Page 4 of Sweet Whiskey

KINSEY

Throwing my hair up in a bun, I tug on an oversized hoodie and shove my feet into the faux-fur-lined slippers.

I could feel the chill of the morning through the door, but I needed coffee after only a few hours of sleep.

I was pleasantly surprised to not wake up with a hangover since I’m usually such a lightweight.

Thankfully, the elderly woman at the inn didn’t take long to check us in and lead us to the room with minimal chitchat so we could finally pass out.

Brielle will need coffee whenever she wakes up.

I shake my head when I see her spread out on the bed, knowing whoever she ends up with is going to need a big one for her nest .

I pause to look up, a smile lighting my face at the bright colors scattered across the sky with the rising sun.

It’s a sight that never gets old and one of the reasons I was excited to get away from the city I grew up in.

Tall skyscrapers blocked most of the view, and the mornings were usually thick with clouds the rest of the time.

Brielle isn’t one who is in tune with nature, but even she can appreciate the beauty of this small town.

Tucking the hoodie tighter against me as if it’s gonna shield me from the cold, I jog across the street to the small coffee shop I’d seen when we drove past. A small bell goes off when I enter, and I could moan at the delicious smell immediately overwhelming my nostrils.

The same café is softly lit inside with a few older people already sitting at tables and reading the newspaper.

It tugs at my heart, knowing this is a peace that only a few understand.

An early morning while the majority are still asleep is like cuddling in front of a warm fire after a long day, energizing while healing a bit of your soul.

A bubbly barista with curly brown hair sticking out all over smiles at me. “Oh! Hi. You’re a new face. What can I get you? ”

“Whatever is your strongest coffee and a strawberry banana muffin.”

She nods excitedly. “Good choice. Those always sell out fast.”

“Same for me too, Connie. You can put it on my tab,” a deep, rumbling voice says behind me.

A small shiver travels down my spine as I face the man from last night.

My eyes widen seeing him clearer in the day because he’s still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I almost thought I had drunk goggles on last night because there’s no way someone like this just happens to live here.

His dark brown eyes are like melted chocolate, a warmth that makes me want to swim in them.

A rugged beard trimmed along his jaw doesn’t hide his sharp chin, and I can assume his hair is trimmed just as neatly under his beige cowboy hat.

I swallow my tongue at his dark gray Henley, fitting snugly enough to show off his muscular frame, and the worn-in jeans hugging his thighs, before sighing at the boots on his feet.

He’s like every woman’s fantasy, exactly what you imagine when you think of a hot Southern man .

“Hi,” I breathe out, unable to come up with anything else as my face flushes. I clench my thighs together as I feel the tingle of slick starting to leak out. I’ve never had such a visceral reaction to someone before.

His nostrils flare, but he doesn’t say anything as he tips the front of his hat between his thumb and forefinger. “I’m glad to see last night didn’t take too much out of you.”

“Your order, Colt,” Connie says at the counter, and I move to the side as he grabs them.

Colt.

Fuck me, that’s a cowboy name if I’ve ever heard one. But seriously, fuck me. Like right now. I curl my hand into a fist to stop the urge to fan myself.

He grabs one of the coffees and hands it over to me before snatching up the bagged muffins.

I huddle the warm cup to my chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. There’s cream and sugar on the cart over there,” he says. When he doesn’t hand over my food, I take it that he’s going to wait for me, so I quickly dump some cream and sugar in until it’s a perfect nude color. Taking a sip, I sigh into the delicious elixir.

I walk back over to Colt, who has been watching me amused.

“Cream with a side of coffee?” he teases.

“Not all of us have the chest hair to handle straight black coffee,” I say with a fake pout.

His eyes dip to my chest and I’m reminded of the outfit I had thrown on before leaving the inn. I swallow down the groan that nearly escapes, knowing I look like a mess. Thankfully, he knows what I look like in my lucky jeans and titty enhancer tank top. It’s my only saving grace at the moment.

Colt clears his throat, his eyes flicking back up to my face. “You usually start your mornings this early?”

“I try, some days are better than others.”

He nods. “Well, good choice coming here. The diner coffee isn’t the best.”

I smile, slowly taking a sip. “That’s good to know, thanks. ”

Colt rolls his shoulders, scratching at his neck. The movement sends over a whiff of his scent, and I nearly moan. The woodsy with a hint of citrus aroma is mouthwatering, and I clench my thighs to prevent arousal from slipping out. “So, you staying in town long?”

My cheeks flush, and I take a small sip of my coffee while my stomach turns with nerves. Does he want to know because he’s interested in me? “I might be. I’m still going to give it my best shot at finding who I’m looking for. You live here?”

He nods. “Yeah, so if you ever want a tour, I’m your guy.” Colt glances back to a large truck sitting in the parking lot and frowns.

“I heard from the bartender you were thinking about taking a job at Sweet Whiskey. Did last night scare you off?”

My eyes widen, and then I let out a soft laugh. “Not yet, but I guess we’ll see when I’m the one dancing.”

Colt’s stare drags down my body again, and he bites down on his lip. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think. ”

“Maybe,” I whisper.

He nods at the truck, tipping his hat toward me after. “I gotta get back to work, but I’ll be seeing you, Kinsey.”

“Hopefully, Colt,” I whisper as he walks off before I can reply.

I might be delusional enough to think he didn’t want to give me room to reject him, but I know better than to get my hopes up.

Alphas like him have their pick of omegas, and while I don’t find myself lacking, there’s nothing special about me either.

When I glance up, the barista is staring with a friendly smile.

I blush, holding up the coffee. “It’s really good.”

Her grin widens. “Thank you! And just so you know, Colt is a really good guy.”

My cheeks heat with a deeper flush, knowing she must have watched our entire exchange. I guess everyone being in everyone’s business is one of the quirks of a small town, and I’ll have to get used to it .

I clear my throat. “Uh. Good to know. Thanks. Can I get another cup to go?”

She hurries to make my drink, and my gaze falls back to the truck driving down the single long road out of town.

I came to find my dad, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun before figuring out what I want to do next.

I’m not sure if I’ll stay long. I suppose it depends on if I find him, and if he wants to get to know me once I do.

With a sigh, I grab the extra coffee and head back to the inn. When I get back to the room, Brielle is groaning and rubbing at her eyes. She glares when I come through the door.

“Did you leave the curtains open on purpose?”

“Of course not,” I lie, presenting the cup of coffee as a peace offering.

She talks, mumbling under her breath as she sits up.

I move onto her bed, cuddling next to her with a wide smile. She watches me and scrunches her eyebrows. “Give me five minutes. You’re too chipper, and I’m not awake enough.”

Nodding, I eat my pastry in silence until she turns to me with a sigh. “Alright, spill it.”

“I saw the cowboy from last night again. His name is Colt, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to ask me on a date.”

Her eyes shoot up. “Pretty sure? As in, he didn’t ask?”

I shake my head. “No, he was just all ‘I’ll be seeing you’ but in that deep, hot as hell voice.”

“I’m sure it didn’t sound as creepy in person,” Brielle says, snagging a bit of my muffin. “You don’t think he was following you, do you?”

Frowning, I hadn’t thought of that. “No,” I say reluctantly, “I just figured a small town, only so many places for coffee.”

She hums. “That’s plausible.” Her words are missing her usual sarcasm, so I know she’s being genuine, and it settles the doubt that had begun to creep into my thoughts.

“He did mention that he heard about us possibly getting jobs at the bar, though. ”

Brielle tilts her head to the side, considering that for a second. “Well, like you said, small town. I’m sure we’re the point of gossip. Maybe? I don’t know. Let’s stay together going forward, or at least take my taser.”

I laugh. “I can compromise on that. Did you want to do anything before we head over to talk to Tracy?”

She shakes her head. “It’s already going to take me a couple of hours to convince myself to shower.”