41

Alistair

“And that, my friends, is the beauty of having a mailing list.” Maddie brushed her hands together in a ‘that’s done’ gesture. “Liliana’s idea to start one was genius. Now we can send personalized invitations to the tasting event to your most loyal customers.”

Maddie talked about the email invites to our customers for that night. Liliana added some advertising opportunities and debated with Maddie whether it should be open to the public-at-large or a ticketed event to keep the number manageable.

I watched Liliana’s throat move as she spoke, and I enjoyed the tiny peek above her collar of a bruised spot. One I’d left there the night before. I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on that spot, and every part of her, again.

She hadn’t told me she loved me. I hadn’t really expected her to. But things between us had gotten more intense since I told her.

I sensed that Liliana just needed time to get there. And I was willing to give her all the time she needed.

Benedict got up from the table to go see to some customers.

Maddie excused her and Liliana, then she took her across the taproom to point at something on the wall. A poster from Avalon Spirits advertising their vodka. Probably for some design notes or something ad related.

I was watching them when I noticed Julian in the doorway of the taproom. He had a pretty girl on his arm—the Felicity he’d gushed to me about.

Julian hadn’t ever just shown up before. He always called, as if he was trying to make up for his more impulsive behavior when he was still using.

I stood to approach him, but he directed Felicity to a table and headed straight for Liliana and Maddie.

Shit. He touched her arm before I could take a step.

Julian started to move close like he was going to awkwardly hug her, but he stopped short and just squeezed her arm instead. He looked nervous but genuinely happy to see her.

Liliana, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable as hell. She even physically leaned toward Maddie as if for support.

After a few minutes, Julian gave her a nod and headed toward the table where Felicity sat watching him. Liliana headed toward my table.

“We’ve got everything covered on our end,” she said quickly. “We’re going to take off.”

“Already?” I asked, surprised. I figured they’d be there for at least another hour. “Everything okay?” I glanced past her to see Julian staring at us.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just have some things to take care of at the office.” Liliana was working on other accounts besides Hard Rock now. I knew she probably did have work to do. But I felt sure that Julian showing up had a lot to do with her leaving early.

“You don’t have to leave because Julian’s here, Liliana,” I pointed out.

“I know. It’s fine,” she said with a deep breath. Then she spoke softer. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

As she left, Julian watched her. Every damn step. Then his glare turned to me again.

I decided to bite the bullet. I went to Julian’s table so he could introduce me to his girlfriend.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” I said, hoping to smooth past him seeing Liliana again.

“I’ll bet you are,” he said cryptically.

I ignored that and held my hand out for Felicity. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Julian introduced us, and we chatted for a few minutes. Then he took my elbow.

“Can I talk to you privately for a minute?”

I let him lead me away from the table.

Finally, he said, “Why didn’t you tell me you and Liliana were working together?”

I realized how shaken he was. Seeing her had done a number on him, and I honestly hadn’t expected that.

“It seemed like bringing her up would be a bad idea, Julian. And I think I was right. Are you okay?”

“I’d be better if I’d known you two worked together,” he hissed.

“You have a girlfriend. You’ve moved on. I figured it was best not to bring Liliana up. At least not for a while.” I tried not to feel guilty about the other things I hadn’t brought up about Liliana.

One day at a time. I’d tell him everything. Eventually.

Benedict needed my help in the office for a minute, and I was glad to have the conversation interrupted. I let Carl know that anything Julian and Felicity ordered was on the house.

Then I went to help Benedict and guiltily hoped that by the time I was free again, Julian and Felicity would be gone.

--

I opened the door to Liliana, glad that the day was finally drawing to a close. She’d gone home from work and changed into more casual clothes. A duffel bag was slung over her shoulder.

“Planning on taking a trip?” I teased. “Going to rough it in the park?”

“Nope, going to live in the lap of luxury in your bed,” she said, but her usual teasing and cheeriness seemed a little forced.

“You can rough it in my bed too, if you want. If that’s how you like it,” I said, trying to draw either a smile or a heated smirk from her.

Instead, she dumped the duffel inside the doorway, and as soon as I sat on the couch, she let me pull her into my lap.

“You okay?”

“I’ve felt a little off since I saw Julian earlier, if I’m honest.” She licked her upper lip. “Just worrying about what he’d think if he knew.”

I tucked a few blonde strands behind her ear. “What did he say to you? You looked uncomfortable.”

“He said he was surprised to see me. Happy to see me. Then he wanted to know what I was doing there. I figured honesty was the best policy—at least for that. And when he found out we were working together, he didn’t really have anything to say after that. Just that he was surprised.” She sighed and leaned her forehead against my temple. “I don’t think he took it very well.”

“Maybe it was just shock at seeing you. I should have told him about the Donague account and you running it.” I kissed her softly. “It just seemed like bringing you up might not be a great idea.”

“Judging from his reaction, I think you were right.” She picked at the buttons on my shirt. “Do you really think he’s doing okay?”

“I do. But I think he’s still fragile. It’s almost like he needs everything in him to fight his addiction, so he doesn’t have much left to deal with other things, you know?”

Liliana nodded. “That makes sense. But we can’t sneak around forever. He’s going to find out about us one of these days. Maybe it would be better if he heard it from us, privately. Where we can handle his reaction and reassure him if he doesn’t take it well.”

“You’re so sweet,” I said, brushing my lips against her cheek.

After the way Julian treated her, nobody would blame her if she didn’t really worry or care about him and his reactions. But there she was, trying to make sure he was going to be okay about something that truly wasn’t any of his business in the first place.

“I think he should hear it from us, or one of us. Probably me. But I think he needs some time to come to grips with us working together first. I don’t want to throw too many surprises at him and have him fall apart again.”

“You’re right,” Liliana agreed. “It’s only right to give him some time. I’d hate for him to get reckless and upset and jeopardize his new relationship. What was her name again?”

“Felicity.”

“She’s beautiful. I noticed she had a nice smile too, because she smiled at Julian like he hung the moon.” Liliana kissed my forehead and sighed. “I hope it works out for him. I really do.”

“I know you do.” I took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. “I think deep down Julian would be happy to know that you still care about him.”

He really would be. But part of me still worried he carried a flame for Liliana, despite the new girlfriend and all his claims that he’d moved on.

As flustered as he’d been earlier that day when he saw Liliana, it was easy to believe that he still pined for her, at least from time to time.

“He’s going to be okay,” I assured Liliana.

She nodded. “I’m sure he will be.”

Once we had that out in the open, I was ready to move to a different topic.

“Hey, I heard a rumor about somebody roughing it in my bed. Know anything about that?”

“Can’t say I do.” She laughed as I grunted and hoisted us both off the couch to carry her to the bedroom.