Page 115 of Small Town Firsts
Beckett finished off his glass and grabbed a piece of cheese and bread from Justin’s stash. “We better get some food into all of us or we’ll be drunk before noon. This stuff has some kick.”
I laughed. “Yeah, the only one that I was able to keep under ten percent was Sunshine.”
Justin whistled. “My kind of drink.” He slapped the bench. “Let’s get our party on.”
I dug out my phone and got started on the calls.
TWENTY-EIGHT
KIRA
IF I COULD, I’D BOTTLE THIS
Startingoff my day with an impromptu party was not on my schedule. I parked my car and rushed into the taproom, dabbing at my brow with the back of my arm. August was showing itself to be just as hot as July. In deference to the heat, I went with a sundress and flats.
While not in my plans, the boost of morale was important. And hopefully most of the staff could make it in to enjoy a little fun after all the work we’d done.
Not to mention all the work still to be done to get us to the finish line. It was a good idea to show them just how much we appreciated them.
As I came in, the Manning boys were standing at the bar with Lennon tending it. She was flirting with Justin, showing off her balancing techniques. One of her best tricks was how she could twirl and catch a bottle with nearly any body part.
Justin was leaning over the bar as she caught a shaker at the small of her back, using her very curvaceous butt to tip it back along the curve of her spine. She did this little hip bump and the shaker flipped, landing neatly into her palm.
She shook it and twirled it a few times along the flat of her hand before breaking the seal on the two stainless steel cups to pour whatever she was making over a martini style glass.
“There she is. Just in time to try my new B3 Mule!” Lennon waved me over. “Wait ’til you try it.”
“It’s not even nine in the morning.” I dumped my bag behind the bar.
Justin gave me a sleepy smile. “You gotta catch up. We’ve been drinking since six.”
“No way I’m catching up.”
“C’mon. You gotta try Len’s magic Mule.”
Lennon snorted. “That is not the name.”
“Well, it should be. It’s friggin’ magically delicious,” he slurred.
“Just how much have you been drinking today, Justin?”
He shrugged. “There was the tasting with our masterful brewmaster, and then Lennon joined the party with her Paula Red infused vodka.” He made a chef’s kiss noise with his fingers. “Magic.”
“It is pretty magical.” She strained off the drink and pushed it down to me.
“I’m assuming Moscow Mule-ish?”
Lennon’s dark eyes twinkled. “Try it.”
“If we’re going to be drinking like this, make sure you take keys.” I lifted the glass. “Sláinte.”
“Yes, boss.” Lennon’s burgundy tipped dark hair was plaited down in two fat braids. She was wearing her usual black-on-black ensemble, but today was a tank top instead of a cropped T-shirt. Her eyes were made up with glittery purple shadow and thick lashes.
I was pretty sure Justin was ready to ask her out based on the way he was looking at her, with his head propped on his hand. Little heart bubbles were practically popping around his eyes.
Then again, Justin was a perpetual flirt. No woman was safe in a thirty mile radius.
I took a careful sip and the warm, sweet layer of apples in the otherwise refreshing drink was amazing. “Wow.”
