Page 74 of Inevitable

“I—” I tilted my head to the side. “Yes.”

She’d noticed all that? Remembered those details about me?

“I want you to show me what you like,” she said, and I had a flashback to New York. To her mouth wrapped around me in the back of the town car. It was a scene I’d played over in my head again and again. Her eyes peering up at me. Her lips and tongue.

I had a feeling neither of us was thinking of whiskey, but I also got the impression she was deflecting.

“Whiskey, right,” I said, hoping it would loosen her tongue.

I went over to the cabinet where I stored the liquor and pulled out several bottles before lining them up on the counter. “Okay. So, I have a few for you to try.” I turned the bottles so they were facing her. “Maker’s Mark.”

She stuck out her tongue. I laughed, but I couldn’t help sharing how whiskey was made, the differences between them, and more.

“Blanton’s.” I slid the next bottle over. “And Knappogue Castle.”

“Are you sure that’s how it’s pronounced?” she teased.

“Ninety-percent sure.” I laughed, as did she.

I grabbed some glasses, one for each whiskey plus another for water. As well as some tortilla chips and a cup I’d filled with ice.

“This is… Wow. Okay. You’re even more passionate about whiskey than I realized.”

I thought of all the whiskey tastings I’d dragged Ian to. All the memories we’d shared. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail came to mind as a highlight.

“Jonathan?”

“Yeah.” I picked up one of the bottles and started to open it before setting it back down. “I did promise you a proper tasting, but are you sure you’re up for this?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure whether I was referring to the whiskey or us. “You seemed upset when you got here.”

“I…” She blew out a breath, shoulders deflating like a balloon. “Yeah.”

Suddenly, she seemed too far away. The counter separating us too wide, and my need to touch her too great. I rounded the counter as she turned to face me. I stepped between her legs, relaxing when she wrapped her arms around my neck. The entire movement was fluid, as natural as breathing.

I smoothed my hands up and down her arms. “You can talk to me, baby. What’s wrong?”

“I had a fight with Piper. Then I had to lie to my—Ian, because he’s disappointed in me. And Lea…” With a deep breath, she pushed her hair away from her face and smiled. “Anyway. I’m sure you didn’t invite me here to talk about my drama.”

All along, I’d worried about my relationship with Ian if the truth came out, but I was beginning to see just how shortsighted I’d been. Ian’s relationship with his daughter was being strained. Sumner’s relationships with nearly everyone else in her life were suffering because she was with me.

I rubbed a hand up and down her back. “I asked you to stay because I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Yeah—but, like, in the bedroom.”

“Sumner.” I dipped down to meet her eyes. “I wouldn’t have invited you over for the whole weekend if I didn’t enjoy your company. I don’t—” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’ve never done this.”

“Done…whatexactly?”

“Spent time with a woman other than for short periods.”

“You mean for sex,” she said, to which I merely shrugged. “But Rachel—”

“We were always going out on the weekends, hanging out with friends, or I was working. We were rarely alone. I think we both knew that if we actually stopped and spent time together, we’d have to admit how wrong we were for each other.”

She nodded but said nothing, and I wondered if I’d said too much.

“Did I just freak you out or break some rule about bringing up the past?”

She laughed. “No. I was surprised, that’s all. Do you ever talk to her?”