Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

C olton was pulling off his gear after a grilling mishap. One that involved a bunch of teenagers "accidentally" using a whole bottle of lighter fluid to try to make dinner while their parents were out for the night.

Colton gave them a stern lecture, as he didn't believe their story for one minute. Especially since it was only four in the afternoon and cherry bombs were on the grill, not burgers. He pulled off his boots, hung up his equipment, and had just gotten back into uniform when his phone rang.

"Hey, bro. How was your panel?" Colton asked, seeing Landon's name on caller ID.

"Kate and I are driving home now. It went really well." Landon paused and Colton knew there was more to the story.

"What is it?" Colton asked.

"Just a feeling. I know you're only friends with Cady, but Kate and I got really bad vibes from this guy at the conference. Not any guy, but Cady's old boyfriend. He was a jerk to her, but I saw that he watched only her the whole panel."

"Then he tried to accuse Cady of sleeping with Landon to get her bourbon in his restaurant," Kate called out.

"We thought you should know," Landon told Colton.

If Colton weren't so angry at this ex for being mean to Cady, he might have realized his brother had called him about Cady and not one of her close friends, like Willa or Tilly, or even himself since Landon was practically best friends with her.

"I'll go check on her." It was the feeling Colton got deep in his gut when a dangerous fire broke out. He had to fix it. He had to find her, protect her, and stomp out all signs of danger. Only then would he be able to breathe again.

"Keep us updated."

Landon hung up as Colton was already moving into the bay where all his firefighters were cleaning up from their last call. "Flint, you're in charge. I'm leaving an hour early. Let Jack know when he comes on tonight that I'm heading to the distillery to check on Cady and he can call me if he needs me."

Colton jumped in his SUV and took off for the distillery. It was out in the county and took more than twenty minutes to reach. Every minute was torture, thinking some jackass was hurting Cady's feelings.

Colton pushed the voice command and ordered his car to call Cady. It went straight to voicemail. He sent a voice text but got nothing back. Three more calls later resulted in three more left messages. Firefighters believed in following their instincts. It could mean the difference between life and death in a smokey building about to collapse from fire damage. Right now, he had the same feeling he did when he knew it was only a matter of minutes before the building would collapse.

Colton slid to a stop outside the building where three speakers addressed the audience. He scanned the roomful of people but didn't see Cady. Colton slipped from the room and began a room-to-room search for her. The main building was empty, so he moved to the nearest building.

"Help!"

Colton heard Cady scream. The door had been shut to the neighboring building and he hadn't heard her cries for help through the thick stone walls until he'd gotten inside.

"Cady!" Colton yelled as he took off deeper into the tasting room. "Where are you?"

"Colton? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me. Where are you?" Colton yelled as he continued to follow her voice and then the banging noise.

"Behind the bar in the tasting room. There's a closet there with a thick wood door. I'm locked inside!"

Colton skirted the tables set up for bourbon tasting and then jumped the bar. He wasn't going to waste time finding the way around it. Colton easily found the door and tried to open it. "It's locked."

"No shit," Cady shot back. "Hence the screaming. Someone locked me in. Is the key there?"

Colton's blood ran cold and then burning hot. Someone had tried to hurt his Cady. And yes, there was no more fighting it. She was his. He looked all around for a key but didn't find any. "Get away from the door. I'm kicking it in."

"No! It's an original door!"

"Are you hurt?" Colton demanded to know. If she were hurt, he wouldn't give a crap about an old door.

"No. I'm only shaken up."

"Okay, let me get my tools. I'll be right back." Colton raced from the building and to his truck. He pulled out his tool chest and hurried back to Cady.

It didn't take long to get the door off the hinges and pull it free. He found Cady standing there with wide eyes as he leaned the door against the bar. He opened his arms and she didn't hesitate. They came together in a fierce hug.

Colton tucked her head under his and held her tightly to him. "It's okay, Cady. I've got you."

She felt so small in his arms. Her face was tucked into his shoulder, her hands were gripping his shirt, and a shiver rattled her body as she tried to fight back tears.

"Thank you for rescuing me."

"I'll always rescue you, Cady." Colton pushed back her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. He looked down at her face, his gaze going to her lips. He had to kiss them. Colton saw Cady's eyes close and he lowered his lips only to stop at the sound of the door opening. Colton shoved Cady behind him as a man walked in looking around.

"Oh, sorry. I was looking for Cady Woodson."

Cady poked her head around Colton. "Hi, Daniel. Come on over to the bar and I'll let you try those gins."

Daniel, whoever he was, was older than Colton by a decade, but he was still a good-looking man. Colton didn't like how Daniel's eyes roamed the room as if categorizing everything.

"I like how you kept the original feel of the place. The bar is very prohibition style, but what happened to the door?" Daniel took a seat at the bar across from where Colton was standing.

Cady went back into the room she'd been stuck in and came out carrying three bottles.

She explained the difference between them, how they're distilled, and even how one of them is aged for a short time in bourbon barrels. Colton sat back and listened to the conversation. It was fascinating. The chemistry of it all. The science of every move. There was so much more to distilling than throwing some ingredients together and making bourbon.

"I like the short-term distilling so I get more product out faster," Daniel said.

"No angels stealing much of this drink," Cady laughed as Daniel got up.

"Thank you for this," Daniel said, although he didn't look happy about it. "But don't get your panties in a twist when I make a better gin than you."

Colton might have growled, but Cady put a hand on his arm and smiled sweetly at Daniel. "Good luck with it. I mean, since you couldn't make a better bourbon than me."

Colton chuckled. That's his girl.

Daniel winked at her and gave her an appreciative glance.

"And the only man doing anything to her panties is me," Colton said bluntly, ignoring both Daniel's blush and Cady's gasp.

"Colton!" she hissed as she playfully smacked his arm as Daniel left. "I can't believe you said that."

"What's this about angels stealing the drinks?" Colton asked as he backed her up against the bar. It was time to show her he wasn't teasing. She'd been stuck in his head for over a week. When she'd been in trouble, all his emotions shoved their way forward. There was no way he could think of her as "just a friend" again.

"It's what we call the percentage of a barrel we lose to evaporation. We say that angels come and sample it, so that loss is called the angel's share," she sounded a little breathless and that made Colton's body go all caveman in response. He wanted to hear that breathlessness as he had her beneath him calling out his name.

"Then let me have a taste, angel." Colton leaned down but stopped a breath away from Cady's lips. They'd never been more than friends and he wanted to make sure he wasn't the only one feeling this attraction. The hitch in her breath, the unconscious tilt of her hips toward his, and the way her eyes closed told Colton she felt it too.

Colton closed the distance, his lips meeting hers for a kiss that was blessed by the angels above. Colton's arms tightened around her, bringing her body flush against his as he deepened the kiss. Cady opened to him and a roar of desire rushed through him. Never in his life had a kiss been like this. Never had emotions beyond lust fueled a desire beyond reason. Her lips were soft but demanding. He pushed, and she gave it right back. He pulled her tighter to him and she pushed herself closer.

Colton ran his hands down her sides and gripped her waist. In a quick move, he lifted her and set her on the bar. They never stopped kissing, but Cady's legs parted and he stepped between them. He felt the heady rush of a teenager making out for the first time. He pressed his hips against hers. Cady tightened her legs around his waist and rocked forward as she gripped his hair with her fingers.

The sound of people talking outside finally filtered through his lust-filled mind. Colton pulled slowly away and loved the way Cady was clinging to him. Her lips were red and swollen from kissing. Her face was flushed. Her eyes were slightly dazed. Damn, Colton was in heaven when he was with her.

"I think your conference is letting out. Come on, angel. Let's get you back out there." Colton grabbed her waist and lifted her off the bar and set her back on the ground.

He smirked as he followed her out the door. Her hair was messed and she was still slightly dazed as she said goodbye to those leaving for the night. Colton stood behind her, not talking but watching his angel work. She was amazing. She had been kissed senseless, yet still was running the show a minute later. And yeah, he knew he was grinning because today he'd figured out something important. He'd figured out why all his married cousins smirked like fools. His family had told him love would hit him hard and fast. He'd always worried about that, but now he felt stupid for doing so. It felt freaking fantastic. However, what didn't feel fantastic was the way his angel tensed as the last group of men walked from the building.

Cady was in a kiss-induced daze. She wasn't sure what her name was right then. It had been... perfect. Hot, sexy, passionate, and somehow it felt just for her. She knew he'd been with other women, but this seemed as if he were barely in control. Cady had done that to him. Goodness knew she had barely hung onto control of herself. She was a heartbeat away from ripping off her clothes right then and there.

She smiled and talked to the conference goers as they left for the evening. She told them about the schedule for tomorrow, even as she was wanting to get back to kissing Colton. Years of crushing on her friend had suddenly turned into the hottest make-out session of all time. She was still struggling to realize it had actually happened and she wasn't dreaming it all up.

All the happiness fell away as Bruce, Isaac, and Jordan walked out. They'd made sure they had been last so they could corner her. Cady felt a hand come to the small of her back as Colton stepped up beside her. The breath that had caught in her chest eased. She wasn't alone anymore. Even if this kiss was a one-time thing, Colton was there now and she'd take the support when facing those three.

Jordan didn't miss the way Colton was touching her. He rolled his eyes at her and gave her a look that told her he thought she'd sleep with anyone and everyone. That showed how much he knew her. She hadn't been with anyone since him. She tended to have a hard time trusting someone after the crap he pulled.

"I hope you enjoyed today's panels. Tomorrow will be just as educational." Cady forced a smile onto her face.

"It was very interesting. Thank you, Cady," Isaac said politely. He'd always been friendly to her, even when kicking her out of her house.

"We need to talk," Jordan told her as Bruce walked on by, never stopping to say anything to her.

"About what?" Cady asked, tired of Jordan already. "About me sleeping with a married man? About how who I sleep with isn't any of your business?"

Colton kept quiet, and she appreciated that. His hand was the anchor to her storm. She knew he'd step in if she needed him, but he was letting her handle it.

"We need to talk in private." Jordan glanced at Colton.

Cady glanced up at Colton to find him looking deceptively calm. Only the tightness around his eyes showed his thoughts on her going off with Jordan. "You have one minute," Cady said to Jordan as she stepped away from Colton.

"I'll be right here if you need me, Cady," Colton whispered to her.

"What would she need you for?" Jordan almost rolled his eyes as if the idea was too stupid to even contemplate.

"To kiss her senseless so she can tolerate whatever bullshit you're about to feed her," Colton said with a shrug. "Or to beat the crap out of you if you upset her."

Cady couldn't hide the smile as she stepped about ten feet away and paused. Jordan had wanted to go someplace private, but that wasn't going to happen. This was all he was going to get. "What is so important that you had to talk to me right now and in private?"

"Can't we go someplace a little more private, Cady Cat?" he purred.

"No. And I hate that stupid nickname. What do you want, Jordan? You've already insulted me twice today. Are you going for a third time?" Cady had wondered about what her life would have been like if she and Jordan were still together. Now she knew. It would be boring. She would have been bent to his will, meaning he would be the one in charge. He couldn't stand not being the center of attention. How had she not seen that before?

"I never meant to insult you, baby doll." Cady winced. That used to be sexy, but now it seemed patronizing. "I was upset because I thought you and that chef were together. It hurt me to see you with someone else. Is that man your boyfriend?" Jordan glanced at Colton and then back to Cady, but he didn't give her time to answer. Not that she even had an answer. She didn't know what was going on with her and Colton. "I had really hoped to come here and sweep you off your feet. I miss you, baby doll. I want you back."

Laughter was probably not what Jordan was expecting, but that's what he got. He frowned. She laughed harder. "Are you serious, Jordan? You haven't so much as reached out to me since my father died."

"I've been busy climbing the ranks at Blue Stone and now I feel as if I'm in the position to offer you what you deserve. I'm the assistant master distiller now. When Isaac retires or gets fired, I'll be the master distiller. Between you and me, his first batch of private label bourbon bombed and it hasn't gotten better. So, maybe I'll be in charge sooner rather than later. I can give you your home back. Until then, we could have that cute cottage in the back of the property. You can stay home and raise our kids. It's everything we wanted. I can provide it for you now," Jordan said earnestly.

Cady didn't know how to react. Jordan was serious. "Jordan, we never talked about that and that was never what I want out of life. I've always wanted to run a distillery. Me. Barrel Creek is my dream and you think I'll just . . . what? Sell it and come marry you?"

"I'm sure Bruce would buy it from you and let you play distiller every now and then," Jordan told her. "Your new line is not as good as ours, but it is decent."

Cady snorted. "Decent? If you say so, Jordan. Barrel Creek isn't for sale. And neither am I—not for money or for a new last name."

Cady turned her back on Jordan and took two steps toward Colton when she felt Jordan's grip on her wrist, stopping her. She also saw the flash of anger in Colton's eyes. "Jordan, if I were you, I'd let go of me right now."

"Baby doll," Jordan tried to say to pacify her. It didn't work for her, and it sure didn't work for Colton.

"Remove your hand from Cady or I'll remove it from your person." Colton's deep voice had no quiver to it. It was a threat, and she believed he might carry it out. Jordan must have too since he instantly released her hand.

"This doesn't concern you," Jordan practically sneered.

"It concerned me the second you touched her. Cady, are you done?"

"I'm not—" Jordan began to say, but Colton cut him off with a glare.

"Yes, I am." Cady looked over at Jordan. He was fuming. His face was tight and his hands were in fists by his side. She'd hear more about it tomorrow at the conference. However, she was done talking for the night. "Goodnight, Jordan."

Colton stepped toward her even as she stepped away from Jordan. She expected him to take her hand, but he didn't. He simply fell into line next to her.

"You're a badass boss, angel. Good for you for not selling. You've created something special here and I'm so proud of you. Now, who the hell was that asshole?"

Cady sighed. "He was my boyfriend, once upon a time," she said, telling Colton the story of how she met Jordan, their history, and then how it ended on the day of her father's funeral.

"And now he wants you back," Colton stated. Cady nodded her head as they stopped by his truck. "Do you want him back?"

"No," Cady instantly responded.

"Good." Colton lifted his hand and brushed the hair from her shoulder. "Would you have dinner with me tonight?"

"Colton, what's going on?" Cady didn't want to hear the answer if it was bad. She had been dreaming of Colton looking at her how he was. Of dating him, of kissing him, of doing other things with him. But with Jordan here and all the feelings from her past coming up, she didn't know if she trusted this situation or not.

"I'm asking you on a date to the café, Cady."

"Like, as friends?"

Colton's smile wasn't friendly. It was dripping with desire. "We're already friends, but what I want to do with you after we eat dinner is not what friends do together."

"Oh." So, she hadn't read the situation wrong. Therefore, this was a dream, right?

"Cady!" Joey called out. "I need you."

"Go," Colton told her. "You know where I'll be if you have time to join me. And I know you can handle it yourself. But if Jordan bothers you again, feel free to call me." Colton leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. "Goodnight, angel."