Page 3 of Bad & Bossy

“I appreciate you looking after the business while I was gone,” I continued. “But I’ll be taking over from here.”

Benjamin cleared his throat. “Of course,” he said.

“Could you get the team together in the back? Whoever is here. I’d like to speak to them.”

“Cole,” Gray hissed. “We were just supposed to pop in.”

I shrugged. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“This isn’t good for you?—”

I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel. I didn’t need any more fuel igniting the fire of rumors.

“Fine. Whatever.”

Ben glanced between us, his brows raising slightly. “Yeah. I can do that.”

“Great,” I grinned. I watched as he turned, his fingers forming into a fist as he headed back toward the swinging door.

————

Thirty minutes later, I stood with my arms crossed in front of a group of about fifty people, the scent of boiling wort long gone, the smell of hops surrounding us. I could see the evidence of stains on the floor from spilled beer and yeast, could smell a tang in the air from uncleaned metal. My jaw stiffened.

Whispers made the already noisy room come to life in the most uncomfortable way. I knew exactly what they were talking about. I fumbled with the medallion in my pocket to keep my mind calm.

“Thank you all for coming down on such short notice or staying past your shift,” I said. I scanned the crowd, taking in familiar faces as well as new ones. “I appreciate you all for stepping up while I was away. I know it’s not easy when management makes a sudden shift.”

In all honesty, I felt nervous speaking to them. Having a group of people standing in front of you, several of whom likely knew exactly why you were gone, was nerve-wracking to say the least, especially when you were out of practice of being in charge. But I did everything in my power to not convey that nervousness. I wasn’t even sure if this was a good idea, but the more I spoke, the calmer I felt. I was home. Things could go back to normal, for the most part.

I was the boss. The brewery belonged to me. I had started the company and was single handedly responsible for making it the best brewery and most loved beer in the state. I was Cole Pearson of CP Beers and this was my rightful place.

“Benjamin has done an incredible job leading you all for the last six months. But I intend to fully return to my position tomorrow morning,” I continued, my voice strong. “I ensure we’ll make this as smooth of a transition as we can. Smoother than when I left?—”

A flash of familiar brown wavy locks ensnared my vision.

My head whipped to the side and I watched as the woman silently pushed her way through the crowd, her face hidden, her body language stiff.

Every ounce of confidence I’d built came to a screeching halt.

She glanced in my direction.

Those bright hazel eyes locked on mine.

Dana.

What the fuck was she doing here? Last I’d heard, she was working for Lottie and Hunter Harris on their horse ranch. When the hell did she make the jump into brewing?

The uniform that clung to her form told me she’d been hired on as a tour guide. It must have been while I was gone; I would have noticed her file on my desk, would’ve ensured that I was the one to conduct her interview. But I didn’t get the chance to do that, and here she stood, her face paling the longer she looked at me.

She was just as shocked to see me as I was to see her.

The collar of her shirt rested against her neck, the fabric hugging her breasts, her nipples just barely poking through making them that much more appealing. Her high-waisted slacks cinched in her waist, and I could just barely make out the outline of her hips. She was curvier than I remember but that made her all the more attractive.

I already knew what she looked like underneath her clothes.

I knew how she felt.

How warm she was.

---