Nina coughed. "Well, sure." She hesitated a second before nodding firmly. She'd still be here for the festival, anyway. "Yes, I'd love to help you, Mrs. Stewart."
"Oh, good! I'm so pleased. I'll talk to you later when you're not so busy. Good night, dears." She waved a general good-bye before trotting out of the kitchen, leaving Nina and Sarah alone.
"I'm happy to help Mrs. Stewart." Nina stuck her chin out. "She's nice, and she gives people the benefit of the doubt."
Sarah looked down at her. "Just remember to keep your volunteering to your off hours. You're paid to work here."
Nina bit back a quick retort. No point aggravating the head chef.
By the time Nina had finished her kitchen duties, the restaurant was closed, and only a few quiet drinkers were left. Nina looked about the bar expectantly, hoping that Joe had returned from soccer practice, but he was nowhere to be seen, and disappointment pinched her.
"Hey, Nina," Vince called from behind the counter where he was carefully filling a glass from a beer bottle.
She hitched her butt onto a stool at the counter. Even though her shift had ended, she didn't want to go to her bare, lonely room. Not when a part of her was still hoping for Joe to return, even though he'd never made any promises.
"What's that?" she asked, glad for the distraction from Joe. She nodded at the unlabeled bottle from which a rich, golden-brown beer flowed steadily into the glass.
"It's an IPA from a local microbrewery," Vince said.
"IPA?"
"India pale ale." He grinned. "Clearly you're not into beer."
"Sorry, no."
He slid the glass to her. "Try it. You might like it."
Shrugging, she took a cautious sip and rolled the liquid around her mouth before swallowing. "Hey, that's not your normal beer. It's kind of chewy and bitey."
"Hoppy, you mean."
"If you say so. It's really good. Where did you get it from?"
"The shed in my backyard." Vince retrieved the glass and took a satisfying swallow. "It's a hobby of mine, brewing beer."
Nina sat up. "You have a brewery? Do you sell your beer here?"
He shook his head, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. "Nah. Joe doesn't know about it."
"But you're friends. How does he not know?"
"Well, he knows I brew beer, but he doesn't know I've upgraded my equipment to commercial grade." A diffident expression came over Vince's face. "I've been meaning to ask him if I can stock some of it here, but, well, he has enough on his plate at the moment, what with his bank problems and those Beaumont shitheads who want his property and … "
Nina's heart stopped for several seconds as Vince continued to talk. What did he just say? Those Beaumont shitheads? He can't mean-
"Hey, Joe." Vince's words broke through her whirling thoughts, and her heart stuttered to life, suddenly pounding like a runaway freight train.
"Hey, Vince. Hi, Nina."
Joe stood right behind her. Every nerve ending in her body shrieked out his presence as she turned to face him.
"Hi." She sounded like a frightened mouse.
She tried to take a breath, but it was difficult with Joe so close to her. He was freshly showered after his soccer game, his body giving off waves of clean masculinity that pulled her in. His warm, expressive gaze traveled over her like he'd missed her, but then, as if becoming aware that Vince was still there, he glanced away, and she was able to breathe.
Joe talked to Vince, but she barely listened as Vince's words whirred in her mind. Beaumont shitheads. Beaumont. What exactly did he mean by that? Was there some connection between Joe and her dad? Unlikely, she told herself. Beaumont was a common enough surname. And why would a billionaire like her dad be interested in a small place like the Comet Inn? It didn't make sense. Vince must have meant someone else.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Joe said.
She came to with a start. The bar was emptying, and Vince had begun closing up. She was alone with Joe. He rested one elbow on the counter, and although his stance was casual, the look in his eye was anything but.
She swallowed, deciding to set aside her concerns about what Vince had said. It was much nicer to concentrate on Joe. "Just one penny? Is that all my thoughts are worth?"
He glanced quickly about, then angled his body so that no one but she could see his face. "That depends. If you're thinking what I'm thinking, then I'd be willing to pay you more."
She sucked her lower lip, wondering what he was thinking. From last night she knew Joe had some pretty dirty thoughts.
He uttered a groan so soft only she could hear it. "Don't do that with your lip. Unless you want me sporting wood in public."
She sputtered with laughter. Only Joe could get her so excited with so little. Before she could respond, Vince came back behind the counter and shot a weird look at her. Afraid he would recognize the lust in her face, she pushed to her feet.
"I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed. Good night, all." She made a general wave to encompass both Joe and Vince before beating a hasty retreat.
If Joe wanted a repeat of last night, then he'd have to come and get her, she decided as she made her way to her room. Even if she couldn't stop thinking about him, she didn't want to appear too eager. Taking a shower didn't stop her thinking of him, either. In fact, it made it worse. By the time she returned to her room, she was wondering how she'd ever get to sleep.
She let out a shriek as she spotted Joe lying fully clothed on her bed. "Oh, sweet Jesus, you scared me! Why didn't you warn me?"
He heaved himself up to a sitting position. "Do you always walk around in nothing but a towel after your shower? I'll have to buy you a bathrobe."
Excitement shivered through her. She walked up to him until they were almost touching. "Why?" She licked her lips. "Are you planning to surprise me in my room on a regular basis?"
He reached up and placed his hands on her hips, his fingers anchoring her towel. "That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether you give me what I want." His grip on her towel firmed. She swayed and allowed the towel to slip away until it crumpled to the floor. Joe's hands remained on her hips, his expression almost reverential as he took in her nakedness. "Oh, sweet pea," he breathed. "You're perfect."
She was far from perfect, but Joe's reaction filled her with a strange, heady sensation. What if she was perfect for him? Heat swept over her, plumping her breasts, making her nipples harden. Joe cupped a hand to her breast, fingers teasing her nipple even harder.
"Yes, perfect." He stared up at her with hunger stamped across his face.
Her knees buckled as she slid onto his lap, straddling his denim-clad thighs. She speared her fingers through his hair, and then their mouths met and fused with desire. They kissed frantically, his fingers imprinted into her back, she pressing herself into him, desperate for contact.
"Wait," she panted when she was forced to come up for air. "What about Vince?"
"Damn." He gave her ass a soft pinch. "I'm sure as hell not sharing you with Vince."
Ooh, I like that, she thought in surprise. She liked Joe pinching her ass. She let out a mock growl. "I meant is there any chance he might've seen you come into my room?"
"No. He's gone home, and I locked up the inn." His thumb absently stroked her butt cheek where he'd pinched her. "There're only two guests upstairs. So it's just you and me, sweet pea."
Every time he called her sweet pea it sent a thrill straight to her heart. She brushed her lips teasingly against his. "That's good. Why didn't you take off your clothes while you were waiting for me?"
"I didn't want to be presumptuous." His eyes glinted as his hand wandered around her ass. He began stroking between her thighs.
Her breathing stalled as his fingers caressed her, sweeping from front to back, exploring every inch of her. She didn't have time to be embarrassed at how thoroughly he was touching her; she was too caught up in the magic of his fingers. Blood thudded in her veins, desire coiled in her center, tension winding her up tighter and higher.
"You're so wet," Joe murmured, his eyes on fire.
Suddenly she was mad for him, mad to feel him inside her. She grabbed at his belt buckle. "Get this off." She growled in frustration. "Quick. Now."
"But you're so close." His fingers circled her entrance, and she shuddered, almost climaxing but holding herself back.
"I want you in me." She practically snarled, tugging his belt free.
Joe's eyes widened. "Yes, ma'am."
He grabbed a condom from his pocket. Then, with her help, he unzipped his jeans and shoved them and his boxers down to his knees. He had barely sheathed himself before Nina leaped back onto his lap, positioning herself over his rigid erection. He didn't wait. Grabbing her by the hips, he drove her down onto him without finesse, with just plain, raw sexual need. And that excited her more than she'd anticipated. Joe was in her, around her. He filled her up and surrounded her until there was nothing in her world but him.