Page 4 of Bearly Believable Romance

The aroma of hops and barley wafted through the air as Bram Hartley pushed open the doors of Hartley Brewery. He inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar scents that always managed to center him.

“Morning, boss,” Levi, his lead brewer, called out cheerfully from behind a row of stainless steel vats. “Got a new experimental IPA brewing. Want to give it a taste later?”

Bram chuckled, shaking his head. “Levi, your last ‘experimental’ concoction had me coughing up glitter for a week. I think I’ll pass this time.”

The brewer shrugged, a mischievous grin spread across his face. “Your loss. I’m telling you, edible glitter is going to be the next big thing.”

Bram was about to retort when a familiar voice reached his ears, sending a jolt of trepidation down his spine. “Bramwell, darling! There you are.”

He turned to see his mother striding into the brewery, a determined glint in her eyes. Trailing behind her was a young woman Bram had never seen. He suppressed a groan. Not again.

“Mom,” he greeted, forcing a smile. “What brings you here so early?” As if he didn’t already know.

His mom waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, I was just showing our lovely new neighbor around. Bramwell, meet Hazel. She just moved here from Hemlock Woods.”

Bram extended a polite hand to Hazel, who giggled and batted her eyelashes. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said, already counting the seconds until he could make his escape.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Hazel purred, her grip lingering a bit too long.

Bram extracted his hand, turning back to his mother. “Well, I hate to cut this short, but I actually need to head into town to pick up some supplies. We’re running low on hops.”

His mother’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. “Of course, darling. Don’t let us keep you. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities for you and Hazel to get acquainted later.”

Bram nodded, already edging toward the door. “Right. Later. Got it. Bye, Mom. Hazel.” With a final wave, he bolted, breathing a sigh of relief as the cool morning air hit his face.

The town square was already bustling with activity as Bram wove his way through the crowds, nodding greetings to familiar faces. He was just passing by the fountain when a flash of blonde hair caught his eye. A woman, clearly distracted by the butterfly that landed on her hand, was about to step straight into a rather large puddle.

“Watch out!” Bram called, lurching forward to catch her arm.

The woman looked up, startled, and Bram found himself staring into the most striking blue eyes he’d ever seen. For a moment, the world seemed to still, the chatter of the crowd fading away.

Then she blinked, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Oh, thank you. I guess I should pay more attention to where I’m walking.”

Bram released her arm, a smile tugging at his lips. “No worries. You must be new in town. I’m Bram Hartley.”

The woman tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Tabitha Greer. And yes, I just arrived yesterday. Still trying to get my bearings.”

“Well, Tabitha where are you headed? I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.”

Tabitha glanced around, then back at Bram. “I was actually trying to find my way home. I’m staying at my grandmother’s old place, the Greer house?”

Bram’s eyebrows shot up. “The Greer house? That’s quite the inheritance. Come on, I’ll walk you there. It’s not far.”

As they walked, Bram found himself drawn into easy conversation with Tabitha. She had a quick wit and an infectious laugh that made his heart stumble in a way it never had. When she mentioned how much she wanted a cookie, he told her about Molly’s baked goods.

“The honey buns at her bakery are legendary. Molly won’t even share the recipe with me, and I’ve known her since we were kids.”

Tabitha laughed, the sound like wind chimes in a soft breeze. “Well, maybe we can convince her together. I can be very persuasive when it comes to pastries.”

All too soon, they arrived at the Alden house. Tabitha turned to him, a sincere smile on her face. “Thanks for the escort, Bram. And for saving me from that puddle.”

Bram rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically bashful. “Anytime. I’ll see you around.”

Tabitha nodded, then with a final wave, disappeared into the house. Bram stared after her for a moment, a strange warmth blooming in his chest. Shaking his head, he turned and made his way back to the brewery, thoughts of Tabitha Greer swirling in his mind.

Later that day, Bram was in the taproom going over inventory when the door chimed. He looked up to see Tabitha walking in, alone. Their eyes met, and she smiled, sending a jolt through his system.

As she approached the bar, Bram tried to calm the sudden racing of his heart. His bear, usually content to lay dormant, stirred in a way it never had. Bram swallowed hard. Could she be... No. He wasn’t ready for that. Not now.

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