Tap (Men of Lovibond 1)

“You think she’s okay?”

“I suspect she may want the transplant so she doesn’t have to keep going to dialysis. I think it’s a hassle for her, and she’s tired of messing with it.”

“You think she’d ask you to sacrifice that much so she’d no longer be inconvenienced?” That’s shitty.

“The more I’ve thought about it, I think she’d do that. I mean, I believe she’s in renal failure and a candidate for transplant but not knocking on death’s door like she says. I think that was all a guilt trip to make me agree to do it. She knows I live by the laws of attraction so she’s trying to use my beliefs to benefit herself.”

“Sounds like you’re listening to what your gut is saying.”

“Having her in my life again has triggered a lot of bad memories from my childhood. I just want her out.” I’m happy to see she’s changed her tune about considering the transplant.

The trolley comes to a halt. “This is your stop for Forsyth Park,” the driver announces over the speaker.

“Let’s get off here so you can see the fountain. It’s an iconic symbol of Savannah so it’d be a shame for you to miss it.”

Wren laces her fingers through mine after we exit the trolley. “I don’t really know a lot about you. Who is Lucas Broussard outside of the brewery?”

“I love the outdoors. I hunt, fish, go boating. Things you probably consider manly.” I’m not sure how Wren will feel about me hunting, considering she’s vegan.

“What kind of hunting?”

“Mostly deer.”

She crinkles her nose. “You eat those sweet creatures?”

“Yeah. Deer is delicious.”

She puts her hand over her heart. “You shoot them?”

“Sometimes. I use a rifle or bow depending on the season.”

“Ahh, poor Bambi.” She closes her eyes and shivers. “Let’s not talk about that anymore.”

“What do you like to do when you’re not at the shop?”

“I’m crafty so I enjoy making a lot of the items I sell: jewelry, dream catchers, refinish old furniture so it has purpose instead of a place at the dump.”

I notice the necklace, bracelet, and earrings she’s wearing. “Did you make these?”

She touches the stone hanging around her neck. “I did.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Peridot. I chose it for today because it restores new energy to the body. I needed it pretty badly after last night.” So, she knew as she packed last night she’d get little sleep. Like. That.

“I could a use a little energy restoration myself.” It was a long night. And early morning. But oh so good.

And I plan to do it again.

Lawrence Thorn

Ollie’s waiting when Brou and I arrive at The Distillery. “Hey. How’d the tour go?”

“We did Forsyth, the squares, a quick visit to city market, and Leopold’s.” Those are most of my favorite things, specifically the ice cream parlor. I especially enjoyed watching Brou lick his cone while telling me he was practicing for tonight. Lucky, lucky ice cream. The look in his eyes . . . the movement of his tongue . . . made me quiver and become wet. Just from licking an ice cream. Because I know just how good that tongue is. Shit. Not helping thinking about that in front of my brother.

“That’s good. You got a lot done.”

A waitress places a glass and bottle of beer in front of each of us. “Unpoured, as requested.”

Ollie displays a charming grin for the cute brunette. “Thank you, Casey.”

He pours each of us a sample and then begins the steps of evaluation.

“Gives good head?” I watch Brou for a reaction. A single brow lifts and one side of his mouth pulls upward as he tugs on his beard at the chin. That mouth. That beard. Both were all over me last night. And this morning. I can’t wait until they are again.

“It’s decent at best,” Ollie answers before taking the first drink. “Personal preference, I’m not a fan. What do y’all think?”

I take a drink and wait for the aftertaste. I shake my head briskly when it hits. “Shit, that is hoppy.”

“Don’t care for it,” Brou says.

Ollie grabs the second bottle. “Moving on.”

We go through a dozen craft beers in an hour, which may not be much for them but it’s a lot for me. More than I’m accustomed to drinking. I’m feeling no pain.

I’ve made two bathroom runs by the time Brou finally gives in and makes his first. I’m sort of glad. I want some alone time with Ollie so I can pick his brain. I want to know if he would truly have a problem with me dating his business partner.

“So . . . Lucas. He’s a pretty nice guy, right?”

He nods and takes another drink of beer before scrunching his nose. “Whew, that’s skunky.” He pushes the glass away. “Yeah. He’s a good friend.”

“We had fun today.”

“I’m glad. I was a little afraid you might be pissed at me for asking you to show him around without talking to you first.”

“That was fine. I didn’t mind at all.”

He looks at me for a moment before saying, “He was behaved, I hope.”

“Yeah. But I guess he would be since you told him I was off limits.” Seems a good time to bring that up.

“I did that to protect you.”

I’m thirty-one years old. I do just fine on my own. “I don’t need my little brother protecting me.”

“Every woman needs protecting from Tap.”

I’m probably going to regret asking this question. “Where did that name come from?”

The corners of Ollie’s mouth curl. “It’s a double meaning. He loves beer on tap. But he loves tapping ass more.” I’m not the least bit surprised. It’s just as I expected.

“Tell me what man doesn’t.” I know my brother is no saint. He need not pretend he is.

“Well, he likes it a little more than most.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Listen, sis. Tap is a great guy but he screws over a lot of women. He has an MO. Fuck a woman and then have nothing more to do with her. Happens all the time but it doesn’t always go over well. I’ve had to handle more than one scorned woman showing up at the brewery.” We’ve fucked and it seems like he wants a lot more to do with me.

I’m seriously about to send my brother into orbit but I need to know if a romance between Brou and me would be a problem in their business relationship. “I like him.”

“Don’t you dare even think about going there, Lawry.” Uh oh. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him that.

“Why not?”

“Because I’d have to kill him if he fucked you over. Which he would. Trust me, Lawry. No woman is safe with him.”

“He wouldn’t mistreat me.” Maybe I shouldn’t have said that either. Makes me sound like an authority on the matter. “Because I wouldn’t let him.”

“I bet the other thousand women he’s fucked and dumped said the same thing.” Okay. Maybe Brou was right abo

ut Ollie’s feelings, regarding a relationship between us. It’s probably best to back off before I stir too much of a stink.

“I was just curious to see what you’d say. I’m not going to ask him out or anything.”

“Good. Lucas Broussard’s not for you.” I don’t want Brou to catch hell from Ollie over me so it’s best to keep this secret. I’m not a fan of that but I think it’s best under these conditions. Who knows? This thing may not be going anywhere anyway.

I say nothing more because I see Brou on his way back to the table. “What’d I miss?”

“Horse piss. That’s what you’ve missed.” Ollie pours a sample of an IPA. “Tell me that’s not horrible.”

Brou lifts the glass of amber and gulps it in one drink. “Horse piss is being generous.”

This tasting has been for naught so far. “You’re trying to choose a brew for next winter?”

“Right.”

“People crave heavier, warmer, deeper flavors when it’s cold. Have you considered a chocolate stout or maybe some type of coffee beer?”

Ollie and Brou look at one another and grin. “Damn. That’s not a bad idea, sis.”

Brou punches me in the arm like I’m one of the guys. “Wren may be onto something.”

Ollie’s head spins in Brou’s direction. “Wren? When did you give my sister a nickname?”

“Well, umm,” Brou stutters. He needs saving.

“It’s cute, right? Ava gave it to me. It was easier for her to say than Lawrence.”

Brou looks at me with wide eyes. “Yeah, I guess it stuck in my head.”

“Wren. I like it,” Ollie says.

He drops my nickname and we finish off the last of our sampler. “I’m going to talk this chocolate stout and coffee beer option over with Porter and let him weigh in. If he likes the idea as much as us, we might give it a go.”

I fist my hands and use my thumbs to point to myself. “It was my idea so I think you should name it after me.”

“We’ll see.” That sounds like a no.

We leave The Distillery and stand as a trio on the sidewalk. “I’m about tight so I’m leaving my truck here and getting a ride to Mom and Dad’s.”

I look up at the sky. “It’s a beautiful night. I think I’ll walk home.”

“Only if Tap goes with you. I don’t want you out alone this late.” Silly, Ollie. Brou isn’t leaving my side. He is most definitely walking me home . . . and more.