Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“I’m good too, boss,” Dave said. “I ate earlier. Definitely get some of that mac and cheese. It was—” He rolled his eyes in bliss. “Life changing.”
“It’s on my list,” I said, my mouth watering again. “All right, if you guys are cool—”
“Better than cool,” Dave said. “Everyone loves the fall brew.”
“Congratulations,” I heard from behind me.
I turned to lock eyes with Matthew, my appetite dying a quick death as I took in the smirk on his face. I was not talking to him in front of my employees. Turning, I paced back toward the food truck, letting him hurry to keep up.
“Avery,” he started, and I slowed down, realizing my determined stride was attracting attention.
“What’s up, Matthew?” I asked, my voice as neutral as I could keep it.
His hand closed over my elbow, stopping me in my tracks, his grip too tight for me to break without drawing the eyes of everyone around us. That was the last thing I wanted. Second only to Matthew being here at all.
“I bet you think you pulled this off, don’t you?” Matthew said in a low voice. “But you’re on borrowed time. I heard you lost the recipe for the fall brew. Everyone loves it, but that won’t do you any good, will it?”
“Where’d you hear that?” I asked, ignoring his smug expression.
“Word gets around,” he said easily. “It’s possible I have the original on my laptop. I might be willing to part with it. For a price.”
My chest burned with sudden fury. I yanked my elbow free of his grip, too angry to care who saw. I had to shove my hands in my pockets to stop myself from throwing a punch right to that perfect nose.
The businesswoman in me said I should find out what his price was and get my recipe back. The rest of me rejected that idea. Fuck that and fuck him. It was my recipe. I’d made it in the first place. I’d make it again. I’d make it better.
What I would not do is give Matthew Holt another dime of my money.
“No thanks, I’m good,” I said, fighting to keep my voice even and friendly, aware of the way some of the people around us had stopped talking, their heads tilted in our direction, ears tuned for gossip, for trouble. I didn’t want to give them either.
This was my night. My triumph.
“Why are you here, Matthew?”
“What? Can’t I hang out in my town? Have some barbecue and drink a beer? I brewed it after all.”
“I thought you had a new job. You’re not a part of Sawyers Bend Brewing anymore,” I reminded him.
“You think you can get rid of me that easily?” Matthew asked, leaning in and lowering his voice. “Enjoy your night, Avery. It feels like a triumph, but it’ll be the last you ever know. You can’t reproduce this beer without me. Everyone will realize what a failure you are when you never make another decent beer.”
He straightened, raising his voice just enough to be overheard by the crowd around us. “If you change your mind, you know how to find me. I’ve saved your ass before. I might be willing to do it again for a price. Then at least you could have some talent behind your beer.”
I didn’t realize how close I was to punching the arrogant expression off his face until an arm came around my shoulders, pulling me back. I looked up to see my brother Ford, his usually impassive face set in hard lines, his eyes furious.
“You’re not welcome here,” he said to Matthew. “Leave now or I’ll make you leave.”
“You can’t fucking tell me what to do,” Matthew spit out, taking a step forward.
“No,” West said from behind Matthew, “but I can. One of the hosts of this event has asked you to leave.” West looked at me with raised eyebrows. I nodded with a jerk of my head, forcing my fingers to open from clenched fists.
“Yes,” I said, in case it was unclear to anyone. “I want him to leave.” I wasn’t sure how much I cared if he left quietly as long as he was gone.
West looked to Ford. They shared a look that I was pretty sure meant, You got her while I take care of this?
I didn’t love the whole “men saving the little lady” vibe, but at the moment, as long as it resulted in Matthew being gone, I’d take it.
Ford nodded back, his arm tightening around my shoulders as he turned me and led me toward the side of the barn, pulling me toward the shadows, away from the crowd. “I thought you were going to break his nose,” Ford said in a low voice.
“I wasn’t planning on it, but—” I shook my head, pulling my hand out of my pocket, clenching my fist and releasing it, trying to force the rage out of my body.