A Billionaire's Holiday Love - Posey Parks Page 0,28
waiting for?
Her pussy was the last I’d ever stick my dick inside. Maybe I yearned for her to know our relationship wasn’t based on sex.
Why wouldn’t I just tell her what permanently ruined Christmas for me? Well, until I stumbled upon her.
“Noah, would you like another?” the straggly mousy brown-haired bartender asked.
My gaze led to the black piercing in her porcelain nose, then to the abundance of ink on her arms.
“Nice skull tattoo.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“Sheena, I’ll have a bottle of canyon and a basket of seasoned fries.”
She slapped the bar. “Coming right up, Mr. Canyon.” Sheena retrieved a bottle of beer from the lower fridge.
“You know this town will never forget your public display of affection with journalist Hope Manning, whom you call Ms. Christmas. You’re front-page news.” She tossed the newspaper on the bar next to my beer.
Luckily, the angle in which the reporter snapped the picture caught my side profile. The townspeople could now put half a face with Canyon Beer, the grandson of Piero Benatti. He was a long-time semi-annual resident of Christmasville. All because of my grandmother Aida, who adored this town. She passed away when I was eight. The two people who made a big deal out of Christmas in my life both died in December. So I was no longer a fan of the Christmas holiday.
I loathed attributing my success to my belligerent alcoholic father. But his dream inspired me to enhance his brew, making Canyon beer a successful brewery.
He belittled my brothers and I over the years and pushed us farther apart.
He ruined last Christmas for mom because he got into a bar brawl in Downtown Aspen. Dad begged mom to bail him out. And I asked her not to. That fucker needed to sit in the tank and dry out.
All the money in the world couldn’t fix my broken family.
Time to face your demons, Noah. Talk to Hope.
I chugged my beer. “I’ve destroyed me and Hope’s relationship before it took off.”
“You need to fix it before you lose her.”
I smirked. “Sheena, you’re right. And I will.”
“Good.” A smile lit up her face.
“Your fries will be out in ten.”
I nodded.
She disappeared into the kitchen.
“Well, what do we have here?”
A familiar voice filled my eardrums.
Bringing the whiskey to my lips, I peered at the man sitting to my right.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“Is that anyway to talk to your competition?”
He swiped the wool cap off of his head and swept his fingers through his red mane.
“Again, what the fuck do you want?”
“I didn’t realize you were in my backyard.” He tapped the paper. “Until I saw this newspaper article, that’s picked up steam in the last couple of days.”
“Because I’m on the east coast that means you’ll badger me?”
Gruffly rubbing my face, I turned to him. “Barker, ever since my beer hit the market, you’ve made it a point to tell anyone who will listen my product is trash. If it really were, my beer wouldn’t be number one in the U.S.”
He pounded his fist on the bar. “I’m taking my title back.”
“Face it. I’m a better brewer than you. Let it go. Do me a favor and drive or fly back to Boston. I don’t want to see your face again on my vacation.”
Lewis Barker, my competition was a sore fucking loser. Barker was a buff guy. I guess you could say he was attractive. He was about six two. A couple of inches shorter than me. Barker had all the makings of a golden boy. His obsession with my beer company was getting old. I never expected to see him in Christmasville.
His dark brown eyes bore into mine. “You’re a sewer rat who’s trying to steal the brew legacy that’s been in my family for generations.”
“Stop your crying. All you rich, privileged people are the same. The second your out performed by another man you take it personal. It’s not personal. I don’t give a fuck about you,” I spewed in a low whisper.
“You have until December twentieth to tell the world you stole my recipe.” He stood. His bulky frame towered over me.
I rose, grabbing him by the front of his coat, peering into his cold eyes. “Or fucking what?”
“I’ll force your hand.”
My eyes narrowed, and I bared my teeth as I shoved him. “Get the fuck out, Barker.”
He snickered as he stormed out the door.
Sitting back in my seat, I met the shocked gazes of those around me.
“Merry Christmas.” That was all I had to offer.
I shoved my earbuds