Page 6 of Restored By the Mountain Man
"Welcome to Eden Ridge.To new beginnings.
Love, L."
New beginnings.Is that really what this is? Or am I just running away, hoping distance will somehow ease the weight of grief I've carried for the past year?
I pour a glass of wine and settle into the window seat overlooking the mountains. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? My new job. My new boss. My new life.
I twist the ring on my right hand once more, watching as it catches the last rays of sunlight streaming through the window. Maybe someday I'll be ready to take it off completely. But not yet. Not today.
For now, this is enough. A step forward, even if I don't know exactly where I'm going.
CHAPTER 3
EZRA
The weekend wasn’t long enough to extricate this woman from my thoughts. It’s now Monday, her official first day, and I have to run her through our batches and get her familiarized with the Hunter flavors.
I run through my usual routine. Nightmare, numbness, get ready, arrive before everyone, and prepare myself mentally. Rinse and repeat. Three damn years.
Zoe isn’t due till eight, and I’ve been here since six. I’m upstairs in our large, intentionally decorated space we marked as the tasting room. We hold various tasting events here, both for the public and the staff, during pre-launches.
I’m prepping the glassware and water cups when Nash clears his throat. I see him over my shoulder but ignore him, mentally deciding which order to pull samples from the barrels.
“What’s this?” he asks behind me. “I didn’t hear about a staff tasting.”
Clenching my jaw, I inhale deeply before answering nonchalantly.
“Zoe’s first day as our QA requires knowing our brand thoroughly. How else are we to achieve that?”
I kick myself mentally for that defensive tell.
“I hear you,” he says, no longer lingering by the stairs. “Alex usually handles that, though.”
Yeah, like fuck I’m letting Alex handle anything. He’s the biggest damn flirt in the company. Possibly all of Eden Ridge.
“You know how he is,” is all I say, hoping Nash lets this go.
He just makes a sound of acknowledgment, but lingers at my back.
“Did you need something?” I walk over to the barrels, testing the equipment to extract.
“Maybe I’ll stick around. See how she responds to our blends.”
I stop what I’m doing and close my eyes, sighing. Nash and I, being the closest in age, even though we’re not twins like four of our other brothers, we bonded growing up. Back when I was the old Ezra. As much as life has kicked us, causing us to retreat and avoid people, he’s the one person I can give my darkest shit to and never feel judged.
I face him, tension building between my brows. “Say it.”
He watches me. That quiet observer who sees more than we give him credit for. Not saying anything else, Nash walks up to me, hooks his hand around my neck, and pulls me in for a quick hug. I keep my arms crossed in front of me, but he feels me lean in. It’s more than I give anyone else.
Patting the side of my neck twice, he just softly parts with, “Take it one day at a time.” Then leaves.
I manage to gather myself before Gus brings Zoe upstairs. She’s cheerful, focused, and eager to learn. I keep my tone and instruction no-nonsense. I walk her through setting up different batches of our latest barrel blends.
Just when we’re about to sample our seasonal line-up, her stomach gurgles. Loud. Her eyes widen before she covers her laugh with her hand.
“Oh, my God,” she muffles behind her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Concerned, I ask, “Have you not eaten today?”
