Chapter 6
Chapter Six
REECE
When I enter the Lonely Goatherd Pub in Rotheberg, conversation does not stop dead. Every time I push through the saloon style doors in this Oregon bar, I expect a hush to fall and the bartender to ask, “What’ll ya have, stranger?” I probably watched too many westerns growing up.
The Goatherd is hardly a typical western bar. Kitschy alpine trinkets cover most of the walls. Twisting vines with tiny pink and yellow flowers have been painted across the heavy wooden beams holding up the ceiling. A display of Tyrolean hats, some with bizarre bristles, others with embroidery, feathers, or pins, decorate one wall. An alpenhorn that rumor suggests country star Blake Stein once played hangs above the bar.
The bar itself is a massive slab of juniper with a glossy, resin finish. The rough bark has been peeled from the edge of the gnarled board, but the twisted grain of the wood shows through. I run a finger across a filled knot as I take a seat, then regret the action when I encounter a puddle of warm beer.
“Let me get that.” The bartender, an attractive blonde who looks too young to serve alcohol in the States, slides a wet cloth across the shiny surface. She pauses in front of me and raises a brow. “You wanna wipe your hand?”
“Thanks.” I swipe my finger across her cloth.
“What can I get you?”
“I’ll try the Feathered Hat Ale.”
She winks and drops the cloth in the sink behind the bar. “You’re not a local.”
I frown. “How do you know?”
“That yummy southern accent isn’t from Oregon. And I grew up here. I’d remember you if we went to school together.” She gives me a sultry smile as she picks up a pint glass.
I thought I’d excised Dallas from my speech patterns in college, but it keeps coming back. Much like the British one—picked up from my mum—returns when I’m in England. “When did you graduate?”
“Two years ago.” She tilts the glass against the spout to reduce the foam and pulls the big wooden tap marker.
If she graduated high school two years ago, she’s older than I thought but still half a decade younger than me. “We would not have been in school together, then. And it’s a Texan accent, not southern.”
She wipes the glass and sets it on the bar, her raised brow clearly indicating she doesn’t think there’s a difference. “Rotheberg is tiny. I remember every football quarterback since kindergarten. I’d definitely remember you.” She almost purrs as she says it. “What are you doing in Oregon, Mr. Texas?”
I give her my best grumpy old man glare, but she just smiles and waits. Finally, I relent. “I renovate houses.”
She makes a go on motion with her hands. “Where is it?”
“The current one’s a little ranch on the edge of town. The first one’s on the market. On Wanderweg, by the park.”
“Is it that cute little chalet with the green roof? I love that house.” She leans against the bar as if she’s settling in for a long chat.
“Alyssa, are you cheating on me again?” A young Asian man hops onto a stool, leaving an empty one between himself and me.
The bartender giggles and rolls her eyes. “I wish. I heard you have a girlfriend in France.”
“Belgium.” He turns to me and sticks out a hand. “Hi. Hans Ingolf. You’re new here.”
I try to hide my surprise at the name which doesn’t match his appearance in the least and shake his hand. His grip is firm, with calluses in odd places, as if he works with unusual tools. “Reece Turner. I moved here in January. I’ve got a house on the edge of town that I’m renovating, but I’ve been away for a few weeks.”
“That explains it. I’ve been at school. Oregon State. Came home in June.” He turns to Alyssa, who has transferred her not inconsiderable attention to him. “I’ll take a Peak Cider. And Teo’s gonna want whatever wheat beer you got.”
As the girl turns away to grab a glass, I look at Hans. “You know Teo?”
“We’ve been friends since fourth grade.” He says this in an almost challenging tone, as if daring me to try to usurp his position as long-time friend. “He said he was meeting a guy here, and since I know everyone in town, I figured it had to be you.”
“Excellent detective work, Hans.” Teo slides into the empty seat between us and rotates toward me. “Good to see you again, Reece.”
Teo and I met last spring when I first moved to Rotheberg. In an effort to network, I attended a Chamber of Commerce “Meet and Greet” at the Feltz Christmas building. Teo had been celebrating his first year in a bricks and mortar store. Previously, the company had sold exclusively on their website and via booths at the town’s many seasonal festivals.
As the only attendees under the age of forty, Teo and I gravitated toward each other. He spent most of the evening introducing me to other business owners in town, including the owner of the hardware store and an interior designer I’d later hired to draw up plans for my house renovation.
Alyssa delivers our drinks and chats with Teo and Hans until a customer pulls her away. I watch the interplay between the two men—they’re obviously old friends with a deep shared history. Hans refers to Teo’s girlfriend, Eva, with casual familiarity, and the two men commiserate over long-distance relationships.
“Eva grew up here, too, but she’s in Korea, teaching English,” Hans tells me, leaning across the bar to grab a bowl of mixed nuts. “She and my Lina were roommates during our term abroad in Freiberg. Teo’s from there.” He tips a ridiculously obvious wink at Teo.
“Yeah, Teo mentioned that before. That he was from Freiberg, not the part about your study abroad.” Should I mention I met a royal from his country? She was clearly trying to stay incognito, so maybe not. “I did a year in Australia, myself.”
Hans raises his glass in toast. “A fellow world traveler.”
“Speaking of travel—how was London?” Teo takes a sip of his beer.
“Good. My parents are well. But I missed Herr Walther’s shindig.” I shrug. “Delays on the Tube. I should have left home earlier.”
Teo sets his beer down. “Turns out my sister was there. If I’d realized, I might have had you check on her. She hasn’t traveled alone much.”
“Sorry I missed her.” The words come out automatically. I signal Alyssa, who trots down the bar with flattering enthusiasm.
“What can I get you, Reece?” Alyssa grins at my blink of surprise and points at Hans. “I heard you introduce yourself. Paying attention to the customers means better tips.”
I growl a little—her cheerfulness rubbing me the wrong way. “Can we get some mozzarella sticks?” I raise a brow at Teo and Hans. “And one of those giant pretzels?”
“Are we getting dinner? I’m starved.” Hans shoves a handful of almonds into his mouth.
Teo shrugs. “Sure, I could eat. Reece?” When I nod, he tilts his head at the high table behind me that just emptied. “Let’s move over there.” He slides off the stool, beer in hand.
With a disappointed pout, Alyssa grabs her rag and hurries around the bar to the already cleared table. “You still want the cheese sticks and pretzel?”
“Definitely.” Hans pulls a chair away from the table.
Alyssa swipes the tabletop. “Do you want menus?”
“We aren’t that old.” Hans taps the QR code stuck to the tabletop. “Besides, there’s only one thing to get at the Goat.”
“Schnitzel?” Alyssa asks.
“Schnitzel,” Hans confirms.
“Schnitzel,” Teo repeats.
I toss up my hands. “I guess I’ll have the schnitzel. Does it come with roasted potatoes?”
“We can do that. Or spaetzle .” When Teo lifts a finger, she nods. “Or fries?”
“That’s me.” Hans pats his stomach. “Gotta feed the machine.”
Teo snorts. “The machine is starting to get a little bulky.”
Hans’s head snaps down, and he lifts the hem of his shirt to inspect his belly. “No, it’s not. My Japanese genes are on the job.” He gives his slender but not washboard abs a proud pat. “Besides, I’ve been working out.”
“Playing Wii Fit is not working out.” Teo sips his beer, then places it carefully on a cardboard coaster. “You still up for a drive to Seattle next week?”
Hans nods. “I’ll bring food, but you’re going to have to buy the soda. That girl’s habit would decimate my bank account.” He turns to me. “Teo’s sister, Andi, is coming next week. We’re driving to Seattle to meet her plane.”
My heart jerks. Andi? I draw in a calming breath. Maybe it’s a common name in Freiberg? It can’t be the same girl—that would make Teo royalty too, which is ridiculous. What would a prince be doing in rural Oregon?
I’m definitely not ready to explore the reasons behind my intense reaction to the name. I’ve spent the last two weeks alternately regretting we didn’t exchange contact details and consoling myself with the firm realization she’s not right for me. Even if she didn’t come with the whole royalty thing, I don’t need an intensely cheerful, frivolous, and completely unfocused social media artist in my life.
Teo clears his throat, bringing me back to the present. “I’d introduce you, but…” He trails off as if he’s not sure how to continue.
It doesn’t matter because the only Andi I want to spend time with is in London. And out of my league.
Also, I know how this conversation goes. I’ve had to warn a friend away from my own sister. Only once, and it was awkward. Ben was a fun guy, but there’s no way I wanted him anywhere near Katie.
I’m a little insulted, though. Ben was a player—a fun loving party guy with no sense of responsibility and very little empathy. He was that friend who could charm anyone but would bolt at the first sign of difficulty or hint of commitment. Definitely not the type you want dating your sister.
But I’m mature. Responsible. Caring. I’m exactly the kind of guy you want for your sister. My indignation almost blocks out the fact that this girl isn’t the Andi I want.
“You can’t date her,” Hans cuts in. He glares at Teo. “Don’t kick me. You don’t want Reece dating Andi. That would be super awkward when they broke up.” He turns back to me on that last bit, then raises his pint glass in toast. “Besides, Andi’s kind of a flake. She’s fun, if that’s what you’re looking for, but kinda a mess.”
“Hans.” Teo’s voice drops dangerously low, and even I can tell he’s not happy with his friend. “Shut up.”
Before Teo can say anything else, I lift a hand. “I don’t even know this girl, so I feel like warning me off her is a bit presumptuous. Besides, I’m not looking to get involved with anyone. I have a ranch house to renovate and sell. Not gonna go there.”
Teo gives me a long, hard look. “Good. Not that I have anything against you, but Andi’s got her own things to work through. And she won’t be here long.”
“Perfect.” I sip my beer and set it down. “For what it’s worth, I’d be an excellent boyfriend. Even my sister says so.”
“High praise.” Hans snorts. “When can we meet her ?”
I raise a brow at Hans. “Yeah, not gonna happen.”
Teo splutters a laugh in his beer.
“Hey! I’m excellent boyfriend material, too!”
Teo reaches over and pushes Hans’s grinning head down. “Shut up, Hans.”