Page 17 of Beau & Autumn

She narrows her eyes. “Thank you, Hudson Nash, but I can give credit where it’s due, and praise for that matter.” She accentuates the word in that way she has.

His eyebrows raise even higher.

I roll my lips at the two of them.

I notice the faintest pink rise on Georgia’s cheeks as she flushes a little, following his flirty train of thought. Well, it isn't hard to guess what he’s thinking with that lopsided smile of his, talking about praise and all. “Anyway.” He palms the back of his neck with a sigh, the muscles in his forearm flexing from the movement. “We’d better get back to work. Can’t stand around here chatting to you lovely ladies all day.”

“Let us know how the photos come out. I know Celeste is dying to see, especially when she saw all the hydrangeas we bought from the nursery,” Callan says.

“I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Though honestly, you’ve done a great job with everything, both of you.”

Hudson tips his head, touching the tip of his cowboy hat.“Are you still wanting to come and photograph the cotton fields?” Hudson asks before he turns away.

I’m thrilled he remembered from Discord the other day. “For sure, that’s if you don’t mind? It’s wonderful at this time of year.”

“Be my guest,” he says.

It’s for my own portfolio, nothing to do with the Bassetts’ project, but I would love to take the opportunity because the landscape around this beautiful town still fascinates me. To capture pretty, eye-catching things on my camera for leisure is something else in itself.

“I can come with?” Georgia suggests. “You might see Hudson’s cat roaming around the place being just as broody as his owner.”

“Leave Moses out of this!” Hudson grumbles.

I laugh at the two of them. Sometimes they really are like an old married couple.

Then I have an idea. “Hey Callan, do you mind if I snap a few of Sunny laying here in the sun?”

“Be my guest,” he chuckles.

“I think it would be really cute on the social media pages for the distillery.”

“Ooh candid shots, great thinking,” Georgia croons. “Should I come find you later and give you a ride back up to the distillery?”

“I’m going to walk down to the creek after this, so it’s up to you. If you get busy, I can walk.”

“You can’t mess with an artist at work,” Georgia explains to Callan and Hudson as they get back to their planting.

“I’ll sweep the patio in a second where we spilled some mulch,” Callan says. “We want it looking perfect for the photos.”

“Sounds good.” I glance up to the light blue sky, filled with white puffy clouds and sigh. I love springtime so much.

Winter was fairly long and freezing around here with the snowfall starting in late December.

I love summer and the fall too, but spring is definitely my favorite time of year. I love the way the trees change color and the spring flowers start to pop, and just the warmth starting to creep in. And this spring is going to be even more special with so many events lined up. It might pay for me to just hold out until after the busy season and reapply for the loan once I’ve had a steady stream of income coming through. Maybe things will be different then. I can only hope. One thing is for certain, I can’t wait three years!

I pull my camera out of my sling-bag style carry case strapped across my body and attach the lens. Time to get snapping.

6

Beau

I spend a couple of hours at my desk updating the website and constructing a marketing email for the new signature bourbon collection called Moonshine that Brook has just launched. Already, we’ve had several new suppliers wanting in. Georgia wants to take it global, but I’m more a ‘walk before we can run’ kinda guy. However, getting Japan, England and Australia on board so fast for exports is encouraging.

I know Autumn is at the distillery today snapping some more pictures of the barn and around the property for the website. It’s a glorious day outside and though my feet want to go walking to see what the girls are up to, I keep my ass planted in the chair. I don’t need to go fawning around over Autumn, I’ve already done and felt enough. The weekend will prove that this strange phenomenon I’m feeling is nothing more than sexual frustration. Autumn is a gorgeous woman, it’s only natural that I’d notice — especially now she’s single — all the things about her that are brilliant. Which are many. She puts the goddamn stars in the sky to shame. No! No, no, no!

I need coffee.

I push out of my chair, flexing my fingers as I walk and head to the staff room. It’s empty and I set about making my coffee when my cell rings. When I reach to my pocket to grab it out I see it’s Hudson.

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