Page 73 of More Than Words
I chuckled a little under my breath and scrubbed a hand over my face while the reality of what I’d just signed up for sank in.One more thing to add to my already overflowing to-do list.
“Congrats, brother.”Next to me, Brody held up his hand for a high five.“I look forward to having beers on the patio this summer.”
“You and me both,” I said.“And you’ll earn those beers, too.I’m definitely going to need some help with this.”
Before he could answer, we were joined by other business owners offering me congratulations and thanking me for bringing the idea of some outdoor seating to the plaza.
I shook hands with a council member and someone else clapped me on the back.“It’s going to be a busy summer, Lyons.”
I could only hope that the patio space would be as popular as everyone around me seemed to think it would be.Opening a new business was never easy, and Peaks & Brews was no exception.With the amount of overhead that had been required to get set up, turning much of a profit in our first year was going to be tricky.But outdoor seating had the potential to improve that bottom line.
It was everything I hoped for since the first time I looked at the old Chinese food restaurant and visualized what a brewery space could be and that I could be the one to turn it into something.
A huge smile on my face, I turned toward the crowd, scanning the room, and that’s when I saw her.
Delaney.
She stood alone by the back wall, with her coat still on.
She’d made it after all.
My stomach flipped the way it always did when I saw her pretty face.
For half a second, I didn’t register it.Just smiled like an idiot and lifted my hand in a half wave.
Then I saw the expression on her face.
No smile.None of her usual warmth.Just…flat.
Like she was holding back tears or something worse.
Before I could make a move toward her, she turned and slipped out the door.Fast.
Like aget me the hell out of herefast.
Shit.
Vaguely, I excused myself to whoever was listening, not waiting or caring whether anyone responded, as I hurried through the crowd after her.
By the time I made it outside, she was almost at her car on the other end of the parking lot.
“Delaney!”I called out.“Wait.”
She stiffened, hesitating for a second before continuing her charge across the snowy parking lot to her car.
“Hey.”I caught up, lightly grabbing her elbow.“What’s going on?Where are you?—”
She spun to face me.The hard look in her eyes stopped me as she thrust a package at me.
“Your labels.”Her voice was ice cold.“But I don’t suppose you really needed them at all, did you?It was just a way to keep me out of town a little longer.”
“What?”I shook my head and tucked the package under my arm.“What’s going on?What’s wrong?”
“You’re really asking me that right now?”
I blinked, feeling like I’d missed something critical.“I am…I… Delaney.What’s going on?Did something happen in the city?”
“The city?”Her mouth dropped open in disbelief.“If we were in the city, instead of this small town where you and your family know everyone, I might have at least had a chance.”
