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)
“You ready to cash out?” she asked. “I’d say it’s on the house, but…” I shook my head, and Avery grinned back. “Yeah, I know, Chief West Garfield does everything by the books.”
“What time do you close?”
Her eyes flicked to her wrist. “In about half an hour, though I might stay later if these guys haven’t finished their game,” she said, lifting her chin at the group with the board game.
“They driving?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. They’re staying at the Inn. It’s only a few blocks away. I figure they’ll walk home and sleep it off. They’re my favorite kind of drinkers. Happy, never get wasted enough to be a problem, but keep buying beer.”
“The board games are a good idea,” I said, tapping my phone on the small card processor she slid my way. “You don’t usually work this late. Somebody call out?”
“Cammie,” she said. “I think the break-in spooked her. Or maybe she’s just got stuff going on, because she’s called out more than usual in the past few weeks. Tonight being one of them. If it keeps up, I may have to figure something else out. I’d hate to do it. She’s been with me practically since the beginning, but…” She rolled her shoulders back and tilted her head to the side, stretching her neck. “It’s a long day, on top of running the brewery.”
“What time did you get here this morning?” I asked, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
“Early,” she said. “Too early. I’m sleeping in tomorrow just to make up for it.”
“Are the cameras working on the front of the building? Is somebody at Heartstone keeping an eye on you when you go out to your car?”
Avery’s mouth curled up, her eyes warm on mine. “Yes, Chief, I promise. Hawk makes me text before I leave so whoever’s on cameras can make sure they’re watching to be sure I get to my car safely.”
Good. That was good. I didn’t have to make an excuse to linger and walk her to her car. I could go home, get a good night’s sleep, to start my own early day tomorrow.
So why did I feel a pang of disappointment where there should have been relief?
“See you around,” I said. “Keep an eye out when you leave.”
“Will do. Bye, West.”
The door shut behind me, cutting off the golden light, the warmth, and the cheerful voices, leaving me alone in the cold fall air. I shoved my hands in my pockets, turning back toward town and the short walk home. My evening had ended a hell of a lot better than it started. I hadn’t expected that.
As I walked, I found myself making a plan to keep an eye out for Avery’s car at the brewery in the evenings. It wouldn’t hurt to stop in when she was working late. It would send a message to whoever had broken in that the police had their eye on the place. Just part of the job, right?
Sure.
I didn’t bother bullshitting myself any further. It wasn’t about sending a message. It was about seeing Avery. I couldn’t forget the warm clasp of her fingers around mine when she told me she knew I wouldn’t give up.
In so many ways, Avery and I were strangers. And in the ways that mattered, Avery knew me to the bone. I doubted she knew what kind of pizza I liked, but she knew what my job meant to me. How much I loved this town, and the tangle of irritation and love that was my relationship with my parents. And on top of all of that, I thought I could still feel the heat of her fingers on my skin. She had strong, capable hands. I couldn’t stop wondering how it would feel to have them all over me. I’d have to figure out what I was going to do about that.
Chapter Nine
AVERY
My feet were killing me, my lower back was on fire, and my cheeks hurt from smiling, but I couldn’t have been happier about any of it. Our second annual Halloween collab with Rivers Bend Orchard was well into its fourth hour, and so far, it had been a smashing success.
There were people everywhere. Tourists, locals, families with kids, all roasting marshmallows around the huge bonfire, bobbing for apples, and buying tickets to shoot the potato guns at scarecrows. At this point in the evening, it was too dark to see where the potatoes landed if they missed the spotlit targets, but that didn’t seem to be stopping anyone. A local band played bluegrass and folk rock by the barn. People were gorging themselves on fried apple pies, cider donuts, and barbecue from a food truck.
And everyone was head over heels in love with the fall brew. It was a triumph.
Except that I didn’t have the recipe anymore.