Maybe for You--A Whiskey and Weddings Novel

by Nicole McLaughlin

  What was she doing? And did she mean what she was saying, or was she just reacting to him revealing how much he wanted this account before they’d walked in?

  Jake turned back to Vanessa, who looked as though things were settled.

  They weren’t. Not by a long shot. Yes, he wanted this account. Wanted to call his business partners and tell them he’d finally signed with Dunn. Prove to them that he did more than play around on these tours and that his part in this business was critical.

  But in the past thirty minutes he’d watched Peter leer at Dean’s sister and then suffered through this completely unnecessary brag fest by him and his daughter. All after a day where Alex had taken him along without question to her almost-in-laws’ home, where they’d treated him with such kindness it ate him up inside.

  No, there was not a chance in hell he was leaving her alone tonight. Not for a potential lay with a beautiful woman. Not to mingle with celebrities. Not for a profitable contract. Not for any reason at all.

  “I’m sorry, Vanessa. Alexis is being polite because she knows how much I want you to stock Stag products in Dunn Liquor stores. But I think I’ll just leave these here for you and your father to try.” He walked over and handed her the bag. “I know you’ll enjoy them. And I hope I’ll be hearing from you.”

  He backed away from her, closer to Alex. “If not, I’ll accept that maybe this partnership isn’t meant to be.” With a quick smile he looked around the room. “And good luck with this space.”

  With that he turned, put a hand on Alex’s lower back to gently steer her from the room, down the hall, and through the liquor store.

  “What the hell was that?” she hissed, as they headed for the door.

  “Keep moving.”

  She did, squaring her shoulders. The minute they were outside he kept walking, grateful that Alex did the same. But as soon as they got into the pickup she turned on him.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Leaning over the console, he wrapped a hand around the back of her head, tugged her toward him gently, and then kissed her hard. For a split second, he could feel her resist. She wanted to argue. Make him explain himself as she’d asked him to do. But he didn’t let up, and then she was kissing him back. A quiet moan coming from her throat as she angled her head, dipping her tongue into his mouth.

  They were at it for several long moments until she finally pulled away. “You are so stupid, Jake Cooper. You had that contract. All you had to do was go out with her tonight.”

  “And you’d have really been cool with that?” he asked. Say no.

  She gave him a confused long look. “You wanted this.”

  “But I didn’t want her.”

  “She was very pretty.”

  “You’re very pretty.”

  Alex stared back at him, eyes wide. “This is temporary, Jake. That contract could last a long time.”

  He swallowed, not liking that she wasn’t only not willing to drop this, but also didn’t seem to appreciate what he’d done. “Are you implying that I should have gone out with her—maybe even slept with her—in order to close this deal?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Let me say this: if this contract legitimately hinged on me going out with this woman, then it wasn’t a contract worth having.”

  “If I hadn’t been here, you’d have gone.”

  “Possibly.”

  Her lips pursed. “I hate the thought that you gave this up because you felt bad for me.”

  “I don’t feel bad for you, Alex. You are strong, independent, incredibly intelligent, and attract people wherever you go just by being yourself. I have no doubt that you’d have been just fine tonight if I’d chosen to go.” He touched her face with the back of his fingers. “It’s me I feel sorry for, because tonight’s my last night with you.… And I don’t know how I’m supposed to stop wanting you when this trip is over.”

  *   *   *

  That night they lay in the back of the RV, naked bodies loosely twined after mind-blowing sex. Her head was rested in the crook of his arm. “I don’t want things to be awkward between us when we’re back home,” she said quietly.

  “We won’t let it be.” Jake was playing with her hair, and she angled her head up to look at him.

  “Promise? Because you became my best friend over the past year, and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Jake dipped his chin and looked down at where she was nestled against his side, her fingers sliding back and forth in his chest hair. He smiled at her. “You won’t. I can’t wait until you can text me all the top-secret stuff that happens inside the CIA.”

  She laughed and slapped at him. “I can’t do that, and you know it.”

  “I guess not. But don’t worry, you won’t lose me.”

  He closed his eyes, relaxing into the pillow. She could just lie here and stare at him, his long lashes, full lips, and five-o’clock shadow. He was the most beautiful man, and if things were different, she could fall for him so hard. But she had plans, and loving another man was not in the cards for her right now. Maybe not ever.

  “Do me one favor.”

  His right eye peeked open and he looked at her. “What?”

  “Don’t start dating anyone until I move away.”

  Both eyes opened at that, his lips quirking. “You’re not asking much, are you?”

  Her lips pouted. “I’ll be jealous,” she whispered.

  The lines between his brows deepened and he stared at her for a long moment before finally responding. “Okay deal, but you better do the same.”

  “Because you’d be jealous?” she asked.

  “Crazy jealous.”

  Why did she feel like crying? Instead she smiled. “Don’t worry. I have no desire for a relationship. None.”

  He nodded, a sad smile on his lips. “That’s too bad, Alex. Because you’d make a man really happy.”

  Sixteen

  The following Friday morning, Alex carried her last bag into Joel’s spare bedroom and sighed. Moving in with Dean’s father was the right thing for her, she knew that, but she also knew her brother was skeptical.

  “Alex, Dad snores. He’s only a wall away. Maybe we should get you a white noise machine.”

  She dropped her shoulders and gave him a long look. “Do you hear yourself? I’ve slept surrounded by multiple people for years. I can handle snoring. I can handle his daily television rituals. I can handle it all. Besides, this is temporary.”

  Charlotte tugged on his arm. “Chill out, babe. You’re giving us all anxiety.”

  Dean glared down at her and she gave him a wide-eyed “what are you gonna do about it” look in return. “Alex and Joel are going to get along like peas and carrots,” Charlotte said.

  “I hate peas and carrots,” Joel said as he came down the hallway. He peeked into the room. “We’ll get along like Cheez-Its and Cheese Whiz.”

  They all cringed, and Alex laughed. “As long as I’m the whiz.”

  Joel nodded. “I’ll be the it.”

  Alex and Charlotte grinned. Dean sighed. Alex and Joel had always loved to joke like this and just be silly. It was why she knew living with him for a couple months would be easy, and he’d been excited about the idea. At the ripe age of eighty-four, he was like the cool grandfather.

  She knew that here she could come and go as she pleased without anyone asking questions or offering advice. And watching a happy, in-love couple make out in the kitchen would no longer be a problem.

  “Don’t forget to put that key on your ring,” Joel said.

  “Already done.” Alex held up her keys and jangled them. The older man gave her a thumbs-up and then was gone.

  “I’m gonna head home and get back to editing,” Charlotte said. They’d driven two cars over. “You still cutting your dad’s grass?”

  Dean nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be home in a few hours. Want me to pick up some dinner?”

  “Burritos?” Charlotte said excitedly, scru
nching her nose as if she knew Dean wouldn’t be crazy about the idea.

  “Fine. But you owe me.”

  Chuckling, Charlotte leaned in and kissed his cheek. Then she turned to Alex and wrapped her in a hug. “I’m going to miss you in the house. So is Fernando.”

  Alex pulled back and smiled. “Maybe he can come have a sleepover.”

  “Anytime,” Dean said. The dog was a little high maintenance.

  Charlotte just rolled her eyes and pointed at him playfully. “Don’t forget my guacamole this time. Or else.”

  “Mind like a steel trap,” Dean called to her as she walked away.

  “Sure!” Her voice echoed down the hall.

  Every time Alex witnessed them teasing each other she felt a little … off. Before her trip with Jake it had made her sad. Now, it just made her jealous. It had been fun to have someone to tease and joke with every day, and she’d missed him over the past week like crazy. To her surprise, neither one of them had really texted since arriving back in Maple Springs a week ago.

  “Need help getting things set up?” Dean asked. He looked lost, as if he were dropping a child off at summer camp and didn’t know how to leave. God, he was such a dad of a brother. With that thought, she was reminded of the struggle that he and Charlotte had to deal with: his sterility.

  The past year had been tough on him. He’d been working his ass off at the Stag, fallen for a beautiful, younger woman who wanted children, and then had to tell her he couldn’t give her any. His little sister—who he’d helped to raise—had lost her fiancé and then left for a foreign country. All he wanted to do was make everything right. Take care of those around him. That was his way, and Alex needed to give him a break because, in reality, he was the one person in her life that she could always, without fail, count on.

  Tears suddenly pooling in her eyes, she rushed over and wrapped her arms around his waist. He caught her with a mumbled curse of surprise, but immediately hugged her back.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been a pain, Bean.” She’d been calling him that since she could speak. Being a toddler with a teenage brother meant she always thought he was the coolest thing that existed. She hated that she’d been annoyed with him lately.

  “Don’t apologize, Alex. I’m the pain in the ass.”

  She laughed, but it only made her tears come faster. “Yes, you are. But I love you.”

  “Ah, Buzz.” He nearly choked on the words, which was unusual for him. Dean rarely let vulnerable emotions show. Well, except for fear and worry. Those were his defaults. “I love you too. Which is why I’m always stressed out about you. All I want is for you to be happy.”

  “I know that.”

  She pulled away and looked up at him. “I know me moving away disappoints you, but it will make me happy.”

  He stared at her. “You sure? It’s so far.”

  “It’s an amazing opportunity, and now I have nothing holding me back.”

  He let out a deep breath through his nose before finally nodding. “I understand, Alex. I do. And Charlotte’s right, we can visit.”

  “Yes.”

  He glanced around at her three bags and two boxes, most of which they’d recently pulled out of a storage unit she’d had nearby for several years. It will still full of things she’d amassed throughout her life that Dean hadn’t been able to store in the apartment he lived in before moving in with Charlotte.

  “I guess I’ll get started on the lawn then,” Dean said. Alex followed him down the hall and into the living room where Joel was seated in his favorite old recliner watching baseball.

  “You outta here?” Joel said without taking his eyes off the TV.

  “No, I’m mowing your yard.”

  “That’s not necessary you know.”

  “You always say that,” Dean replied. “And yet, every time I get here, it’s waiting for me.”

  Joel shrugged. “I know you like to do it your way. Right, Alex?” He winked, and she just chuckled.

  Dean headed outside, and she went back to her new room to start getting comfortable. The closet was empty and ready, so she hung all of her clothes and laid out her few pairs of shoes. She really needed to do another shopping trip to get some more necessities, but maybe she should wait until she started her new job to see what everyone else was wearing.

  After her clothes were all unpacked she took her bag of toiletries to the hall bath. It was small, but thankfully Joel had his own small master bath, so she could have this one pretty much to herself while she was here.

  As she worked, her thoughts wandered to Jake. She found herself thinking of him frequently. She missed him like crazy, and it had been weird to go from constant togetherness to barely speaking. Much to her surprise, she was excited to start working a few days at the Stag in a week. They’d told her they didn’t need her until Jen officially moved upstairs, but she’d be going in next Friday to train and she was looking forward to seeing him. Speaking of the Stag, she had been curious about one thing. Picking up her phone, she texted him.

  ALEX: Did you ever hear from the Dunns? I keep hoping they started an account.

  She followed it with the fingers-crossed emoji. After a few moments he responded.

  JAKE: No. Not a surprise.

  She frowned at her phone. She’d really hoped they would come through.

  ALEX: Sorry.

  He didn’t respond so she went to watch TV with Joel. She refused to feel sad.

  Seventeen

  The following Monday Alex answered her first phone call all alone, her heart pounding. “The Stag, this is Alex speaking.”

  The woman on the other line was inquiring about wedding packages, so thankfully she could transfer it up to Jen. Easy. Hopefully they’d all be like that. After hanging up, she took another glance at the cheat sheet Jen had left her for reference.

  There was general info on the company, product pricing, their hours, and tour info.

  She leaned back in her chair just in time to see Jake walking toward the front desk. She smiled. “Hi.”

  “Hey, you,” he said, leaning his arms on the counter. “First day on the job.”

  She groaned. “I’m terrified of the phone ringing.”

  He laughed. “And here you were hired by the CIA.”

  “I know! But my skillset has absolutely nothing to do with being a receptionist.”

  “Well, you look cute sitting here,” he said quietly.

  She glanced around. “You better be careful.”

  “Nobody’s out here.”

  “Yeah, but voices carry in this building.”

  He smirked. “Sorry. How’ve you been?”

  She shrugged. “Okay. You?”

  “Good.”

  They were quiet for a moment, and she could have sworn he’d glanced at her chest. Had he missed her body as much as she’d missed his?

  “We said we weren’t going to let this be weird,” she whispered.

  His eyes creased with humor. “We’re not.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Then why are you still standing there?”

  He glanced around like he wanted to say something, but then leaned down over the counter, grabbed a sticky note and a pen, and scratched out a quick message. He dropped the pad back down on her desk, then walked away.

  She turned it over and read his note. I was picturing you naked. Immediately she slapped her hand down on the pad and then ripped it off. Instead of throwing it away she dropped it into her purse.

  Shit. He was going to make this difficult. Stupid thing was, she wasn’t upset about it.

  *   *   *

  Friday afternoon Jake leaned back in his chair in the Stag conference room. Much to his frustration, he, Dean, and TJ had just interviewed someone for the front desk job.

  “I liked her,” TJ said. “She had a great personality, and I like that she came recommended by Tara.” Tara had been their original receptionist who’d ended up quitting to stay home with her first baby.

 
“I agree. And she has experience,” Dean added. He looked at Jake. “Thoughts?”

  Jake shrugged. “She was okay. But obviously we don’t need to make any rash decisions since Alex is helping out for a while.” She’d been there for five days and he already wished she’d stay. He loved being able to see her. Flirt with her, and yeah, he’d broken the rules they’d set up on their tour, but he couldn’t help himself.

  And she’d flirted back, dammit. Notes on one another’s desk, sexy emails full of innuendo. They’d yet to touch each other, but something about the flirting and subterfuge was like foreplay. At some point soon they wouldn’t be able to hold back anymore, and he already had his reasoning worked out. If they’d been fine with doing it on the trip, why not be fine doing it until she left town? What was the difference, really?

  “I agree, we shouldn’t feel rushed,” Dean said. “But I know Alex would like to wrap this part-time gig up sooner rather than later.”

  “She said that?” Jake’s brows furrowed.

  “Well, not exactly, but she still needs to make a trip to D.C. to find a place to live. I just don’t want to keep her here any longer than necessary.”

  Jake blew out a breath, meeting TJ’s wary gaze. The two of them hadn’t entirely been the same since their argument over a month ago, but things were okay. He kind of missed talking to his friend the way they used to, but he figured this was just part of how a male friendship evolved when one party eventually joined into a committed relationship with a partner. How could it be like it used to be when they were both single?

  “Well, the good news,” Jake said, “is that she’s here for now, and we still have three interviews to go this week, so let’s keep an open mind. But let’s all agree that today’s interview is a definite contender.”

  They all nodded their agreement. Jake began to rise out of his seat when Dean spoke up. “You leaving? We were just getting to the good part.”

  Jake dropped back down and glanced at TJ, who had a smirk on his face.

  “What?” Jake asked, annoyed. Were they keeping something else from him?