Page 59 of Small Town Firsts
“You’ve got a brass set, Sunshine. Did you send her the invite to come in for a job?”
“I did. I hedged my bets and have three others I like, but Lennon is my top choice.”
“You don’t think our cider will be enough of a draw?”
“That’s not it.” I turned to him. Not so open now. “Brothers Three is still new and yes, we have the Happy Acres legacy…”
His finger tapped on his knee even if his driving hand was still loose.
I hurried on. “I want to give us the best possible start. And Lennon is a draw, yes. But she’s also super creative and smart.”
“Even though we don’t really cater to the whole twirling bartender aesthetic?”
I was quiet a moment. That was the big question, wasn’t it? Going safer was smarter. Was I being stupid about this?
“She’s got skills behind the bar, yes. But she’s also got charisma. Doesn’t hurt that she’s gorgeous, but she also takes no shit. I wouldn’t have to worry about her keeping people in line.”
“There’s plenty of good bartenders that can do the same without pulling in someone with her kind of price tag. Or is there more to it?”
“Like what?”
“I know I’m an unknown quantity for both you and Beckett, but I’m damn good at brewing.” His voice was quiet, but there was steel there too. “I won’t let you down, Kira.”
“It really isn’t about your work, Ronan. I just want to make the taproom the best it can be from the drinks right down to the aesthetic. And hell yes, the flair.”
His fingers went tight on the wheel.
“I think we both have to go on faith here.” I wasn’t good at the faith thing, but dammit, I was trying. This whole taproomthing required a lot of intuition. It didn’t fit with my worst case scenario brain.
He glanced over at me, his brow easing as did his grip. “Then I back you.”
“Just like that?”
He nodded. “How am I going to expect faith from you if I don’t give it. You say she’s worth it, she’s worth it.”
I stopped fiddling with my ring and turned in my seat toward him. “Are you just saying that because you don’t want to deal with it?”
“No. Well, not all of it.”
I snorted.
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll admit the staffing part of the taproom isn’t my favorite thing.” He reached over to twist our fingers together and pulled my hand to his mouth. He kissed my wrist, before letting me go.
I resisted the urge not to rub at the buzzing under my skin.
“But I’ve been around enough while you were training some of the people from the bakery who wanted to make a change. You seemed to know who’s suited for the taproom and who isn’t. Without crushing their hearts like a bug.”
I flushed. Not everyone who put in for a transfer was right for what I wanted. The customer service aspect was important, but being a server was way different than working behind a counter. And I honestly didn’t know how well we’d do when we opened.
We had to figure out if we’d do well only during the times there was a concert or if we could pull people in on our own. It was a big gamble all around and I was nervous about all of it.
“But I hope you don’t ignore help. I’m here to be your support.”
I blew out a breath. A tiny part of me relaxed at him saying that. “Thanks. It helps to know you’ve got my back.”
And I didn’t say that lightly.
He turned into the parking lot of The Mason Jar and I started gathering my things.
