Page 13 of Single Chance

My first hour plus was spent filling out paperwork and going over HR stuff with Holden.

“Ready for a tour?” Chloe said when I returned to her office.

“I’d love it.” I didn’t know the first thing about how beer was brewed, but as a science geek at heart, I couldn’t wait to learn more about the process.

Chloe stood and came around her desk. “Everything go okay with paperwork?”

“Easy-peasy, except the part about a permanent address. Holden said to use the inn’s address for now and change it when I figure out where I’m going next.”

“I hope you can find something soon. The inn is cozy and comfortable, but I imagine you’d like to get settled.”

“I’ve been fantasizing about having a full-size fridge,” I joked. “Being able to make my own meals will help cut down on expenses.”

“For sure. Which reminds me, lunch is on us today.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean?—”

“It was already planned,” Chloe insisted. “Holden and I are treating you to Henry’s. Have you eaten there before?”

I shook my head. “I can’t wait though. I’ve heard good things about it.”

“I might be biased, considering it has my married name on the sign, but I think you’ll love it. Cash, my brother-in-law, is a truly talented chef.”

“At the risk of sounding like a grade-schooler, I can’t wait for lunch,” I said.

We headed down the hall, past the closed doors of the other offices, to the stairway. On the main floor, I followed Chloe to what she called the brewhouse—the cavernous two-story room with the silver vats.

I met one of the assistant brewers, Gianna. I listened raptly as Chloe explained the brewing process step by step, with Gianna throwing in details along the way.

“This makes my chemistry-loving heart happy,” I told them.

“If nothing else, you’ll have new material to take to your next teaching job,” Chloe said.

“Do you offer tours to the public?” I asked.

“We do on weekends. Right now we don’t have a dedicated tour guide, so several of us alternate. Someday soon we’ll expand. Our tastings at the end are popular and help us sell beer.”

“Have you tasted any of our brews yet?” Gianna asked.

“Not yet,” I admitted.

“Today at lunch we’ll do a flight so you know what we’re selling. If you like beer?”

I laughed. “I like beer. Shouldn’t that be a prerequisite for being hired?”

“Failure on my part,” Chloe said, grinning as she led me out of the brewhouse.

She showed me through the main-floor public room, with the tasting counter and the minikitchen for events. We stopped at the loading dock and took a brief look into the storage area. Then I followed her up the stairs again as she explained her vision for special events. Both floors would be available, as well as the beer patio, which she pointed out through the second-floor windows, in the summer.

“If we use all three, we have a capacity of three hundred guests,” Chloe explained. “Henry’s adds catering options. You can’t beat the view in the spring, summer, and fall.”

“I can picture some beautiful events, even inside in the winter. The atmosphere is homey but classy.”

“That’s exactly what we were going for. Come this way, and I’ll show you your office.”

“I get an office?” I asked.

“We have one empty one. You might have to share it at times, and you’ll spend a lot of time in mine, but you’re welcome to personalize it however you want, within reason.” She pointed to one of the closed doors. “That’s Mateo’s office. He’s on the road more often than he’s here, but you’ll meet him soon. He’s our director of sales and distribution.”

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