Page 6 of Merry with a Brewmaster
“I didn’t realize she worked here. I knew she lived in Love Beach, but I was just trying to get settled before I dropped everything on her.” Taking a breath, I add, “We kept things…casual so I never told her about Haven.”
“I gathered that.”
“Look, I understand if you can’t hire me after all that,” I say, resigned, as the adrenaline starts to dissipate and reality comes crashing down.
“Relax.” He chuckles, a smile splitting his cheeks. “Vienna is more than capable of handling herself.” Turning serious, he says, “As your boss, I’m telling you to keep it professional when you’re in here. As her friend, I’m telling you that if you fuck up, you’ll have to deal with my fiancée and ain’t no one savin’ you from that.”
Perfect.
“I understand.”
“Good, let me show you around.”
Nodding, I try and focus as he talks about the beach memorabilia on the walls, the neighboring businesses, and the kind of crowd to expect depending on the season in this tourist town.
He shows me the brewing equipment and explains the kind of brews that have done well, things he’s looking to expand on, and a chocolate and beer pairing he’d like to make a regular event with the shop next door.
“And”—he beams—“the best part is we startevery daywith ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ by Jimmy Buffett.”
I’m sorry, what?
“Excuse me?” I ask in disbelief. Not because I don’t like the song but because I’m not sure I heard him right.
“It’s our anthem of sorts. I mean, seriously—there’sno wayyou can listen to that song and not be excited. It’s a guaranteed mood boost for the day.”
“Mood boost, got it,” I say obediently becausefuck it,when in Love Beach—or however that saying goes.
“See?” Isaac says as he claps me on the back. “You’re gonna fit right in.”
“Daddy!”Haven yells as soon as I walk in the door. She leaps into my arms, and I spin her around until she giggles and I’m at risk of falling over.
“How did everything go?” my cousin Saige asks as she comes around the corner, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She’s younger than I am, but she’s made a name for herself in real estate in Love Beach and I couldn’t be prouder.
“Uh, mostly good,” I start and she narrows her eyes. “I got the job but I also hit a bit of a snag,” I hedge, setting Haven down on the floor.
“Haven, why don’t you go grab a cookie and pick a movie? We’ll be in there in a second,” Saige tells her, and I frown, looking at the clock.
“It’s only ten in the morning,” I say as my daughter cheers and runs into the kitchen.
“And you have a snag. Besides, they’re oatmeal raisin. That’s practically breakfast.” I can’t argue with her reasoning and instead follow her into the kitchen where she hands me a cup of coffee.
And a cookie.
Taking both, I wait as she starts the movie for Haven and whispers something I can’t hear before coming back and taking the seat across from me.
“Spill.”
“I found out the nanny that Isaac suggested I hire to watch Haven is Vienna Greene.”
“Okay, and…why is that a snag?”
“The woman I was seeing this summer?”
“Oh, this is gonna be good.” She snickers as she takes an unladylike bite of her cookie.
“It’s Vienna Greene.”
“You shut your filthy mouth,” Saige hisses before cackling and almost falling off her chair.
