Page 25 of Break My Heart (The Haydon Falls #2)

Gina

‘You’re going to meet his parents?’ Aria asks as I race around the office, trying to find the tax form I know I printed out.

‘I’ve already met his parents. His mom only invited me because I’m new to town. She’s just being friendly.’

‘Okay, wait.’ Aria grabs my arm, stopping me.

‘Aria, I need to find this form. It’s due this week. I know it’s here somewhere.’

‘Just print out a new one.’ She stands in front of me. ‘I know you don’t like talking about personal stuff but there’s something going on with you and I’m pretty sure it has to do with Sawyer.’

I sigh. ‘Fine. We slept together. Are you happy now?’

She smiles. ‘Did this happen last night?’

‘This morning. But it doesn’t mean we’re dating. Neither one of us wants a relationship.’

‘Was it just a one-time thing or—’

‘I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it.’ I look behind her and see the form on the floor. ‘Found it!’ I race over and pick it up .

Aria’s right behind me when I turn around. ‘I think you like him.’

‘I think you’re only saying that because you’re a romantic who wants everyone to fall in love.’

‘What’s wrong with that? Love makes people happy.’

‘A lot of things make people happy. You don’t need love for that.’ I go past her to my desk.

‘A guy doesn’t ask you to meet his parents unless he’s serious about you.’

‘Aria, I really don’t have time for this,’ I say, sitting down as I wake up my laptop. ‘Dinner’s at four and I have a lot to do before then. Close the door on your way out.’

She leans across the desk, a smug grin on her face. ‘You can deny it all you want, but I know you like him.’

I sigh in annoyance.

‘Okay, I’m leaving.’ She laughs and hurries out the door.

When she’s gone, I start to wonder if any of what she said is true. Sawyer said he only invited his fiancé to have dinner with his family, and now he’s inviting me. But technically his mother invited me, not him, so I shouldn’t make his invite mean something when it doesn’t.

I really like Sawyer, more than I should.

It was so thoughtful of him to bring me those pastries this morning.

And offering to build me a table? Who does that?

Not Ryder, my ex. He wouldn’t do anything for me, not even fix a clogged sink.

I bet Sawyer would’ve helped me hang those pictures even if I hadn’t won at pool. He’s just that type of guy.

Why did I have sex with him? Now I’m getting my emotions involved because my stupid hormones took over this morning and landed us in bed.

I had a feeling Sawyer and I would be good together, but I never imagined we’d be that good.

When it comes to sex, we’re a perfect match, completely in sync.

He’s somehow able to read me and know what I want, being gentle one minute and rough the next.

The sex was so good I had to do it again to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

And then I invited him in the shower! Sawyer must think I’m a sex addict, but the truth is, I’ve never been that into sex.

I could take it or leave it, but with Sawyer, I couldn’t get enough.

Just after three, I finish up my paperwork and go out to the storeroom where I’m keeping my hard cider. I’ve got three batches going, each a different recipe started at different times. I take a sample of the one that’s fermented the longest and taste it.

‘This might be the one,’ I say, smiling.

The competition is only a few weeks away.

If I win, it could put G’s on the map, drawing in people from all around the area instead of just locals.

Ryder’s the one who told me about the competition.

He was going to enter it a few years ago, then decided he didn’t need to.

He already gets more business than he can handle.

Winning a contest wasn’t worth his time and effort, but to me, it could determine if I stay in business.

Sales are down since the beer special ended, which I expected, but if they go down even more, I won’t be able to pay my bills.

I knew the town would be loyal to Sawyer, but I was hoping they’d at least give me a chance.

I’m always overhearing people say how much they like my beer, but is that enough to keep them coming back?

I return the cider to the shelf and go back to my office. I close the door and change into the clothes I brought for dinner; a pair of black pants and a dark red sweater.

‘Gina?’ Aria knocks on the door.

‘Yeah?’ I look at myself in the mirror behind the door and shake out my hair, trying to give it some volume.

‘There’s um, someone here to see you. ’

‘I don’t have time. I’m leaving soon.’ I reach in my purse and grab my lipstick. ‘Who is it?’

‘Me.’

I freeze, my lipstick held in the air. ‘Ryder?’

‘Yeah,’ he says with a laugh. ‘Can I come in?’

What is he doing here? He hasn’t been here since the week before the opening when he helped me get everything set up.

I paid him for his time so he wouldn’t think helping me meant we were still a couple.

He never cashed the check. When we talked later, he said he was being a friend and wouldn’t accept my money.

But I know Ryder, and I know he doesn’t do anything for free.

I open the door. ‘Ryder, what are you doing here?’

He smiles as his gaze moves up and down my body. ‘You look good.’

‘Thanks.’ He looks like he always does, dressed in jeans, a button-up shirt, and a leather jacket.

He’s a good-looking guy, but I’m not attracted to him.

When our relationship became all about work, my attraction to him went away.

If he ever wanted to get back together, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t see him that way anymore.

‘I wanted to check in, see how things are going.’ He pulls me in for a hug. ‘I’ve missed you, kid.’

I always hated it when he called me that. He said it was a term of endearment, but I think it was his way of reminding me that’s he’s older and wiser and the one in control. It didn’t help that I was his employee for years. He saw me as his subordinate and still does.

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’ I ask.

‘I’m going to go,’ Aria says as she leaves.

Ryder comes into the office. ‘She hasn’t changed.’

‘Aria?’

‘Yeah. She’s still taking forever to wait on a customer. A guy walked in and I timed her at over a minute before she even acknowledged him. I don’t know why you hired her.’

He’s been here less than a minute and he’s already pointing out problems. This is why I don’t like him coming here. He acts like this is his place instead of mine.

‘She’s doing a great job,’ I tell him. ‘And the customers love her.’

‘Because she’s hot. But that only goes so far. People want to be served. They don’t want to wait forever.’ He walks up to me. ‘I’ve really missed you.’ He puts his arms around me. ‘I thought it’d get easier as time went on, but it hasn’t.’

‘Don’t.’ I pull away from him. ‘We’re not together anymore.’

‘I know that. And I’m sorry how things ended between us. I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. I had the new brewpub opening up and it became my priority. I’m sorry I wasn’t around more. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when your grandfather died.’

He’s never apologized to me, for anything. It’s nice to hear him say all this, but it’s too late. I needed to hear it when we were together.

‘Ryder, I need to go. I was invited to dinner and I need to be there at four.’

He takes my hand. ‘Stay. Please. I can only be here a couple hours and then I need to head back.’

‘I already made plans.’

‘Then cancel them. This is important.’

‘What’s important? Why are you here?’

He looks in my eyes and gives my hand a squeeze.

‘I want to help you win that cider competition. It’s been all over the news.

It’s getting a lot of press and not just in the brewery industry.

The travel magazines are covering it, local and regional tourism agencies, restaurants.

This could be huge for you, Gina. You need to win. ’

‘Yeah, I know that. And I’ve already got the cider I’m going to enter. I just tasted it. It’s really good.’

‘It needs to be better than good. You’ll be competing against breweries in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis.’

‘The competition isn’t for those bigger breweries. It’s only for small microbreweries.’

‘And the small microbreweries competing against you are in those bigger cities. A lot of the owners are guys who started out working at the larger, more successful breweries. They’ve learned from the best.’

‘Yeah, and I learned from you. I know how to make hard cider and I’m not afraid of the competition. You know that.’

‘I also know you can be overly confident, which doesn’t work in your favor. Just because you think something is good doesn’t mean it is. You have to win over the judges, and this year’s lineup is going to be tough. I’ve seen the list.’

‘So what are you saying?’

‘That I want to help you. Show me what you’ve done so far and we’ll go from there. If what you’ve made is good enough to win, then great, I’ll get out of here. But if it’s not, I’m offering you my help.’

‘What’s the catch?’

‘There’s no catch.’ He lets go of my hand and steps back. ‘I really want to help you.’

‘Why? So we’ll get back together?’

‘Gina, no. It’s not that at all. We don’t even live in the same town. You know I don’t do the long-distance thing.’ He pauses. ‘And I’m kind of dating Mandy.’

‘The manager you hired? The one with the kid?’ I’ve only met her once. She’s 36, same age as Ryder, and divorced with a ten-year-old son.

‘I know, right?’ He chuckles, noticing the shock on my face. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever date someone with a kid, but as you get older, you have to learn to be okay with it. Most people have kids.’

‘Do you get along with her son?’

‘I haven’t met him. Mandy thinks it’s too soon. We’ve only been dating for a month. How about you? Are you seeing anyone?’

I instantly think of Sawyer, but say, ‘No. I’m too busy working to date.’

‘You sound like me,’ he says with a smile.