Page 93 of Small Town Firsts
Staffing was light in the months just before harvest. Most of the activity included taking soil samples and testing the apples to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to do.Right now the canopy of trees were bursting with apples in varying stages of green, yellow, and red. My untrained eye knew jack shit about it, but I did know that the cold storage bins were my favorite place to visit.
The more I researched, the more I learned about the lifespan of the trees and the fruit after it was picked. It was so much different than brewing beer, and far more interesting in my opinion. I needed to remember that I was here for a job. One that I’d been dreaming about without even knowing it.
One that could become so much more if I’d just get my head on straight about this opening. And about Kira.
The fun part had to take a back seat right now, much as it killed me.
Everything required nurturing—from my cider right down to my future with Kira. And just like the apples growing over my head, I couldn’t make them move along faster.
I had to wait. And dammit, did I suck at waiting.
I stopped in at the café in the shopping section of the orchard. The gift shop, café, and bakery were the main hub for foot traffic. There was also a shop attached to the lodge that was designed for specialty foods ready for shipping or pick up. Seasonal pies, jarred foods, and catering-sized orders made up the bulk of that business.
The Ronsons and the Mannings were no joke when it came to making the apples work for them on every level. I was going to stop for some food, but wedding season was in full swing in this part of the orchard.
A gaggle—I really didn’t know of a better word for it—of women clogged up the front of the bakery. It was a pastel explosion of female energy. Women in every size, shape, and color were in attendance. There was also a whole lot of alcohol being passed around.
I kept driving. I definitely didn’t have the mental fortitude for what looked like a bachelorette situation. Instead, I stopped at a fast food drive thru in Turnbull before heading to my place. Kain’s motorcycle was missing. I glanced at my dash clock. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing that he was still out with our new social media maven.
Or he found someone else to entertain him.
I checked my phone, but no messages from anyone other than my mother.
I shot her a reply that I’d give her a call tomorrow. It had been awhile since I’d checked in and it was too soon for her to have gotten my gifts in the mail.
I parked and grabbed my sack of food, then dragged my way up the steps to my porch. I didn’t even have the energy to go inside, so I dropped into my chair and fueled up. I barely tasted the burger and fries, but it filled the hole.
As I finished my Coke, the rumble of a motorcycle dented the silence of the night. I kicked off my boots and stretched my legs out to wait for my friend to pull in. Sure, it could have been another bike. It was a fine summer night for a ride, but the distinctive purr of his vintage Harley was unmistakable.
He downshifted and slowed instead of kicking up dust like yesterday. He wore jeans, a Metallica T-shirt, and his huge boots. No one would be able to tell he was worth a few billion. Probably more than that since he’d inherited his father’s fortune as well.
I set my cup down beside my chair. “How’d it go with Jessica?”
“She’s pretty brilliant. Good choice. I’d snap her up for one of my restaurants in Monterey if I didn’t love you.”
I laced my fingers behind my head. “You own restaurants too?”
He shrugged then dropped into the chair beside me. “I do some angel investing sometimes. I like to be a pain in the ass when I’m in the mood to crunch numbers, but generally leave it to the owners. They usually just need some restructuring and cash flow before they’re back on their feet.”
“Does that mean you’ll do the same here? Just move on when you’re bored?”
Kain sighed. “Yeah, my impulse control got a little out of hand today.”
“Ya think?”
“I like the taproom. Has a good energy. New beginnings all around.”
“Don’t start with the energy thing again.” I let my hands drop to the arms of my chair. Kain had been known to abandon a project when the vibe was off on more than one occasion. When we were young, it didn’t make much of a difference to me. Now? It was my life.
“I’m serious. I was too drunk to really feel it last night. I do like your workspace though. Analog was a good word, brah. Exactly how it felt. But in the best way. Like going back to basics.” He flipped the top of the cooler open and grunted when there was no magic cider to be found. He stood up and went in through the sliding door. “The taproom has a different feel though,” he called from the open door.
“Good or bad?”
“Very good. Why do you think I want to work there?” Kain came back in with two tall cans of beer that he must have picked up the first time he came back to my place. My fridge definitely didn’t have cans that size in it. He handed me one and sat back down. “I picked up some food with your truck earlier. You live like a bachelor.”
“I’ve been spending most of my time at the workshop and eating takeout.”
“Yeah, well, you’ll get real food from me. At least until you disappear back intoHina’sbed.” He waggled his brows. “If she lets you back in. She’s pissed at you.”
