Page 15 of Break My Heart (The Haydon Falls #2)
Every year we switch out the decorations for the fall festival. We make wood cutouts of cartoon characters and paint them, then set them up by the pumpkin patch. The kids love it and the parents like taking pictures of their kids next to the characters.
‘Why didn’t Nick ask me to help?’ I ask.
‘He said you’re too busy with the brewery and getting your hard cider ready.’ Jason looks over at Gina. ‘Hi, I’m Jason.’
‘I’m Gina. I’m a friend of Sawyer’s.’
‘We’re friends?’ I kid.
She shrugs. ‘I didn’t know what else to call you. ’
‘Competitors?’ I look over at Jason. ‘She owns G’s.’
Jason nods. ‘The new brewery. I heard you’re getting a lot of business.’
‘It’s slowed down a little since the special ended,’ Gina says, ‘but yeah, we’re still doing well. I’ll be planning some events this fall to keep people coming in.’
‘What events?’ I ask.
She smiles at me. ‘You think I’d tell that to my competitor?’
‘We should go check it out,’ Brody says to Jason.
‘Yeah, maybe tonight.’
I’m annoyed they want to go there, but I’m not going to tell them that in front of Gina.
I don’t want her thinking I can’t handle the competition.
May the best man, or woman, win. If I’m not the best, that’s my fault, not hers, assuming we both play fair.
I just need to make better beer than her, which I will. I’m determined to.
‘First round’s on me,’ Gina says to Jason and Brody. ‘Just find me when you get there and I’ll get you each a beer.’
‘Will do. Thanks!’ Jason says, smiling at her like he wants to date her. It’s not going to happen. If anyone’s going to date her, it’ll be me, but I can’t. She’s my competition. It’s a conflict of interest.
‘We should get going,’ I say.
‘It was nice meeting you guys,’ Gina says as we leave.
‘You too.’ Jason gives her that flirty smile again while Brody heads to the kitchen.
‘Your brothers are nice,’ Gina says as we go outside.
‘Not always, but they’re okay.’ I notice her black pickup parked next to my car. ‘Nice truck. Is it new?’
‘It’s a couple years old. It’s my dad’s, but he’s overseas. He lets me have it while he’s gone.’
‘How long is he gone for?’
‘Not sure. He’s in the Army and doesn’t get home much.’ She stops at her truck. ‘So tomorrow morning at eight. ’
‘Yeah. Just text me if you need to change the time.’ I go around to my car, noticing how tiny it looks next to Gina’s truck.
My car is a black BMW convertible. I got it used, but it still cost more than I wanted to spend.
I love it, but sometimes I wish I had a truck like Gina’s that I could use when I need to pick up supplies for the brewery.
I’m always having to borrow my dad’s truck, which is okay, but not very convenient.
‘Sawyer!’ Gina says, rolling her window down.
‘Yeah?’
‘What are you making for dinner?’
‘I don’t know. Why?’
‘If I’m coming over, I want to know what to expect.’
‘Why would you come over? You won.’
‘So I’m not invited?’
‘You are, but I thought you didn’t want to. Wasn’t that the whole point of winning? So you wouldn’t have to eat dinner with me?’
‘I won because I’m good at pool and because I like winning. But I still have to eat, and my fridge is empty and I won’t have time to go to the store.’
‘So this is out of desperation. You either come over or starve.’
‘Basically, yeah.’ She smiles.
I smile back. ‘Then I guess I could feed you. Any requests?’
‘Anything but seafood. I’m not a big fan of seafood.’
‘I was thinking steaks.’
‘I’m good with that. Should I bring some beer?’
‘Seriously?’
She laughs. ‘See you tonight.’ She backs up and drives off.
What’s going on with her? She wins at pool but still wants to have dinner with me? I don’t know what she’s up to, but I’m not sure I trust her. I’m really starting to like her, but I can’t let that cloud my judgment. She’s still my competitor so I need to be careful around her.
As I’m driving out of the orchard, I pass a line of cars and minivans waiting to get in.
The orchard opened at ten and Saturday is our busiest day.
I don’t envy Nick for taking the place over.
It’s way more work than my brewery. Growing the apples and maintaining the fields is a job in itself, but then you have all the other activities that take place there—the fall festival, the cider competition, school tours, busloads of tourists stopping by, hayrack rides, and soon weddings.
My cousin, Nash, is getting married at the orchard in October and Nick plans to do more weddings there next year.
It makes running the brewery seem easy when I think of all that Nick has to do.
My phone rings as I pull out onto the main road. I see Maci’s name on the screen and pick up.
‘Hey, how’s it going?’
‘Good,’ she says in her sexy voice. ‘What are you up to tonight?’
‘Gotta work. Why?’
‘I thought I’d come by your place tonight and keep you company after you close.’
Maci and I have been out a few times. It’s nothing serious and never will be.
On our first date she told me she didn’t want to be exclusive with anyone because she wasn’t ready to settle down.
I was fine with that. I don’t have time to be in a serious relationship.
I’d like to settle down, but not until I’ve got the brewery successful enough that I don’t have to worry about it closing.
‘I can’t tonight,’ I say. ‘But maybe some other night.’
‘What’s wrong with tonight? Did you already make plans?’
‘Tonight just doesn’t work. I’ll call you later this week.’
‘Um, okay. Bye.’ She sounds disappointed, but she shouldn’t be.
We agreed to keep this casual. It was her idea.
And I already made plans with Gina. I’m still shocked she agreed to come over, especially late at night, when things tend to happen.
I don’t think anything will, but I’d like it to.
When I’m around her I keep getting the urge to kiss her, but I know I can’t.
I need to keep my relationship with Gina strictly professional. Maybe we could be friends, but only casual friends. I can’t confide in her, and I can’t let my guard down. I need to remember that tonight and not be distracted by those beautiful brown eyes or those huge tits or that round little ass.
Shit, I’m in trouble.