Page 15 of Break My Heart
‘Relax,’ Aria says, getting the glasses lined up next to the taps. ‘They’ll be here. Just go. Lexi and I can run the place until you get back.’
I really should go check out Sawyer’s brewery. I’ve been putting it off since I got here, not sure how to handle Sawyer given our past, and now our current situation of being the only two breweries in town.
‘Okay, I’ll go,’ I say, deciding to get it over with. ‘I won’t be gone long. Call me if it gets busy.’
‘Take your time,’ Aria says.
As I go to the back, I hear her quietly talking to Lexi, probably making up some story about me liking Sawyer. She really is like a little sister. One minute I love her and the next she’s driving me crazy.
On my way into town, my stomach knots as my nerves take over. I don’t know if I’m nervous about spying on the competition or nervous about seeing Sawyer. I think it’s a little of both.
Chapter 4
Gina
Sawyer’s brewery makes mine look like a dump. I tried to make mine look better by having windows put in and adding a fresh coat of paint, but it still looks like an old warehouse. Sawyer’s brewery is in one of the many historic buildings that line the downtown. It has that old time charm with a brick facade and the original building’s name and date carved into it. Above the door is the Kanfield Brewery sign with Kanfield written in the same script font that’s used for the orchard.
The inside has been completely renovated but made to look like it’s old with reclaimed wood tables and stools, wood beams along the ceiling, scraped wood planks on the floor and an old time mirror behind the bar. You’d never know this place almost burned down in a fire. I’m guessing Sawyer got a deal when he bought it. He was probably the only person who wanted it. It’s in a great location, but the renovations had to have cost a fortune.
‘Come on in,’ a guy says.
Looking up, I see the bartender waving me over. I was so focused on checking the place out that I’m blocking the door.
‘Sorry,’ I say, stepping out of the way as two men go by. The place is busy for a weekday afternoon. Almost every table is full.
Walking up to the bar, I take the last open seat at the very end.
‘What can I get you?’ the bartender asks, smiling as he holds up a glass.
‘Something dark,’ I tell him.
‘Dark, huh?’ he says in a flirty tone. ‘Got it.’ He goes to the tap to fill the glass.
He’s cute, maybe mid-thirties with dark brown hair and a beard. He’s got a fish tat on his arm and a thick black leather cuff bracelet around his wrist.
‘Give it a try,’ he says, setting the glass in front of me. He waits for me to take a drink.
‘A coffee stout.’ I take another sip. ‘The balance is off. It’s a little too heavy on the malt and a tad too bitter, but other than that I like it.’
He tilts his head, eyeing me. ‘Let me guess. You’re the new brewery owner?’
‘How’d you know?’
He shrugs. ‘Never met anyone else around here besides Sawyer that knows that much about beer.’ He extends his hand to me. ‘Welcome to Haydon Falls.’
‘Thanks.’ I smile at him, wondering if he’s being sincere or only being nice to throw me off and trick me into letting my guard down. I need to watch what I say here and make sure the alcohol doesn’t cause me to let something slip. This is the competition, and anything I say can, and probably will, be used against me.
‘Speaking of Sawyer,’ I say, ‘Is he around?’
‘You just missed him. He went to run an errand. Is that why you’re here? To see Sawyer?’
‘No,’ I say, louder than I intended. I clear my throat. ‘I just thought I’d stop by and check the place out.’
He nods. ‘Gotta check out the competition. I get it.’
‘I didn’t plan to. I mean, I planned to eventually, but I haven’t had time. And then I ran into Sawyer at my place last night and thought I should come to his.’
The guy’s staring at me like he’s trying to figure me out, probably because I’m rambling and talking way too fast.
