The usual crowd left shortly after the trivia wound down for the night, so the cidery has been quiet for about thirty minutes now. We still have forty-five minutes to go until close. With the place beingempty and Ezra being in Seattle for another doctor’s appointment, I considered closing it down early, but I don’t want Ezra yelling at me for missing out on revenue opportunities.
Odette showed up here ten minutes ago, and now she won’t leave me alone. Not that I’m truly complaining. I like having her around. Probably a little too much even.
“You know, I kind of missed you being mean to me. It was hot when you were all grumpy and growly.”
I look up from the inventory I’m doing. “You think I’m hot?”
“No. I’m just having sex with you because I’m bored.” She rolls her eyes. “Of course I think you’re hot, Noah. Look at you.”
Look at me? Look ather. She rolled in here in the shortest pair of shorts I’ve seen her in yet and that damn Anaheim shirt she knows drives me wild.
I’m glad she wasn’t around to help me finish the chicken coop earlier today. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten it done with her distracting me.
We are officially one week and one day away from the wedding, and the farm makeover is complete. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but it looks damn good.
Now it’s Odette’s turn to do her magic and really make this place wow the guests.
“You’re bored now. Are you saying we should be having sex?”
“Is that all I am to you? A piece of ass?”
She’s teasing. I know she is.
But I still can’t let her think that’s the case.
I drop my pen and push off the counter, then stand right in front of her. Stooping low enough so I can look right into those blue eyes I adore so much.
“No, Odette. You are not just a piece of ass. You’re funny, and you’re smart. You’re an incredible problem solver. Every animal you meet falls in love with you. You’re kind, and you don’t think you’re better than anyone. You always make time to talk with people, even if they are just trying to sneak another cat into your purse. And, yeah, you’re drop-deadgorgeous, and you make my cock hard in the most inappropriate of situations, but you’re not just a piece of ass. I wish you could see beyond the curse. Wish you could see what an incredible woman you truly are. You are so much more than every bad thought you’ve ever had about yourself, and I wish you could see you the way that I see you.”
She blinks up at me, her perfectly pouty lips parted.
I’ve done the impossible and stunned Odette Chambers completely silent.
“Got it?”
“Got it,” she whispers, tears brimming in her eyes.
Then she grabs me. Right by the collar.
She pulls me down to her lips in a hard kiss. It takes me by such surprise that I don’t kiss her back right away, but once I realize what’s happening, it’s me who takes control.
I grab her face, holding her as I explore her mouth, and before I know it, we’re both a panting mess.
She whimpers when I pull my mouth away.
“What? Noah, why?”
“Doors. Unlocked. Bar.”
She laughs, just as out of breath as I am. “What?”
“I’m closing the cidery and locking the door. Get on the bar.”
Her eyes widen, then she scrambles to follow my directions.
I flip the open sign to closed, bolt the door, and when I turn around, she’s sitting on the counter, leaning back on her hands and looking like the fucking goddess she is.
I dim the lights, then practically sprint to her because Ineedto touch her again.
