Page 29 of Keep My Heart
‘With old friends,’ I say, stopping him before he tells her the truth, which is that I tend to joke around with women I really like. I don’t know why I do it. Maybe it’s to calm my nerves, although I don’t feel nervous around Lyndsay, so maybe it’s something else.
‘Right.’ Sawyer smiles at me. ‘Old friends.’
He better not say any more. He knows how much I wanted to date Lyndsay back in high school, and he knows I’ll kick the shit out of him if he tells her that. I may play the role of sophisticated lawyer when I’m in New York, but when I come home, the rough-around-the-edges country boy comes out and I can throw a punch when needed, like if my stupid brother rats me out about my secret crush.
‘So what are you guys doing here?’ Sawyer asks.
‘We just stopped by to drop off my suitcase,’ I tell him. ‘We’re going to go find a place to get a drink.’
He motions to the bar. ‘And what? This isn’t good enough?’
‘It’s great!’ Lyndsay says. ‘I love how it turned out.’
‘Thanks,’ Sawyer says with pride in his voice. ‘I put my heart and soul into it. Now I just need to make it a success, or at least make enough to keep the doors open.’
‘Are you kidding?’ Lyndsay laughs a little. ‘You’re the only brewery in town, and you know how much this town loves to drink. Add in the tourists in the fall and you’ll be raking in the cash.’
‘Thatmight’vebeen true,’ he says, rolling his eyes, ‘if another brewery wasn’t about to open.’
‘There’s another one? Where?’
‘Don’t get him started,’ I say to Lyndsay. ‘We’ll be here all night listening to him complain about the guy who will soon be his competitor.’
‘Who is it?’ Lyndsay asks Sawyer. ‘Anyone I know?’
‘The buyer wants to remain anonymous,’ Sawyer says, rolling his eyes again. ‘Why the hell is the guy trying to hide who he is? I’m gonna find out in a month or so when he opens. Why the big secret?’
‘Maybe it’s someone from high school,’ Lyndsay says. ‘Someone you didn’t get along with.’
‘Who? I got along with everyone, except Chris. I fucking hated that guy.’ Sawyer realizes what he said and quickly backpedals. ‘I meant back in high school. I’m sure we’d get along great now.’ He folds his arms over his chest. ‘So how’s he doing?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Lyndsay says, her voice getting quieter. ‘We’re divorced.’
‘It just happened,’ I say to Sawyer. ‘Probably not the best time to bring it up.’
‘Sorry,’ he says to Lyndsay. ‘I didn’t know.’
‘It’s fine.’ She forces out a smile. ‘I’m sure a lot of people will ask now that I’m back. Everyone knows us as Chris and Lyndsay. When they just see me, they’re going to want to know what happened.’
‘You don’t have to answer them,’ Sawyer says. ‘Just tell them it’s none of their business.’
‘Sawyer, you know that doesn’t work around here. It’s a small town. If you don’t tell them, someone else will, and whatever they say will be more rumor than the truth.’
‘Yeah, you’re right,’ he says with a shrug. ‘I’m sure after my date tonight everyone will be asking me who she was and if I’ll be seeing her again.’ He glances at me. ‘I ran into Gertie outside the restaurant.’
I laugh. ‘Yeah, you’ll have the whole town talking about you, especially since the girl isn’t from here.’
‘Gertie.’ Lyndsay laughs. ‘Is she still trying to play matchmaker?’
‘Hell yeah,’ Sawyer says. ‘The old lady isn’t stopping until everyone in town is paired up.’ He nudges me. ‘You better lie low and not let her see that you’re back. She told me she wants to set you up with Marilyn next time you’re in town.’
‘Her niece?’ I say. ‘The woman’s as old as Mom.’
‘Yeah, I know. I reminded her of that and she said your options are limited given your age.’ He laughs. ‘You can’t afford to be picky.’
‘Me?What about her? She’s 85 and single.’
‘Widowed,’ Lyndsay says. ‘That’s different, especially for her generation. They commit to one man and don’t think it’s right to find someone else after he’s gone.’
