Chapter 6

Katie

Warmth and friendly chatter radiated from the tavern, and it was a shame to leave it behind to step outside, even if I needed to.

There was a chill in the air that came with mid-winter, but even without a coat, I was impervious to the cold wind thanks to the influence of all the ale I'd drunk. It wasn't often that I let myself do this, but when I did, there was nothing better than a good pint or two. Maybe even three.

Banjo pressed himself against my legs, his fur soft and warm. He let out a dramatic sigh as if he was carrying the weight of the world on him when he had exactly nothing to worry about. It must be nice to be a dog.

I scratched him between his ears. "You're my best friend, Mister Strings."

A sound came from behind me. "I thought I was your best friend," a warm familiar voice said.

"In your dreams," I fired back, not even having to turn around to know who was approaching me. Nobody else had a voice like Brew, or his lame humour.

He hopped onto the low wall I was leaning against, his arms bare and covered with goosebumps. I didn't say anything about it now I knew why he no longer had a coat. Instead, I shrugged off my shawl and draped it over his shoulders. I leaned in and clumsily tied the ends of it into a knot.

I patted his chest, not completely unaware of the hard muscles beneath, but that was just because I'd had a bit too much ale. "There you go, Brewy, you look beautiful and now you won't be as cold."

He chuckled. "Is that right, Kitty-Kat?"

I nodded. "Can't have you walking around without anything on, I've still got long sleeves." I held out my arms to show him, even though he could see perfectly well. Banjo sat patiently, looking up at Brew in a way that suggested he was after a treat.

"Where's your coat?" he asked.

"Inside, I only came out because I needed a breather. And apparently, to be your knight in shining armour."

His deep laugh affected me in a way I hadn't expected. "Aren't I supposed to do that for you?" He shifted the shawl so that it fell in a way that covered him better.

"Only if you were trying to woo me, which you are not," I pointed out, leaning back against the wall and appreciating the quiet of the night contrasted with the noise of the tavern inside.

He gave me a curious look. "What makes you believe I'm not?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm too tipsy to take you seriously, Brew. How about we just look at the stars?"

A strange expression crossed his face, but he let out a sigh and looked up. "The stars are beautiful tonight."

It was certainly true. The lack of clouds made it bitterly cold but it was perfect for admiring the stars. There were so many of them, all twinkling high in the sky. A tapestry of wonder that made me feel wondrously small and insignificant.

"How high up do you think they are?" I asked.

"I have no idea. At least as far as our lands stretch and back."

"Must be further." I stared up until my neck hurt. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like to fly?"

He chuckled and looked back at me. "Can't say I have. I like the view from here."

There was something strange in his tone and I made the mistake of looking directly into his eyes. His cheeks were tinted red from the ale he'd drunk, and he looked adorable with my shawl wrapped around him, but that wasn't what was making my chest weak. There was a softness in his gaze, a longing that almost looked pained.

"Brew..." I let out a breath, not really knowing what I wanted to say, or what I should. "What do you hope to accomplish with all your flirting?"

He looked away. "Nothing. I know it's only a nuisance to you but it lets me dream for just a moment."

He wasn't making sense. Maybe he was drunker than I thought. It wasn't like I'd been counting his drinks inside, I'd been busy talking to Carly and Taz.

I looked back up at the stars, finding it easier to talk when I wasn't looking at his face. "It's not a nuisance. I just don't get why you do it when you're not interested."

Brew made a soft snorting noise and hopped off the stone wall, landing slightly unsteady on his feet. He cracked his neck and undid the knot in my shawl so he could slip it off. "I think I need to sleep, my head is spinning."

Concern sprang up within me. There was something bothering him, and it was unusual for him to be this flustered about anything. "Are you going to manage walking home?"

He spun once. "Of course, I know this place like it's the back of my hand. I could crawl home with my eyes closed."

"I think walking would be better."

With a smile, he came towards me and didn't stop until he was mere inches away. He was so close, I could feel the heat radiating off of his body and smell ale on his breath.

My heart beat faster and there was a part of me that recognised the feeling as one I'd never had around Rooibos Brewster before.

"Brew?" I whispered, trying to dismiss the feeling as just because of the ale. It wasn't because I wanted him to kiss me. It couldn't be.

He tapped my nose gently and wrapped my shawl back around me. He adjusted the way it fell over my shoulders in such a caring way that it did funny things to my insides. Every touch was like a whisper of care. It was warm from being around his body, and more than that, it smelled like him, even if that shouldn't be possible from the short time he was wearing it.

"There." He gave me a doting smile, but it wasn't like those he gave to Jasmine and the twins. Or even to Oliver. I didn't think I'd ever seen him look at anyone like this.

My heartbeat quickened from his proximity and the heat rushing up to my cheeks had nothing to do with the ale. Instead, I found myself staring into Brew's dark blue eyes. Up close like this, he was truly handsome and I could see why all the giggly women were so crazy about him. Nice lips, a strong jaw, and slight stubble that I wanted to run my fingers over.

The thoughts surprised me. Maybe I was drunker than I thought.

Brew stepped back, breaking the spell he had me under. "Goodnight, Katie."

I swallowed hard. "Goodnight."

He sauntered away, only turning around when there were a good ten paces between us. He gave me a lopsided smile. "I never said I wasn't interested."

My chest tightened even more and I could almost feel my heart burst. Why did I almost believe him when he said it like that? Worse, why did I want it to be true?

I really had drunk too much if I was fantasising about Rooibos Brewster.