Page 28 of More Than Words
He wasn’t wrong.
“Good thing I kept at it then?”
“Exactly,” Brody said.“Because that’s what you do.You’re not a quitter, little brother.You’ve more than proved that.And now…” He moved in a slow circle, with his arms out to encompass the space.“You’ve done it.”
“Almost.”I turned my attention to wipe down the bar.Again.“I’ll breathe easier once there’s a line out the door.”
“There will be.”Brody leaned against one of the barstools.“I know you’re planning to do kind of an inside/outside thing with the front garage door, but have you ever thought about an actual patio space out front?”
I looked up.
“It has potential.”He shrugged.“And really, a few tables out front would draw people in.Add a few lights, some plants…could be good.”
I paused, turning the idea over in my head.“Maybe.”I hadn’t thought about a patio space at all yet.It was enough to get the brewery up and going as it was.“Might give people a reason to hang out a little longer when the weather’s nice.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll think about it.”Might as well putgetting a patio licenseon my list of things to do.I nodded, mentally adding it to the already way too long list in my brain.
Brody grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge behind the bar and twisted the cap off.“You have a big guest list for the big grand opening on Saturday?”
I blew out a breath.“Only everyone.”
“That list include Delaney?”
He said it casually, but I didn’t miss the way my brother wiggled his eyebrows.
“She said she’d try to swing by.”I shot him a look.“Why do you ask, Brody?”
He laughed, his grin slow and knowing.“Oh, only because you’ve mentioned her about ten times in the last few days.”
“I have not.”
“You have.”He stood up straight.“Just today, you talked about how much she liked the wheel you made at the fall festival.”He held out a finger.
“She did.”
“And then once about how Quinn was enjoying the books she’d picked out for her.”He held out another finger.
“She is.”
Brody grinned and added a third finger.“And then a few minutes ago, when you told me she helped you with the flyer designs.”
“Well, she did.”I rubbed the back of my neck and looked away.“I’ve been working with her.It makes sense that she’d come up.”
“Or that you can’t stop thinking about her.”
I spun around so I could glare at him.“You done?”
“Not yet.”His grin grew wider, and he laughed.“Look, man.I’m not trying to give you a hard time.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“I’m just saying…you like her.”
I couldn’t deny it.He was right.Ididlike Delaney.Hell, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.Finally, I sighed, leaned on the bar and stared at the freshly polished taps.“Maybe I do.”
Brody didn’t say anything for a moment.“And?”
