Page 18 of Love Is Brewing

“It’s a massive brewery about two miles from here on the outskirts of town. They have a different way of operating than us,” Mason said. “One that is going to benefit us both.”

“Shit yeah,” Ben said. “I can’t wait to get going on it.”

“It’s all over my head,” she said to them both. “But it might make sense why Ellen asked if I drank beer when I said I didn’t golf or ride horses.”

“Huh?” Ben asked.

They were in her office right now in the back. Ellen was closer to the front and couldn’t hear them.

“Ellen was telling me there isn’t much to do around here other than golf, horseback riding, or drinking beer. I didn’t understand the beer comment, but it makes sense now. I’ve heard a few people talking about traffic through town andthought they were joking about it. This place seems dead to me most times.”

“It probably is when you’re coming into work or leaving,” Ben said. “But they’ve got a crazy amount of business going at the brewery and people have to pass through the town for it. It helps the town thrive.”

“I’ve done a lot of research on Fifth Kid and not only do they have a stellar reputation,” Mason said, “but the community is in full support of them and all they’ve done.”

“Which doesn’t normally happen with alcohol,” she said, surprised. Not in the South.

“No,” Ben said. “But they’ve brought a lot of employment to the area, and are adding to the taxes for the town, have donated for the improvements in the area. The owner is a great guy and well liked.”

“This couldn’t work out better,” Mason said.

“You two sound like a PSA. Or a member of the town the way you’re gossiping.”

Both Ben and Mason laughed at her. “Only stating the facts we’ve found,” Ben said.

“Which means you’ll be visiting more?” she asked Ben. “To check up on your baby sister?”

“Nah,” Ben said, waving his hand. “I don’t need to check up on you. You’ve always had your life under control just fine. But we’ll do most of the brewing for the collaboration in Charlotte.”

“Oh,” she said. She knew she sounded disappointed.

Was she so lonely already that she was wishing for any engagement from people?

“Do you miss me?” Ben asked, smirking. “It’s not like you’ve seen me much lately. You talk more with Eve.”

Eve Hall was Ben’s fiancée. She couldn’t wait for her brother to get married in about two months.

“I do,” she said. “How is she doing?”

“Good,” Ben said. “She said she hasn’t wanted to bug you too much knowing you were busy getting a lot of things set up. You’re good?”

“I am,” she said. “Even had my first snowstorm two days ago.”

Ben smirked. “I heard. Mom told Dad and Dad came in to get some beer the other day and we were chatting.”

She frowned. “I’m sure our dear brother Matt had a good laugh over it.”

She was honest about her frustration with the snow and her lack of preparation, but the town appeared to shut down completely.

All but Elias who didn’t seem to let much stop him from going to work either.

“He might have said a few things,” Ben said. “Like wishing he had a picture of you covered in snow.”

“I got a text from him wanting to know if I melted,” she said, snorting. “As you can tell, I didn’t. I came into work and was the only one here for hours. Had three interviews that day and two rescheduled for later. The one who came on time, I gave her a second interview not that long ago and I’m going to hire her.”

Kayla was young and fresh out of college. She was a local and liked the area but struggled to find a job without having to commute an hour or more, which she didn’t want to do.

It was almost as if they fell into each other’s lap.

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