Page 33 of The Havenport Collection

Liam

I was running on about four hours of sleep, but I felt more energized than I had in years.

That was the power of Cecelia Leary. We had been working nonstop with new events, social media promotions, and themed nights at the taproom.

In addition, she had me making long-term plans for next year already.

We were totally in sync, both in and out of the bedroom.

Our days were spent poring over spreadsheets and analytics, and our nights were spent wrapped around each other in my apartment.

She consumed my thoughts and body. I had spent years avoiding this situation because I assumed I would be too distracted to do my job.

What an idiot I was. If anything, a beautiful, challenging woman was just what I needed.

“So I can only guess from the shit-eating grin on your face that things are going well with Cecelia?” Callum leaned on the bar, coiffed and pressed to perfection.

It was Tuesday night, and my brothers and Trent were here, chatting and drinking.

I was in such a good mood I even stopped by the gourmet dog store on the way to work and bought Ginger a grass-fed organic bone.

She took it from me without growling, so that felt like a win.

I smiled at him, too happy to even pretend to be annoyed by his intrusive question.

Declan snapped at him, mainly out of habit. “Why are you dressed like that? Are you running for office?”

Callum instinctively snapped back at him, “We can’t all be as stylish as you, Dec. Is that ripped hoodie designer? Did you let Ginger use it as a chew toy?”

I laughed—that was a good one. Declan definitely took dressing down to new levels.

Declan rolled his eyes and drank his beer. Trent shot me a look. Watching these two argue was always entertaining.

“Have you thought about our offer to invest yet?” Callum innocently asked.

Oh God, not this again. My brothers had organized and were pressing me to consider taking them on as investors to build and expand the business.

I appreciated the offer, but it was truly the last thing I wanted to think about right now.

I had a nagging feeling in the back of my brain that I should tell them about Cece’s distribution idea—just to see what they thought and if it was even possible.

But I shut that feeling down. I had to stay focused on the present and my goals.

At some point maybe I would bring it up.

“No, but I will. You guys know I don’t want your money.

Things have picked up significantly. The expanded hours, the festivals, and even the larger social media presence is helping.

Traffic to our website has exploded, and we are selling out of T-shirts.

Orders are up and things are humming along.

It’s only been two months and we are already seeing big improvements.

” I couldn’t help but smile. It was the truth.

“Oh my God, look at him. He’s so far gone.” Callum smirked.

“It’s about time.”

“Fabio is right. I never thought I’d see the day where Liam was mooning over a girl,” Declan added.

And then they started doing the charming thing they do where they talk like I’m not actually in the room with them.

“I mean you know he’s going to fuck it up.”

“Of course he’s going to fuck it up.”

“Guys. He will not.” God, Trent was such a good friend. I was so grateful to have him in my corner.

“Don’t be a moron, Trent, you know Liam. He is pretty much guaranteed to fuck up a good thing.” Declan gestured at me with his beer stein.

Trent shot me an apologetic look.

I had to defend myself. “Guys, I have no intention of screwing this up. I wish you would have a little more faith in me.” Of course it made no difference to my brothers. They just kept piling on.

“Poor Cecelia does not deserve whatever Liam is going to do to mess this up.”

“I know. And mom will be so mad too.”

“Seriously, Liam. Get your head out of your ass. We all know that you are more likely than not to screw this up. I’d stop being so complacent if I were you,” Callum mused.

“Good point.”

“For God’s sake, Mrs. Leary was your kindergarten teacher. She was so kind to you that day you pooped your pants. That woman is a saint.” Declan loved to retell that story.

“Jesus, guys. I was five years old and had a stomach bug. Can we please let this story die?”

“Nope, never.” You could always count on my brothers to carefully catalogue every embarrassing moment of my life and continue to bring it up, even twenty-eight years later.

“Guys, it’s too early. We are friends, and she is my employee.

We hooked up, and she’s planning on leaving after the holidays.

We have a good thing right now. It’s casual.

” I kept telling myself that. I thought if I repeatedly used the word “casual” then eventually my heart, brain, and dick would get the message. So far, it had not been successful.

My brothers exchanged “can you believe this guy?” looks.

Callum walked behind the bar and helped himself to a refill. “Don’t talk like that. That woman is beautiful and smart and the daughter of your mother’s best friend. You need to get your shit together.”

“Plus she listened to the Captain drone on about his boat. That was awesome. We didn’t get one lecture about varnish and viscosity.”

“Good point, Dec.”

Callum shook his head at me. “Cecelia Leary is rare and special. She is the type of woman you marry. If you don’t marry her, I will.”

“Or I will,” echoed Declan.

“Or I will.”

“You too, Trent?” That one stung.

My best friend shrugged at me. “Sorry, dude, I’m with the brothers on this. I don’t think you can see how much she has changed this business and changed you. You would be an idiot not to lock that down.”

“Trent gets it.” Declan clapped him on the shoulder and they clinked glasses.

“I was married and so I know firsthand how hard it is to find an amazing woman. You will never get this lucky again in your life.” Callum almost looked regretful. I only knew bits and pieces about what happened with Becca, but I know it wrecked him.

“Get out of my head, guys. I am an adult and I have no intention of screwing it up.” I was really not in the mood for getting picked on by my big brothers tonight.

I knew they loved me and I knew they meant well but I could not deal with their judgment tonight.

I just wanted to work on brewery business and obsess about Cece.

She was in my head. And my dick had taken a liking to her such that he perked up at the sound of her voice—even, inconveniently, during staff meetings.

I was a prideful idiot, but even I could admit she had changed things at the brewery.

Hell, I could admit she had changed things for me.

I could not imagine this brewery without her, and I could not imagine my life without her.

Having a strong, sassy woman to challenge me, support me, and put me in my place when I deserved it was the best gift I’d ever been given. And I didn’t want to give her up.

“You say that. But do you have a plan?”

“Yes. You need a plan, since you are obviously in love with her.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

I felt like I was being cross-examined. I needed to do something.

The thought of losing her made me nauseous and dizzy.

I had to tell her how I felt. How I really felt.

I was in love with her. I was crazily, madly in love with her and I needed her in order to function.

I needed to wake up next to her and work alongside her every day.

“Are you going to tell her? Are you going to ask her to stay and get serious?”

I knew in that moment, looking at the faces of Trent and my brothers, that I had to man up, acknowledge my feelings, and tell her how I felt. “I hate to say this, but you guys are right. I need to talk to her.”

“Okay, but don’t go in half-cocked. Make a plan.”

“I’m working on it. I want to get through Gourd Fest this weekend, then we can talk and figure things out.”

Declan was clearly a bit tipsy and feeling emotional. I made a mental note to stop drinking so I could drive him and Ginger home. He stood and we all raised our glasses. “To love, and may we stubborn, idiotic Quinn brothers find it someday.”

“To love.”