fine. We slept together. Are you happy now?”

  She smiles. “Did this happen last night?”

  “This morning. But it doesn’t mean we’re dating. Neither one of us wants a relationship.”

  “Was it just a one-time thing or—”

  “I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it.” I look behind her and see the form on the floor. “Found it!” I race over and pick it up.

  Aria’s right behind me when I turn around. “I think you like him.”

  “I think you’re only saying that because you’re a romantic who wants everyone to fall in love.”

  “What’s wrong with that? Love makes people happy.”

  “A lot of things make people happy. You don’t need love for that.” I go past her to my desk.

  “A guy doesn’t ask you to meet his parents unless he’s serious about you.”

  “Aria, I really don’t have time for this,” I say, sitting down as I wake up my laptop. “Dinner’s at four and I have a lot to do before then. Close the door on your way out.”

  She leans across the desk, a smug grin on her face. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you like him.”

  I sigh in annoyance.

  “Okay, I’m leaving.” She laughs and hurries out the door.

  When she’s gone, I start to wonder if any of what she said is true. Sawyer said he only invited his fiancé to have dinner with his family, and now he’s inviting me. But technically his mother invited me, not him, so I shouldn’t make his invite mean something when it doesn’t.

  I really like Sawyer, more than I should. It was so thoughtful of him to bring me those pastries this morning. And offering to build me a table? Who does that? Not Ryder, my ex. He wouldn’t do anything for me, not even fix a clogged sink. I bet Sawyer would’ve helped me hang those pictures even if I hadn’t won at pool. He’s just that type of guy.

  Why did I have sex with him? Now I’m getting my emotions involved because my stupid hormones took over this morning and landed us in bed. I had a feeling Sawyer and I would be good together, but I never imagined we’d be that good. When it comes to sex, we’re a perfect match, completely in sync. He’s somehow able to read me and know what I want, being gentle one minute and rough the next. The sex was so good I had to do it again to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. And then I invited him in the shower! Sawyer must think I’m a sex addict, but the truth is, I’ve never been that into sex. I could take it or leave it, but with Sawyer, I couldn’t get enough.

  Just after three, I finish up my paperwork and go out to the storeroom where I’m keeping my hard cider. I’ve got three batches going, each a different recipe started at different times. I take a sample of the one that’s fermented the longest and taste it.

  “This might be the one,” I say, smiling.

  The competition is only a few weeks away. If I win, it could put G’s on the map, drawing in people from all around the area instead of just locals. Ryder’s the one who told me about the competition. He was going to enter it a few years ago, then decided he didn’t need to. He already gets more business than he can handle. Winning a contest wasn’t worth his time and effort, but to me, it could determine if I stay in business.

  Sales are down since the beer special ended, which I expected, but if they go down even more, I won’t be able to pay my bills. I knew the town would be loyal to Sawyer, but I was hoping they’d at least give me a chance. I’m always overhearing people say how much they like my beer, but is that enough to keep them coming back?

  I return the cider to the shelf and go back to my office. I close the door and change into the clothes I brought for dinner; a pair of black pants and a dark red sweater.

  “Gina?” Aria knocks on the door.

  “Yeah?” I look at myself in the mirror behind the door and shake out my hair, trying to give it some volume.

  “There’s um, someone here to see you.”

  “I don’t have time. I’m leaving soon.” I reach in my purse and grab my lipstick. “Who is it?”

  “Me.”

  I freeze, my lipstick held in the air. “Ryder?”

  “Yeah,” he says with a laugh. “Can I come in?”

  What is he doing here? He hasn’t been here since the week before the opening when he helped me get everything set up. I paid him for his time so he wouldn’t think helping me meant we were still a couple. He never cashed the check. When we talked later, he said he was being a friend and wouldn’t accept my money. But I know Ryder, and I know he doesn’t do anything for free.

  I open the door. “Ryder, what are you doing here?”

  He smiles as his gaze moves up and down my body. “You look good.”

  “Thanks.” He looks like he always does, dressed in jeans, a button-up shirt, and a leather jacket. He’s a good-looking guy, but I’m not attracted to him. When our relationship became all about work, my attraction to him went away. If he ever wanted to get back together, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t see him that way anymore.