He poured something into a tasting glass and slid it toward me. “New batch. Tell me it’s undrinkable so I can defend myself.”
I took a sip. It was smooth with a citrus undercurrent and a clean finish.
“It’s good,” I said.
He smiled faintly. “You’re in a mood.”
“I’m not.”
He leaned back, studying me. “This about the girl?”
I exhaled through my nose. “There is no girl.”
“The grad student,” he clarified in a way that said, don’t try to hide it.
I didn’t answer at first. Phoenix didn’t push either. Instead, he wiped down the counter, minding his own business, which was better.
“Eric mentioned Harmony stopped by to see her.”
That caught my attention, and my head lifted slightly. “Why?”
“Claire’s still digging into her best friend’s case, and Harmony knows what it feels like to not have answers,” he stated the obvious. “She told Harmony she wants to talk to Nico Mercier.”
My fingers tightened around the glass. “She shouldn’t be anywhere near him.”
Phoenix’s expression sobered. “Harmony told her as much, but she didn’t think she would listen.”
“Yeah, probably not.” From what I knew of Claire, she was stubborn.
The door to the brewery opened behind me. Becket walked in, sunglasses perched on his head. He glanced between us. “Why do you two look so tense?”
Phoenix didn’t miss a beat. “Our youngest brother has a crush.”
Becket’s attention shifted to me slowly.
“I don’t,” I said flatly.
Becket smirked. “That defensive, huh?”
“I don’t do crushes,” I grumbled.
Phoenix folded his arms. “Sure.”
Becket stepped closer to the bar. “Crush or not, if she’s talking to Nico, that’s not smart.”
I looked at him. “You heard?”
Becket nodded. “Nico’s not some bar owner with a temper. He’s practically a mob boss at this point.”
“I’m aware,” I said.
The thought of Claire sitting across from Nico made something dark settle in my chest. Her curiosity could become dangerous, fast.
“She thinks she’s untouchable because she’s asking about her best friend,” I muttered.
“He won’t see it that way,” Becket countered.
Phoenix’s voice softened slightly. “She’s desperate, Ash.”