Page 41 of Dangerous Secrets
“Me coming back to Sistersshouldn’t negatively impact you.”
“That’s ridiculous for somany reasons.The biggest is you live at Cider Mill Farm, whichyou’re part owner of.We could avoid each other in town as much asyou want, but we’re still connected and people know it.The peoplewho are my friends won’t care, and the people who aren’t, I don’tcare.”
“I don’t want you hurtbecause of me.People think differently about ex-cons.Evenvindicated ones.”
“You need to throw offthat burden, Walker.It’s not worth carrying.But you want to knowwhat really pisses me off?”She didn’t give him a chance torespond.“You’ve given me no say in the matter.You’ve decided whatyou think’s best for me, and I don’t get a choice.Now I feel likepunchingyouinthe throat.”
“Wouldn’t try that.”Hisgaze slid to her lips, then away.“But that’s not the onlyreason.”
“You have other reasons toact like you can’t wait to get rid of me?”
He rubbed a hand over his beard,staring hard out the window.“Yeah.”
“Care toelaborate?”
“No.”
“Fine.Once again, you’veconfirmed why a relationship with you is a bad idea.Been there,done that.You decided we were done back in the day, and you’vedecided we can’t have a relationship now based on some screwed-upidea that you’re somehow tainted.Not that I want a relationship,”she added hastily.“Men are unreliable jerks.”
She shoved the empty box from hercinnamon roll into the bag, and felt slightly sick from too muchsugar, or it might be from their conversation.
She sipped her coffee slowly and triedto find her calm.
***
Walker stopped himselffrom reaching for her hand.Delaney was right.Hewasa jerk.Every timehe was near her, he wanted to touch her, and he managed to catchhimself and pull back only about half the time.He was sendingmixed signals and he knew it.
Truth was, being with her, talkingwith her, touching her, centered him and made him feel like hecould deal with whatever came at him.But no matter how much hewished their relationship could be different, reality made himwrong for her.She’d be better off with a guy who’d never beenbehind bars or who didn’t have a plan for justice that could leadto violence.He leaned back in his seat, scrubbing a hand over hisbeard.Time to focus.
“I need to talk to youabout something else.”
She gave him the side eye.“Thesomething you were talking to Gran about.”
“Yeah, that.”He clearedhis throat.This was the crucial hurdle after years of planning.“Iwant to invest in Cider Mill Farm.”
He figured he’d surprised her when herbrows winged up.“You and Sawyer inherited the north orchards shareof Cider Mill Farm.You’re already invested.Beyond that, we’redoing okay financially.If we have the season I’m hoping for, we’llbe doing even better.”
“You’ve done the work andare set up to make that happen.My proposal would bring anadditional revenue stream, but I’m not talking about a capitalinvestment.I’m thinking bigger.Sawyer’s on board, so is Clara.But you’re the linchpin.If you say no, then it’s no.”
“Sounds like you betterexplain what you’re thinking.”
There were so many reasons he wantedher support, but with sudden clarity he realized the most importantwas he wanted her to believe in him, to see he’d done more with hislife than wander the country, moving from job to job for the pastsix years.To know he’d had a goal and worked toward somethingconstructive during that time.
But if she hated his plan, then thatwas it.He really didn’t want her to hate it.
“I want to expand intohard cider production.”She opened her mouth and he held up a hand.“Let me explain what I’m thinking, and then you can askquestions.”
He took a deep breath and dove in.“The Gravensteins we grow in the north orchards are good apples formaking hard cider.The hard cider beverage industry has exploded inpopularity in the past dozen years and all indications point to itscontinuing growth.I want to use a slow fermentation process so thefinal product will retain optimum flavor.We can also experimentwith adding your boysenberries for an apple/berry product.If allthat works like I think it will, I’ll plant an orchard of pears toproduce pear cider.”
He reckoned it was a good sign shewasn’t laughing outright.He figured he was pretty good at readingher expressions and could tell she was intrigued.
She nodded slowly.“Go on.”
“I’d apply for a liquorlicense so we can serve our label, Cider Mill Hard, at the farmcafé and bottle it to sell on the retail side.I’d also want tosell to local retail outlets and bars.Owen said he’d carry CiderMill Hard on tap at Easy Money, and I plan on approaching otherplaces in Sisters and neighboring towns to do the same.Once we’reon our feet and the operation is running how I want it to, I’llapproach distributors about expanding into the Central Valley andBay area.”
“You’ve thought thisthrough.”
He nodded.“Yeah, I have.I worked ata hard cider outfit in Minnesota so I have experience.I’ll emailyou my business plan.”
