Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
RONAN
TASTE TEST
Letting her go that night was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I knew she needed thinking time. It was one of the few things I’d learned from the moment I met her.
Even when every part of me wanted to keep her naked until she finally fessed up to what I knew could be the only answer.
She loved me too.
There was no way she could lean into me, be in tune with me as she was without love being the main ingredient. So, I put her in her car late that night and went back into my workshop.
I checked in with Kain to let him know I was pulling an all-nighter and got to work.
Music filled the firefly night and into the dawn as I measured out the things I wanted to use for back sweetening.
As I played with ratios and made Firefly even more perfect.
By dawn I’d gone through all my fermented ciders and found exactly the ones I wanted to use.
And Kira was right about one thing. The Firefly base was perfect on its own. A perfect blend of the persnickety pear trees that had given Hayes nothing but trouble and Ginger Gold apples. They were also one of the first apples of the rapidly coming season.
Which would give me a few months of cider and maybe even enough for a small batch bottling run as the first cider for Brothers Three Orchard.
The longer I worked, the more the pieces fell together.
At that point, my brain was the consistency of the mash from my first week here. I’d eked out the last of the adrenaline wave I’d been riding. I walked out to the swing to rest my weary bones just as the first fingers of buttery yellow were inching their way across the orchard below.
Before I went home to crash, I sent a text off to Beckett for a visit.
Ronan
It’s DONE.
After I sent it, I winced at the time. Maybe I should have waited until a more reasonable hour. The birds were barely chirping.
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I looked down at the readout.
Beckett
About fucking time. On my way.
I grinned and sent him back a middle finger emoji. I should have known he was awake at this hour. He was a farmer for all intents and purposes.
While I waited, I’d just tip my head back for a few minutes.
It seemed like a blink when a motorcycle engine jerked me awake. I groaned. I wasn’t ready for Kain’s big personality on twenty minutes of sleep. Not to mention he couldn’t stop talking about the plans he had for my place.
My brain was offline at this point.
Instead, Beckett came down the walkway. He was wearing a short espresso colored leather jacket with threadbare jeans, a Brothers Three Orchard shirt, and sturdy brown boots.
His ever present Yankees cap was low over his eyes, giving me no idea of his mood. I stood to meet him in front of the workshop. As I got closer, Beckett tipped his hat back.
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
He grinned. “So, you finally got your head out of your ass?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“Hayes and Justin are on their way.”
The palms of my hands prickled. “All right then.”
“Might as well have us all here, right? Then if someone’s not happy, we have a good starting point.”
I rubbed my hand against my leg. I hadn’t entertained the thought that this was only step one of the damn thing.
Beckett arched a brow at me. “Brothers Three is a family, Ronan. We all make the decisions together. You’re still learning that—the reckoning is upon you, bud.
” At what must be my blank face, Beckett threw his head back and laughed.
“Relax. It’s not that serious.” He slapped my arm.
“We’ll just toss you off the vista if it sucks. ”
I blew out a breath that was more wheeze than laugh. “I think you’ll just end up with a sore head by lunch. A few of the brews ended up around fourteen percent.”
Beckett whistled. “That means we get to charge more, hey?”
I laughed for real this time. “This is no three dollar Budweiser.”
“Don’t knock a good Budweiser on a hot day.”
I curled my lip.
Beckett shrugged. “When that’s all you can afford, that’s what you learn to like.”
“I hear there’s morning brew.” Justin’s voice came from the mouth of the path leading to the side of the building. He lifted a gallon of what looked like water. “I’m ready.”
I shook my head. “It’s a tasting, you asshole. Not a party.”
Justin’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He was wearing his typical work clothes of a Brothers Three black T-shirt and dusty jeans. Evidently everyone was starting early that day. “It’s always a party when I’m here.”
Hayes hustled after him in his usual work attire of khakis and the more colorful line of the Brothers Three logo shirts—today it was bright yellow. His sunglasses were firmly on his nose and there was still a crease in his pants.
This brother didn’t start as early as the others.
He was carrying a small cooler. “Justin might be ready to put his liver through its paces, but I needed food.”
My stomach roared at the idea of it.
Hayes grinned. “I’ve got a few of the first apples ready for harvest. You mentioned you were eager for the Ginger Golds. And some bread and cheese to soak up the alcohol.”
“Excellent. Because I’ve got a few fourteens on the menu.”
“Oh, yeah, buddy.” Justin uncapped his water jug and took a glug. “I am ready.”
Beckett rolled his eyes. “I see you’re going to be productive today.”
“I already fixed the fridges at Laverne’s. So, if I need a nap…well, the orchard will survive.”
“I don’t think it’ll be a rager, guys.” I led them into the workshop.
“Does this mean you have names, too? Zoe’s graphic design friend is trying to make a home in my ass,” Beckett muttered.
It would tip my hand about Kira, but I had the names. I ignored my nerves and shook out my hands as I went to the fridge. “I do have names.” I pulled out the first three pitchers and returned to my bench.
It was long and wide enough to hold drinks for all of us.
Handily it was bolted into the floor, as Justin was leaning his hip against the edge with his arms crossed.
Hayes stood beside him, hands in his pockets, the cooler set on the end of the bench.
Beckett mirrored him with a wider set to his feet.
A wall of Mannings with just a hint of fuck you in their stance.
I swallowed. “Kira kicked my ass last night about locking everyone out of the workshop. I almost made a mess of things, but she set me straight.”
Beckett relaxed a little. “There’s a reason why I put her in the taproom.”
“Yeah, she’s the backbone here. That’s for sure.”
Justin took another swig of his water. “Key was never the wildcard. Now, let’s see if Beckett was right about you, too.”
I set the first pitcher in front of them as I stood on the other side of the bench.
“First is The B3. This is what I see as the signature hard cider that will be easy to pasteurize, bottle, and distribute. It will also make an excellent mixer for the bar. Lennon’s already been excited to get her hands on it. ”
I went to my shelves and found a crate of taster glasses and brought four over for them to pour off the first taste.
Beckett did the honors, splashing about half a glass for each of us. He stuck his nose in the glass like a seasoned taster. Hayes did the same, while Justin just went in for a taste.
Justin hissed. “Oh, yeah.” He winked at me. “That’s what I’m talking about. Dry and perfectly tart. My mouth is watering for more.” Justin picked up the pitcher and splashed more in his glass.
Hayes was still swishing his around, looking at the clarity. Hard cider ran the gamut of clear and cloudy, but the signature B3 was clear as champagne in color. He took a tiny taste, but his face betrayed nothing as he set the glass down. “Next.”
I swallowed hard. Okay then.
Beck sampled and made a noncommittal hmm sound before setting his glass down.
I forced my nerves to settle as I brought over the box of taster glasses and set up another trio in front of the Mannings and one for myself. “This is Firefly. The lead for opening night. It’s a sweet, small batch that could be extended for a limited seasonal run.”
“Good name.” Beckett picked up the cloudier, more carbonated cider. He repeated the process, with another less than stellar bit of feedback.
Justin gave a smacking, “Ahh. This is gonna be a chick drink. Sweet and tart and that…” He snapped his fingers together. “What’s that? Honey?”
I nodded with a half laugh. “Yes. Wildflower honey from bees from the pear orchard.”
Hayes’s eyebrows shot up as he took a larger sip.
I went on, listing the ingredients for them. “It’s a pear and apple cider hybrid. Definitely a limited run for the taproom only right now since the pears are scarce.”
Beckett was still not showing any of his cards.
I lifted the third pitcher. “This is Porch Swing. It’s the base of Firefly with just some honey sweetness to cut the dry. Not everyone likes dry hard ciders.” Like Kira. I’d definitely made this one with her in mind, same as I’d done with Firefly.
All of them were because of her.
It was a big risk to cater the naming to her. No matter how hard she wanted to hide her head about us, this would call us out to anyone who paid attention.
And there was no way she could ignore it. I went back to the fridge for the last batch as they tasted it.
Justin was refilling his glass with abandon. He’d broken into the cooler and had a picnic of cheese and bread spread out in front of him with three flight glasses. “These are so good, bro. I was pretty sure Beck had lost his mind when he went to find a beer guy for this, but he was right.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
Justin held up his glass. “Cheers.”
I brought over the last pitcher, then unearthed the final set of glasses. My hands were slick with unease. There was no mistaking this one was for Kira. I was pretty sure the tips of my ears were on fire as I poured.
Hayes popped a wedge of sharp cheddar into his mouth. His blue eyes were clear and direct as he lifted the glass.
He wasn’t quite as good as Beckett with the poker face, but he was giving very little away. I knew he was the most discerning of the palates between the three brothers.
“This one is Sunshine.”
Beckett’s glass stopped just before his lips. His eyes narrowed before he tasted. But I saw the flare of surprise just before he banked it.
It was the sweetest of the ciders, but it was also the perfect blend for bottling.
Honeycrisps were one of the signature apples at Happy Acres.
They were the highest seller, as well as the fastest to sell out.
Making cider with the the “ugly” apples that weren’t ideal for selling was also a good way to mitigate waste.
Not that the bakery wouldn’t make good use of them, but according to Beckett they’d increased the plantings since they were such a stellar seller. So, why not use them for this new branch of the company?
“It’s perfect for the hot summer days and into the fall for the taproom. Easy to pasteurize for kegging and bottling. It’s also a great mixer for signature cocktails in the taproom.”
Hayes actually finished off his glass and reached for the pitcher again. “The marketing for this one and The B3 would make them fly off the shelves. Especially with the logo Zoe’s friend created. The hand carved style is perfect.”
I folded my arms this time, trying to keep my nerves in check.
Beckett looked at his glass and did another swirl of the buttery soft cider.
It wasn’t quite as clear as The B3 because it was sweeter.
He reached for the champagne colored dry cider and took another sip of that before reaching across the bench with his hand.
“I knew you were the guy, Ronan. But this is even better than I’d hoped. ”
I clasped his hand and gave a surprise grunt when Beckett dragged me across the bench for a hard hug.
He moved his face close to my ear. “You’re a genius, but if you break her heart, I will personally kick your ass off this property. Your body may or may not be found.”
I gripped his arm. “Understood.” Though if anyone was in trouble of getting their heart broken, it was me. I was in it for the long haul when it came to Kira.
Beckett let me go and lifted the freshly filled B3 for a toast. “Now, we are toasting to what is going to be a beautiful relationship.”
Justin lifted two glasses with a laugh. “I can drink to that. Goddamn, we are gonna kill it on opening night.”
Hayes stared down at the array of ciders in front of him and went with Sunshine for the toast. “To a very successful Brothers Three Orchard reveal.”
I went for a glass of Firefly for myself. “To Brothers Three Orchard.”
We clinked our glasses together over the workbench then drank deeply.
Kira had unlocked this entire line and should be here. “Kira should be here. In fact, let’s get the whole crew here for a taste today, yeah?”
Beckett finished off his glass and grabbed a piece of cheese and bread from Justin’s stash. “We better get some food into all of us or we’ll be drunk before noon. This stuff has some kick.”
I laughed. “Yeah, the only one that I was able to keep under ten percent was Sunshine.”
Justin whistled. “My kind of drink.” He slapped the bench. “Let’s get our party on.”
I dug out my phone and got started on the calls.