Chapter 10 #2
“Not if your boyfriend takes you out first,” Iverson growls. He cocks his elbow out and hooks my hand through it. Then he stuffs his hat on his head and dips the brim at Daddy. “Mr. Hawthorne. I’ll let you know where to send those checks.”
Iverson
One year later…
I’m in the parking lot of the mine that’s slowly being turned into a distillery. The crew started on the inside, making sure the structure’s safe. Two months ago, the exterior remodeling and reconstruction began.
Myles Foster’s next to me, squinting at the progress.
Since we’re only a couple of hours from Bourbon Canyon, we’ve met up often.
He’s been dressed down each visit compared to the first time I met him.
His worn jeans look like they’ve seen some hard work, but he wears a black polo with the yellow Foster House logo.
His brothers, Lane and Cruz, are with him, dressed the same.
Apparently, the two younger Foster guys’ paths weren’t much different than mine and my brothers’.
They started working on the Bailey ranch until they were mentored at the original Foster House for several years, learning the ropes.
They’re younger than my brothers, with Cruz being the youngest of us all.
Both guys are down-to-earth and easygoing.
My brothers checked in before going to the river to fish. I stayed behind. I have plans later.
“We’ll be ready to start the first batch next spring,” Myles says. “The rest of the area looks good.” He crosses his arms. “I see they finally broke ground on the northeast corner of the rickhouse.”
I nod. “Foundation’s going in this week.”
He slaps my shoulder. “Can’t wait to see the place.” He checks his watch. “I gotta head out. I’m on swimming lesson duty tonight. Keep me updated.”
I’m in charge of the remodel. Myles hired me as the project manager since I know the local contractors or I know someone who knows someone. I couldn’t date any of the guests when I worked at Hawthorne Ranch, but that never stopped me from talking to people and making connections.
My brothers are already working too. All three of us rolled up our sleeves and waded in. The work is hard, but it’ll be worth it. In the meantime, we’re learning as much as we can about the distilling world and periodically traveling to Denver to train at Foster House.
Myles is about to get into his pickup when I say, “Hey, man. Thanks again.”
I’m not a businessman, or at least I wasn’t, but I know that Myles didn’t have to do what he did.
He didn’t have to negotiate with me. He didn’t have to take on my brothers.
And he didn’t have to sign over part of his empire to us.
He has enough money to buy and build wherever he wants.
He can fire people and make sure he’s the only one at the top.
Instead, he’s widening his circle. To be a part of it, we sold off a portion of the land with the mine and used the money to invest in Foster House Gold, what Myles decided to call the Huckleberry Springs portion of his empire.
The rest of the land was split into three, a section each for me, Durban, and Haven.
We already have some cattle and decided to ranch together too.
I told Sunny once that I wanted to learn something new, and it’s like a firehose of info is blasting me.
Myles’s brothers think they can make some damn good gin and vodka.
My brothers got just as excited talking with them about it, so Myles met with me.
He thought pivoting and offering other spirits was the way to go with the Huckleberry Springs site.
I agreed because fuck it. I’ll do anything. The future is wide open.
“No need to thank me.” Myles sweeps his gaze over the property. “Darin Bailey always said, ‘Don’t get so stuck in your lane you can’t see a better path.’” He lifts his chin toward the distillery in the making. “This is a better lane. Have a good night. Get home to that wife of yours.”
That’s one rule I’ll follow. Someday, I’ll be like him.
No. I’ll have my own story. I’ve only just started writing it.
I get in my pickup and head to town. I make one stop before I pull in front of a small one-story house. It’s old. A fixer-upper, and that’s what I’ve been doing.
Thanks to the deal with Myles, my brothers and I had a little left over after investing with Foster House Gold.
I had enough left to help us get by until construction on my house begins.
Until then, I’ve worked on this house to flip.
My brothers also bought a house together to remodel and sell.
Eventually, Durban will build like Sunny and I are doing, and Haven’s going to remodel our childhood home.
Inside, I toss a meatloaf in the oven. Just as I straighten, the front door opens.
“Hey, baby,” I call.
“Hey.” Sunny breezes in. Her dress today is full of daisies, and I already cornered her before work and flipped the hem up to plunge inside.
She beelines right to me, and I sweep her into my arms. After a kiss that could turn into another quickie before dinner, I set her down and drop to my knees. There’s one more greeting I need to make.
I spread my hands over her rounded stomach and kiss it through the fabric. “How’s my little one doing?”
“She’s doing jumping jacks on my bladder.”
Sunny and I married last fall in a little ceremony on the Hawthorne ranch. She and I insisted the reception take place at the guesthouse and that everyone be invited.
After we both quit—technically, I got fired—William finally persuaded Sunny and me to hear him out.
He wanted her to keep working for him. The ranch was her home, and she loved the business.
She took the deal and remodeled her office.
He also wanted her to keep living with him, but she and I had found this place on that first lunch date.
In the last year, I’ve gone from bachelor hired help to a husband, a homeowner, and a partial business owner. Next, I’ll be a dad.
Goddamn. My chest grows tight. I make sure every day that Sunny is as happy and content as she makes me.
She likes working for Hawthorne Ranch, and she fucking loves me.
Her parents have gotten over their reservations about me, and they like me now too.
William’s still a little salty about Haven and Durban, but it’s likely because he blames himself for losing all three of us.
I rise and go to the fridge. I withdraw a small box. “I got something for you.”
“You spoil me.”
“It’s because I love you so much.”
“And I love you.” With a grin, she snatches the box out of my hand and opens the lid. “Ooh, she added chocolate-covered almonds today.” She plucks one of the chocolate-covered strawberries out and takes a bite.
Her eyes roll back, and she moans. “I’ve been craving these all day.”
The strawberries are her go-to craving. I make sure she stays well stocked. Elodie jokes that she’ll have to name her first kid after Sunny as a thank-you for all the business. Her version of a thank-you is to add some little surprise for Sunny to each box I buy.
After she finishes chewing, she bites her bottom lip like she wants to say something.
“You know you can tell me anything,” I say. We’ve been as open with each other as that first night in the cab of my truck.
“Campbell wants to come for a visit.”
“You make it sound like that’s a problem.” Her youngest—and most precocious—sister. Campbell Hawthorne is responsibility adverse, perpetually late, and that included her arrival to our wedding, but she’s got a big heart and she loves her family.
“I’d like to have everyone over before the baby comes, but I know how she gets on Durban’s nerves.”
“He can deal.” I was worried about meeting Jamison’s sisters and being judged as not good enough.
Both sisters embraced me and my brothers.
Haven’s cool with both of them. Durban and the middle sister, Avery, get along, but they’re the most alike.
Durban and Campbell are oil and water. Thankfully, they don’t often have to mix.
When they do, Durban just grinds his teeth and ignores her.
“We all like your family, every single one, and even any annoying ones. They’ve accepted us, and we accept them.
You don’t know how much that means to guys who’ve lost their family and their home. ”
Her sweet smile lights up my entire day. I twirl her around so I can bury my nose at the nape of her neck. My hands rest on the baby, who will be here in four months. “I’ve also had my own cravings today.”
“You seem to have that craving a lot.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“I’m a hungry man, Mrs. Hennessy.” I never get tired of calling her that. I’m a fucking caveman around her, and I don’t care.
“Well, Mr. Hennessy. What are we going to do about that?”
I drag up her skirt. “I have some ideas.”
“They’d better not include the parking lot at the mine.”
I chuckle. “No. I’m not risking anyone getting a look at what’s mine.” After the sale, security cameras were set up.
She sets the box of strawberries on the counter and spins around. “I’m really proud of you. I love you, but I love seeing you and your brothers embark on this adventure.”
I owed them. That night at the bar, they’d helped me figure this life out. They’d done just as much research as me, and it wasn’t just because they were ready for a change. They could see how crazy I was about Sunny. “You made it all possible.”
“You three were the spark. I was just a little breeze.” She twines her arms around my neck. “The real work is being done by you, Haven, and Durban. I’m proud of all of you. But I’m especially fond of my very own whiskey cowboy.”
______
Campbell Hawthorne is ready to prove herself, but she gets tipsy instead, and ends up puking on the most uptight Hennessy’s boots.
But when Durban learns she let loose because she’s going to be tied up planning her ex’s wedding—to her cousin—for the next month, he decides to help her.
He’ll show Campbell that the best way to relax is a smooth whiskey and a hot cowboy in Whiskey Bargain .
You’re invited to Iverson and Sunny’s wedding! You might get to see when Campbell first starts getting under Durban’s collar in a special bonus epilogue .