Page 32 of Beyond the Hate

“Actually,” Paisley says. “A glass pressed against the wall focuses sound waves into a small area. If the shape of the glass is a curved cup-like surface, it can direct sound waves more effectively to your ear.”

Rhett’s mouth drops open. “Paisley is a female version of Jaxon.”

I growl. “Do not make fun of Paisley.”

“Why not? You used to make fun of her all the time in high school.”

I was teasing her. Not making fun of her. There is a difference.

“Yeah. Well. We’re not in high school anymore.”

I place a hand on Paisley’s lower back to guide her away from my idiot brothers and toward the distillery. She shivers and my blood heats.

How I’d love to move my hand from her lower back to her ass. Her ass is magnificent. My cock hardens and lengthens as ideas of what I could do to Paisley’s ass flit through my mind.

“Ground Control to Major Eli,” Jaxon says and I realize I’m standing in the entryway to the distillery staring into space.

I force my attention back to the present. “Jaxon, have you met Paisley? Jaxon is our master distiller. Paisley will be joining us as she’s the master brewer forFive Fathoms Brewing.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jaxon says. “I’d love to pick your brain about hops sometime.”

They shake hands and I have to stop myself from pulling her away from his touch. I need to get this obsession with Paisley under control.

She drops his hand and steps back from him. Or maybe not. Maybe I need to stop obsessing and make a move.

Chapter 11

“Rome can’t be built in a day? Watch me.” ~ Paisley

Paisley

Dakota meets me at the entrance to the distillery. She dangles a set of keys from her fingers. “These are yours.”

“Thank you.” I try to sound grateful but jealousy is clouding my vision and causing the words to get stuck in my throat. Eli obviously cares for Dakota in a way he will never care for me.

She tilts her head to study me. “You don’t have to worry you know.”

I don’t have to worry? She’s wrong. I’ve drafted a comprehensive list of things I need to worry about.

Will the mash and lauter tuns I ordered arrive today as agreed? Is the water filtration system at the distillery sufficient? Is there proper drainage, ventilation, and space for my equipment? Is there adequate electrical supply to power equipment? And what about—

“I mean about Eli.”

I stop scrolling through my mental list and force my attention to Dakota. “Eli? What about Eli?”

“There’s nothing happening between us.”

I feel my cheeks heat but I pretend I’m not embarrassed. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me this.”

“Eli and I banter but I have no interest in him. And he has no interest in me. I think I know why now.”

My brow furrows. Is she inferring Eli is interested in me? The only interest Eli has in me is waving his success in my face. It’s of no consequence. Eli is not on the list of topics I wish to discuss with a virtual stranger.

I need to extricate myself from this conversation but I don’t know how. Usually, I’d walk away but she’s standing in front of the door holding my set of keys.

“Thank you for being frank.”

I hold out my hand and she drops the keys in them. “Have fun.”

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