Just One Spark (The Hart Brothers #2)

Chapter 1

Rowan

It was the Hart's Holiday Illuminary, which took place the first Saturday after Thanksgiving when my family lit thousands of white lights across the grounds to officially welcome the Christmas season.

For the event, Mom had insisted on a live band, a hot cocoa bar, and plenty of food to keep visitors entertained.

I stood on the raised wood platform where the band had set up to perform, holding the ceremonial switch to light the property.

My father usually had the honors, but Malcolm did it the year he opened the restaurant, and since I was opening the brewery, I was nominated for it this year.

I wasn't used to being the face of Hart's Inn.

I cleared my throat, and the crowd looked in my direction.

Hattie's hot cocoa bar was set up off to the side, and there were tables of holiday crafts to purchase, and food to eat.

Hattie usually worked out of a truck but tonight, Mom had convinced her to set up a table.

She wanted the entire event to feel warm and inviting.

We'd spent the week setting up picnic tables around the property so that guests could sit and drink or eat and listen to the band.

My heart pinched when her gaze met mine.

We were childhood friends but at some point, she'd drifted away.

I'd heard the rumors about her father's struggles with alcohol, and I'd tried talking to her, and she was polite but dismissive.

I wanted to know why we drifted apart, but I wasn't positive she'd ever share her feelings with me.

When I saw her, I felt sad for the friendship we lost, but there was a ripple of something else, probably the underlying crush I'd had on her. I wondered if she'd ended our relationship because she knew how I felt about her. The thought made my skin prick.

Malcolm leaned close. "It's time to turn on the lights."

I refocused on the rest of the crowd. "I want to thank everyone for coming tonight to celebrate the annual Hart's Holiday Illuminary.

It's the night that we celebrate the official start of the holiday season.

This year, I was granted the honor of turning on the lights since I'll be opening Hart's Brewery in the new year—" I broke off to cheers.

The community seemed genuinely excited for the opening of the brewery. I'd had to delay it a few months so that Boone could finish making the bar, and other furniture that would go inside. It was worth it to feature his woodwork, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

"I'm excited to start this new chapter with all of you.

" I paused, letting my gaze rest on Hattie.

"Let's the holiday season begin." I pushed the ceremonial button with a click, and there was an audible gasp from the crowd.

The lights were timed to go on in succession, not all at one time, to heighten the effect.

The trees lit first, then the Inn's wraparound porch, the various gazebos scattered across the property, the restaurant, and finally the lights on the trails that marked the various walking paths.

It was beautiful and I was proud to be given the honors to light the property tonight.

For once, I felt like a part of the family business.

I wasn't just helping at the inn or the restaurant, I was contributing to the addition of the brewery.

It was my idea, and I couldn't be prouder.

Malcolm was reluctant to let us open the brew bath along with the brewery but he'd come around eventually.

And I wanted the opening to be successful.

Malcolm motioned for me to move off the stage. "There's a reporter here who wants to talk to you about the opening of the brewery."

"Okay." I was not prepared to talk to a reporter. Why hadn't anyone mentioned that this was a possibility?

Malcolm guided me to a spot behind Hattie's hot cocoa bar where a woman wearing a red wool coat, and knit cap over dark jeans and boots waited. "This is Jane Larson. She's writing an article for The Telluride Times. Jane, this is my brother, Rowan Hart."

A smile spread over her face. "Rowan, it's so nice to meet you."

I shook her hand, aware that Hattie stood a few feet away, probably listening to our exchange. "The pleasure's all mine."

Jane smiled wider. "You're opening the newest Hart sensation, Hart's Brewery."

"That's correct." I wasn't the usual spokesman for the business, so I hoped I didn't screw this up.

A crease appeared between her brows. "What can we expect from this Hart addition?"

"We're renovating one of the existing buildings on the property to keep the feel of the inn and restaurant, including an addition for the brew baths.

We're planning to serve my personal brews.

Tonight we're serving Hart's Holiday Brew for the first time if you'd like to try it.

" I waved a hand in the direction of my table with the banner Hart's Brewery where Boone was pouring samples.

"I'll have to taste it in a bit." Her gaze followed my gesture. Then returned to mine. "Are the rumors correct that you're opening a brew bath too?"

The addition of the brew bath was risky, and I was worried about what people would think. "Guests will be able to soak in a tub of warm water, infused with hops, barley, and seasonal herbs."

Hattie had turned to listen to our conversation.

"Is it like a spa treatment?" Jane asked.

I nodded. "Guests can enjoy the view of the mountains, and sip on the newest brews while they relax."

"That sounds delightful. When can we expect Hart's Brewery to open?"

"Sometime in the new year. Boone's making the bar and furniture by hand, and it takes time. But we thought it was worth it to include his craftsmanship."

"Do you think we can get an exclusive tour before it opens? We'd love to do a piece in the paper."

"Of course," I said, my mouth suddenly dry. I had no idea if I was allowed to grant her request. I wasn't used to dealing with the publicity stuff, and I wished I could avoid it.

"We asked our readers to send in their questions for this interview, and there was one burning question."

"What's that?" I asked, feeling a little hot despite the cold temperatures.

"Our readers want to know if you're single."

I coughed. "I'm sorry. What?"

She smiled. "You could host a contest on opening day, and the winner gets a brew bath with Rowan Hart. We'd be happy to promote that for you. You'll have so many people applying—"

I cleared my throat in an attempt to stop her rambling. "I'm not single."

Hattie raised her brow.

Jane frowned. "Who are you seeing then?"

My heart rate picked up. Why had I lied? I should have known she'd have a follow up question. They'd want to know who I was dating. My gaze swung to Hattie, who was looking at me expectantly. "I'm engaged to Hattie."

Why had I said I was engaged? I should have said we were dating. That was more believable. But I panicked. The opening was supposed to be about my brews, not my single status. Hattie would understand even though she hadn't talked to me for years. Not really.

"You're engaged," Jane said slowly as if she'd missed something important.

I stepped toward Hattie, thinking that we needed to act this out to make it more believable. I placed my arm over her shoulders drawing her into my side. "I've been so busy with the renovation, and finalizing my brews, that we haven't had time to share the good news."

"Our followers will certainly be disappointed." Jane clamored on about setting up a time to tour the brewery.

Hattie was stiff under my arm, and I was worried that she'd tell Jane that I was lying. That we weren't even friends, much less engaged.

"We'll be in touch," Jane finally said, and then moved away with her photographer.

Hattie moved away. "What was that?"

I followed her to the edge of the hot cocoa bar. "I'm sorry. She started talking about women clamoring to get into the bath with me, and I panicked."

"So you said we were engaged? We don't even talk anymore. No one will believe it." Her voice was soft, a hissed whisper.

"We were friends at one time." We were younger then, just entering the teenage phase. She'd created distance between us, and I was helpless to stop the progression. It was normal for friends to drift but I was upset that it was Hattie that had initiated the break-up.

She crossed her arms over her chest, and I was worried that Jane would look over and see that my supposed fiancée was very much upset with me. I had to fix this, and fast.

I moved closer, forcing Hattie's chin to lift so that she could maintain eye contact with me.

"She was making the grand opening a spectacle with single women competing to climb into a tub with me.

I had to do something. I wanted the grand opening to be about the brews, the renovation, the bath house. Not my love life."

Hattie sighed, and I hoped that meant she was softening toward the idea.

"Would you mind pretending to be my girl, at least until the opening? It will take the pressure off of me and keep the focus where either belongs on the brewery."

"The story is that we reconnected, and fell madly in love?" she asked, and I detected a twinge of sarcasm as if the idea was ludicrous to her.

For me, it wasn't that far from the truth. I'd crushed on her from the moment I realized I liked girls. "Something like that."

She looked away from me. "We'll have to pretend to be engaged over the holidays, be seen in public together, do all the usual holiday events."

"That's fine with me." I was actually getting excited about the idea of spending time with Hattie. She'd been running from me for years, and I'd finally be close enough to her to discover why.

She gave me an exasperated look. "You'd have to bring me to your family's gatherings as.your.date, and tell everyone that we.are.engaged."

"I don't like lying to my family but we can't have the story around the brewery be about my love life and not the hard work we did to get here."

"I'm sympathetic to that—"

I touched her arm, and to my surprise, she didn't pull away. "It's just for a few weeks. four to six tops. I promise. Then we say that we broke up because I was too focused on work, or something like that."

Her gaze lowered. "That's believable."

I should have asked her what she meant by that but I was too excited that she was giving into this. "So you'll do it?"

She sighed. "I don't want to."

I looked at her hot cocoa bar, the slow cooker vat, and the fixings in containers. "Maybe there's something I can do for you."

"You're opening a brewery, and I sell hot chocolate. It's not even in the same wheelhouse."

"They're both drinks," I said, not understanding where she was coming from.

She waved a hand. "Let's be real, Row. My little table can't possibly compare to a brewery and whatever else you're building."

My heart fluttered at the familiar way she used to say my name—Row. I liked it more than I should. "I'm sure there's some way I could return the favor." I had a lot of ideas and it had nothing to do with business, and more to do with getting to know the woman she was now.

Hattie's hand covered mine, and she smoothly moved it off her arm. "I'll pretend to be your fiancee But I don't need anything in return."

I smiled. "You won't regret this."

"I already do," she murmured, but I was too pleased to argue with her.

For the next few weeks, I'd be engaged to Hattie Collins. She'd have to spend time with me. We'd talk, and I’d finally find out why she didn't want to be friends anymore. And maybe, just maybe, she'd realize that there was something between us.