Free Honey Red by Liz Crowe Page B

on the maddening, frustrating, hot woman in front of him. Tempting as it was, he stopped, let go of her, stepped away.
    She narrowed her eyes at him. Ian was highly gratified to see her breathing fast. “See you tomorrow morning,” he turned away. “Don’t be late.”
    The click-clack of her heels on the concrete told him she’d left. He put his hand on either side of the fermenter’s door, let the cold steel calm him. She would be trouble. But he needed it or something like it. His phone buzzed with a text.
    Gavin: I saw that.
    Ian rolled his eyes and responded: You didn’t see shit. Or you’re imagining things.
    Gavin: Leave her alone. I mean it.
    Ian: Don’t boss me. I get enough of that from her.
    Gavin: Ok, then fuck her and get it over with. Jesus. You two are worse than a Moonlighting episode. And, may I remind you, this was your idea.
    Ian: Damn, you are dating yourself, brother. And hiring ‘someone’ was my idea. NOT her.
    Gavin: Yeah, well, just do it and clear the air already.
    Ian: Maybe.
    Gavin: Coming to dinner tonight? Alyssa’s place?
    Ian winced, recalling the last time he’d been over for dinner at his brother’s girlfriend’s house.
    Ian: No, thanks. I’m exhausted.
    Gavin: Suit yourself. You can’t avoid him forever you know.
    Ian: Will you butt the hell out of my love life, please, and thank you very much. Jesus. You just got thru telling me to fuck the red headed girl. Now you want me to do what exactly with Alyssa’s brother?
    Gavin: You should come over. Alyssa and I want to talk to you guys about something.
    Ian: Fine. Whatever. Are you guys getting married?
    Gavin: No.
    Ian waited for the rest of the text, but nothing showed up so he responded: Ok. I’ll be there. Can I drop Jamie with Tracey and the boys at your place?
    Gavin: Sure. Seven. See you then. I’d offer to share a ride, but Alyssa and I are going out after.
    Ian: So, this is more about a set up for me and her brother?
    Gavin: No. Maybe. Anyway, see you later.
    Ian tossed the phone on the lab table and tried to resume his diagnostic perusal of the fermenter, but his head was a mess. Between lusting over Hannah during the few moments of the day when he didn’t want to throttle her, their latest expansion and brew pub chaos, and his life as single father, the last thing he needed was another run-in with Nicholas Traynor.
    Memories of Nick’s compelling but wounded face and his equally incredible body flashed through Ian’s brain, making him shiver. The man was hot, eager, and had been ready for action the second Ian had suggested it. Ian would have kept up the relationship if Nick had been inclined, but he’d made it clear they were not “lovers,” merely fuck buddies… and only once.
    Considering what the guy had been through, Ian was hardly in a position to argue with him. So, he’d left him alone. But Nick’s firm, Marine-forged physique haunted his fantasies; although, the prospect of hooking up with Hannah, his nemesis, was finally allowing Ian some measure of relief regarding the non-starter with Nick. It was probably a good thing Nick had kept him at a distance. The whole thing was such a tangle, especially throwing in the fact that the Traynor kids owned the distributor that Ian had been on the verge of cutting loose. Now, of course, he was going to have to, or risk accusations of favoritism, thanks to Gavin and Alyssa’s relationship. He still wasn’t sure how his brother and the hot woman he’d fallen for were going to work out those logistics. But it wasn’t his problem. Not yet.
    He sighed, picked up his phone and sent a text, knowing Nick’s phone was equipped with voice recognition software.
    Ian: Hey, I hear we’re having dinner.
    Nick answered nearly immediately. Yeah. I hear you’re joining us.
    Ian: What’s the news we’re supposed to be getting?
    Nick: I think they’re buying a house. If so, I’m gonna buy hers.
    Ian swallowed hard. That meant one thing: a guarantee of Nick at pretty