Whatever else I could’ve said was muffled as his mouth met mine in a sweet kiss that turned heated in an instant. It was always like that when we came together. So wickedly hot. Especially when we’d been apart for a while… and I hadn’t seen him since last night, so yeah…
Sometimes I wondered what it’d be like to sleep in his bed every night, but everything was still so new and that seemed like a big step. We hadn’t dated long enough for that yet. I mean, if I wasn’t sure if I should call him my boyfriend, I figured that was a sign we weren’t ready to share a closet yet.
The sound of someone clearing their throat had me pulling away from Gideon’s embrace.
“You can continue as soon as I get around you,”Elwood said from farther up the steps. He was carrying a mug of his stomach-turning floral tea and a plate loaded with a thick sandwich on whole-grain bread and a handful of raw vegetables. I jumped at the sight of a mouse scurrying down the skirt board beside him, until I realized it was his pet, George. Elwood usually kept the rodent tucked into the pocket of his linen shirt, so I wasn’t used to seeing it running around freely. How often did it do that? I really hoped George didn’t have a four-legged extended family anywhere in the building.
“Hey, Elwood.”Gideon greeted him casually, as if my grandfather hadn’t just caught us making out in the stairwelllike two horny teens who couldn’t keep their hands off one another.We shuffled to the side to make room for Elwood. “Are you seeing any traffic from the festival?”
“A bit, but I doubt I’ll have as much as you,”Elwood said. His sandals slapped against the steps as he moved around us.
“Yeah, The Den’s been hopping,”Gideon said.“Lots of people are coming in looking for the beer in the competition.”
“I’m glad your pub is busy, but wouldn’t they get that at the festival?”I asked.
Gideon shrugged.“Not everyone wants to pay the festival entrance fee. Besides, Leon’s posters say we’ll be carrying the first, second, and third-place beers after the judges make their selections. Unfortunately, people keep forgetting that the winners won’t be chosen until this afternoon.”
I tensed at the mention of Leon’s name. As Ravenstone’s mayor, owner of the local antique shop, and head of the festival committee, Leon Doyle was the reason theGet Hopped UpBeer Festival was happening. Holding one festival after another was all part of his scheme to get people to visit our little town and spend money here. Honestly, it wasn’t a bad plan. And if anyone but Leon had thought it up, I might even say it was a great plan.
Until I’d moved here, he’d been in charge of all the advertising and social media for the events, but the festival committee decided, given my experience in PR, that I should help him. He still had trouble letting go of it… or keeping me informed about changes he made.
But I didn’t like that dictatorial, sweater-vested man, and I knew the feeling was mutual. I doubted he’d ever forgive me for accusing him of murder, and I couldn’t forgive him for doing the same to my grandfather, so we were even.
Elwood shook his head, as if commiserating with Gideon over how unobservant people could be. Then he moved toward the door that led into his magical shop.
“If things get busy,”I reminded my grandfather,“call me. I can come back.”
Elwood just rolled his blue-gray eyes at me and disappeared into the store.
He’d been running his shop on his own for a long time, so I knew he didn’t need my help, but I needed something to do. I was helping the festival committee and a few local business owners with their social media accounts, but that wasn’t a long-term plan. On the other hand, opening a bakery…
Speaking of baking, I had a croissant that needed tasting. I grabbed Gideon’s hand and dragged him up the stairs.
“Oh, wow. That’s amazing,”Gideon mumbled a few minutes later. He licked a few stray flakes from his lower lip.
I relaxed a little at his blissed-out smile. His reaction to my baking was gratifying, but I needed to know more. I set my empty cup aside. Gideon eyed the empty cup in surprise, but didn’t comment on how quickly I’d guzzled the coffee. He was such a good man.
“So you like it?”Yeah, I was terrible at hiding how invested I was in his reaction.
“I like everything you make,”he said, wiping crumbs from his fingers.
“You say that, but you must have a favorite,”I pressed.
“But Idolike everything,” he insisted.
“Fine.”I huffed, although I was secretly pleased with his praise. Then I noticed the time.“We should probably head over to the festival. Isn’t something happening soon?”
Gideon nodded. “The judging. I don’t need to be there for that, though. Just the award of the prizes. But I wouldn’t mind checking out the vendors a bit before then.”
I was looking forward to spending the afternoon with Gideon. I’d need to remember to take a few pictures to post on social media for the festival since I was their volunteer PRperson, but if I got those done early, I could enjoy the rest of the day.
Gideon swiped a second croissant on our way out the door, which I took as a positive sign, and then we were on our way.
Main Street was busier now than it had appeared earlier. We dodged clusters of tourists peering into the whimsically bowed shop windows. Gold lettering on the businesses’ hanging signs glittered under the warm afternoon sun, as if to encourage people to get even closer.
When we arrived at the festival gate, we paid the entrance fee. They asked for our ID, which I thought was a little silly. I didn’t think I appeared underage, and Gideon certainly didn’t. But whatever. We did as asked and received wristbands, which showed we could imbibe the various brewed offerings.
“Is there anything you want to do before the winners are announced?”Gideon asked once we were inside the fence.
