Page 24 of Somebody To Love

“It’s Penny.”

His heart stopped. Literally stopped beating at those two words. When it started again, it ran at a breakneck tempo. “Penny?”

She simply nodded and turned around. He jumped up from his desk and hurried after Kelley out to the front. The tasting room was quieter than the back. The hushed murmur of voices a significant difference to the whine and din of all the distilling equipment. A few people sat at the tables, two by the ancient jukebox, and one small redhead with an empty glass in front of her and a mean scowl on her face sat at the bar, glaring daggers at his little brother.

“I said I want another.”

“Penny, sweetheart, maybe you should slow down. That’s straight vodka and you don’t drink that much—”

“Don’t you tell me what I can and can’t handle Delta Jackson! And don’t call me sweetheart. I’m not your sweetheart, I’m not anybody’s sweetheart!”

His brother held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m sorry. I was just—”

“You were just not doing your job. Now get me another drink before I report you!”

Despite her raised voice, his brother grinned. “To who? The police? Cause I gotta tell ya sweet—Penny, they generally side with the bartender when we cut someone off.”

“Cut me off? I’ve had one damn drink, Del!”

Okay, something was clearly wrong. Penny rarely drank more than one beer or a glass of wine, and she never cursed or yelled at people. In the dictionary under timid was a picture of Penny. His gut tightened. Something bad happened.

“Penny?” He walked around the bar, coming to her side. “What’s wrong?”

Her gaze shifted to him, a visible sigh of relief loosening her tight shoulders.

“BJ, thank goodness. Will you please tell your annoying little brother to serve me?”

He glanced at Del, who shook his head. His expression showing worry. Something was wrong and booze wasn’t the answer. BJ nodded to Del. Taking her arm gently, he tried to pull her off the stool.

“How about we go back to my office and talk?”

She glared at him. “Only if you promise to share some of your secret stash with me.”

She’d been to his office many times over the years. She knew he had a private selection of single malt scotch he kept on hand for special occasions. But that was for celebration. Judging by her pinched expression and glossy eyes, he doubted whatever drove her here tonight to drown herself in booze was a celebratory nature.

“Come on, honey. Let’s go.”

She snorted at his lack of promise but allowed him to pull her out of her seat and back through the door separating the tasting room from the distillery. As they passed by the proofing tanks, Ace looked up from his clipboard. His twin raised an eyebrow at Penny’s obvious distress, but BJ shook his head. Silently communicating they’d talk about it later. Ace nodded and went back to work.

He steered her into his office, closing the door behind them and gently guiding Penny to sit on the small couch he and the others took power naps on during long nights. Taking a seat beside her, he shifted until he could see her face.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You’re not going to give me more to drink either, are you?”

He said nothing, simply stared until she threw up her hands, making a disgusted noise in the back of her throat.

“Ugh! What good is it having a best friend who makes booze for a living if he won’t serve you any when you really need it?”

“You don’t need alcohol. You need to tell me what’s got you upset.”

Her anger melted, hard expression shifting into sorrow. Those large hazel eyes filled with tears. Her hands clenched together as she sniffed, trying to stem the emotions leaking out of her.

“It’s Lance.”

Her ex? What the hell did the bastard do now?

“He’s getting married, and his fiancée is five months pregnant.”

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