Page 37 of All Snowed Gin

“You’re not at all who I thought you were when you first opened that door, Pierce. I misjudged you, so, I probably owe you an apology.”

“Eh, I didn’t make it easy, so…call it even?”

“More than.” She smiles again, and my stomach starts to turn. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

“You don’t have to rush out. I could make you breakfast.”

“Thanks, but I really should get on the road. Hickory Hills is still a good five hours from here, at least. And who knows with holiday traffic. So…”

“Right, yeah. You’re right. Your family is probably dying to see you.”

She nods, sucking her lips into her mouth, her eyes darting away from mine again. And we’ve gone awkward. Great.

“Thank you again for letting me stay.”

“You’re welcome any time,” I tell her, my voice wistful. “If you’re ever in the area…”

“Yeah! Of course. And if you’re ever in rural south Georgia, or oh! Are you entering the Georgia Spirits Challenge?”

“The what?”

“The Georgia Spirits Challenge. It’s this big competition in Atlanta where local brewers, distillers, etcetera enter their craft cocktails, home brews, and all that. Winner gets a bunch of money and their drink featured on bar menus all over the city. Brandt Rawlins, who is one of my bosses at Southern Brothers, has something he’s entering next year, so we’ll all be there supporting him.”

I shake my head. “Don’t know what I’d enter. The gin doesn’t even have a name.”

“Oh. Well, if you think of one and enter, I’ll be there.”

I nod, not knowing what else to do. Maybe professing my love would have been the better option. There’s still time…right?

I open my mouth to start, but Rose speaks instead.

“Anyway, I should go. He’s probably done with the tire by now. Thank you again. There’s no one else I’d rather be all snowed in with.”

Rose puts her hand on my arm, pushing to her tiptoes, and kisses me on the cheek. Her lips are soft, tender, and warm, leaving her mark. I can still feel them lingering there even as she pulls away, and I hope that I never forget this feeling.

“Bye, Pierce.”

“Bye.”

And then, she’s gone.

15

PIERCE

“Hold on, so let me get this straight,” Lou says, pointing his beer bottle toward me.

We’re sitting in The Woodsman, a loud crowd surrounding us, forcing us to talk louder than we normally would. When Lou called and asked if I was up for grabbing a beer, I didn’t hesitate to say yes, thinking that getting out of the house would be a good idea. I needed to get away from those walls in hopes to clear my head. Because now on top of seeing Gram and Gramps everywhere, I see Rose. Which is not boding well for my future.

“Beautiful girl knocks on your door in the middle of a snowstorm, you slam the door in her face like the asshole you are, but she’s not having it so she knocks again and wears you down. You spend four days snowed in with this pretty little thing, and in that time manage to go sledding, watch old movies, make Gram’s meatballs, and you let her in on the gin secret?”

And have the best damn sex of my life…

I keep that last part a secret though. Lou doesn’t need to know that part. Which, in itself, says something about how I’m feeling. No, not something. Everything. I’ve always told Lou about my hookups. Not in detail, but a generic, “yeah, I fucked her” kind of thing. With Rose though, it’s different. What went on between us was different. She was different.

And the day and a half since she left have been absolutely fucking miserable.

“Pretty much,” I answer, taking a sip of gin and tonic. It’s good, but not near as good as it would be with what’s in my basement. Or if it were a certain brunette sitting next to me instead of a tall, wiry electrician.