Starting Over at Blueberry Creek--Includes a bonus novella, page 11
“One where I need pain meds?” the chief asked.
“You told me Mrs. Brewer has been lonely. This is a great time to hang out with her. I’ll check back in a day or two,” Luke promised, stepping away.
“Oh, Luke, you’re leaving already?” Mrs. Brewer asked.
“Afraid so. I have a station to watch. I need to make sure it’s running smoothly for when Chief Brewer returns.”
Mrs. Brewer frowned. “He needs to take care of himself for that to happen. Did you tell him?” she asked.
Luke glanced back at his chief. “I did but it’s worth repeating. Take care of yourself, Chief.”
From what Luke could tell, Mrs. Brewer was a kind, thoughtful woman, and Chief Brewer was lucky to have someone who cared so much about him. She led Luke to the front door, insisted he come back soon, and then waved as he headed down the steps.
Luke got into his truck and drove back toward the station, feeling good about how things were going in his life. And he was taking his brother’s advice tonight and going out for a few drinks with friends.
The closest thing Luke had to buddies here in town so far was Granger Fields, who owned a tree farm, and Jack Hershey, a local park ranger. Luke had found himself sitting with them at the Tipsy Tavern’s bar a couple of months back when he’d first moved here, and they’d gotten along great. They’d exchanged numbers and had talked about doing it again but hadn’t yet. Tonight, hopefully, they would.
Chapter Eleven
Brenna felt sick to her stomach as she walked into Mountain Breeze Realty and sat down. Janelle Cruz had used Brenna’s catering services before for a few business events but Brenna was here to solicit Janelle’s services this time.
Was she really going to sell A Taste of Heaven?
Brenna glanced around the small, professionally decorated office as she waited, her emotions warring until Janelle walked in. She wore a bright-red pencil skirt and matching high heels. “Hi, Brenna! It’s been a while,” she said, walking around the desk and taking a seat. “How can I help you?”
Brenna sucked in a deep breath. Eve didn’t want the business, and Brenna was going to college. This was the right thing to do, even if it was going to hurt letting go of her mother’s legacy. “I want to sell A Taste of Heaven.”
Janelle’s smile dropped. “Well, I wasn’t expecting you to say that. Really?”
Brenna nodded and then gave Janelle the short story of what was going on.
“Well, as fate would have it, I have a client who is looking to buy a kitchen to start up their own catering business right now. I’m not sure if A Taste of Heaven would meet their needs but I’ll check. And if not, I’m sure there will be a lot of interest. The location is amazing.”
Brenna nodded as she listened, that sick feeling in her stomach dissipating. It would be ideal if the buyer kept the business intact. The town needed a catering business, and A Taste of Heaven already had a full book of clients.
“I’ll draw up some paperwork for you to sign in the next few days,” Janelle finally said.
“Thank you.” Brenna stood on wobbly legs and shook Janelle’s hand.
“Congratulations on your college acceptance, by the way. That’s a huge deal.”
It was. And it came with huge sacrifices—the theme of Brenna’s life. She was always sacrificing something.
* * *
After leaving Mountain Breeze Realty, Brenna had gone home to change before coming to the Tipsy Tavern with Nate and Chris. She’d had to be talked into coming along tonight but now she welcomed the thought of going out and having fun. Even if she was the designated driver and would only be enjoying one alcoholic beverage.
“Penny for your thoughts,” the bartender asked as she sat in front of him.
Brenna turned from the dance floor, where Nate and Chris were having a blast, to look at him. “Just that I could really use this drink after the day I had.”
“You own that catering place, right? Can’t be too bad to work there,” the bartender said while keeping his hands busy shining the glasses.
“Depends on the customers.”
He gave a knowing look. “Yep. I understand that.”
“But I’m behaving myself so I can drive my friends home tonight.” She glanced at Chris and Nate again and giggled as Nate attempted to show Chris some moves.
“You must be a good friend.”
She narrowed her eyes at the bartender. “And you’re doing that bartender thing where you try to get me to talk about myself, unload my worries, and give you a bigger tip.”
He laughed loudly. “I don’t do it for the tips. I do it to pass the time.”
Brenna took another sip of her beer, wishing she could just gulp it and grab another. Next time. “Maybe I should leave catering and take up barkeeping. I bet you know the scoop on just about everyone in here.”
His amused expression told her that was probably true.
“Do you know stuff about me?” she asked. She didn’t think there was anything interesting to know but one never knew what rumors floated around a small town.
“Your sister, Eve, has been in a few times.”
“She’s not old enough to drink,” Brenna objected.
“And she doesn’t. But that doesn’t keep her from trying and then having a Coke on the rocks and unloading on me.”
Brenna laughed. “Is she one of the customers we were just discussing? The kind that make or break a shift?”
He laughed but didn’t agree. He didn’t disagree either. Then his gaze snagged on the door behind her.
Brenna turned to watch three guys walk in. She knew them all. She’d grown up here with Granger Fields and Jack Hershey. And recently she’d gotten to know Luke more than she probably should.
“Ah-ha,” the bartender said behind her.
She turned back to look at him. “What?”
“Which one is it that you have your eye on? I’m fairly sure they’re all single.”
Brenna looked down into her beer. “What makes you think I have my eye on any of them?”
“I know the signs. I see it enough in here,” he said. “Granger is a single dad of two small children. Not sure you want to take that on, being the busy woman that you are. Jack only dates casually. He’s not the kind of guy that becomes your boyfriend. At least that’s what I’ve heard from the women who’ve been in your seat sulking over him.”
“And what about Luke?”
The bartender gave her a knowing smile. “Ah, well, he hasn’t dated anyone since he’s been in town. This is only the second time he’s been in here. I watched a few women try to talk to him last time but he didn’t seem too interested. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s not on the market. Someone would have to work to win him over. Of course, that’s just my speculation but I’m a good reader of people.”
Brenna glanced over her shoulder to watch Luke, Granger, and Jack grab a table near the far wall. She’d do better to go after Granger or Jack than her neighbor, who also happened to be Eve’s boss. But neither of the other two men were her type.
“So Luke, huh?” the bartender asked. “Well, who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to turn his head. Maybe you should go on over there and try.”
Brenna shook her head quickly. “No. He’s my neighbor, and I’m not looking for anything romantic. I’m just surprised to see him here.” She looked at the bartender, who continued to polish glasses even though she was pretty sure he’d already done them all. “I’ll just sit here and wait for Chris and Nate to wear themselves out. Then I’ll take them home.”
And she would go home too—alone.
“Uh-oh. Don’t look now,” the bartender said.
Brenna turned to look despite the warning, just in time to see two beautiful women walk over to the table where the guys were seated. One put her hand on Luke’s shoulder, her eyes pinned on him.
A thread of jealousy and possessiveness ran through Brenna. She’d seen the woman around town before but didn’t know her personally. Just because it was a small town didn’t mean that everyone knew everyone.
“You sure you don’t want a second drink?” the barkeep asked. “Don’t worry about being the DD. I have an Uber on standby to drive our patrons home. I take care of my customers.”
“Still after that big tip, huh?” Brenna teased. She didn’t feel like smiling though. She felt like walking across the bar and pulling Luke away from the blond and onto the dance floor.
* * *
Luke didn’t appreciate the woman standing next to him with her hand on his shoulder. If she saw the scars underneath his shirt, she’d probably get squeamish. She was pretty, the kind of woman who probably peeked through her fingers at the sight of bugs. Prying her hand off his shoulder would be awkward and maybe even embarrassing for her so he reached for his beer instead.
That’s what tonight was about after all. Friends and drinks. The only thing he needed to do was relax and let go of this tension.
Granger smirked at him, appearing to read Luke’s mind about the woman. Not that he was doing anything to help.
“Wanna dance, sweetheart?” the blond asked. Luke couldn’t remember her name. He’d been too distracted by the chaos and noise to pay close attention when she’d introduced herself.
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a dancer. But I think Jack over there is.” Luke gestured at his friend across the table.
Jack looked up at the woman. “I might head out there in a little bit. Right now, I’m just going to sit and watch. Sorry, Rachel.”
Rachel. That’s right.
“Well, I’ll be out there if you want to come find me,” she said. “Unless someone else finds me first.” She removed her hand from Luke’s shoulder and headed in the direction of the dance floor.
“If we were all just going to sit around and drink, we could’ve done that at Jack’s place,” Granger teased.
“Why not yours?” Luke asked.
“I have two little girls who would insist that we play board games with them instead.” Granger lifted his beer to his mouth. “My parents are watching them tonight, hoping that my going out means I’ll meet the next Mrs. Fields.”
Luke didn’t miss the word next but he decided it was best not to ask right now. They didn’t know each other well but he hoped to change all that. In addition to tonight being about relaxation, Luke was looking forward to becoming closer friends with these two. “Maybe my place next time, then,” he said.
“On the creek? Yeah, that would be nice,” Jack agreed.
“So, Jack, any interest in Rachel?” Granger asked.
Jack looked at the dance floor where the blond had gone. “She’s nice enough. But she’s interested in every guy in here.” He tipped his head at Luke. “Don’t feel too special, buddy.”
Luke chuckled. “Here I thought we were the most eligible bachelors in the room, and that’s why she walked over.”
“We’re the most eligible bachelors at this table. How about that?” Granger said on a laugh.
Luke shook his head. “I’m fine just sitting here.”
Granger frowned. “Just because we don’t want to find our soul mates at the moment doesn’t mean we can’t look for a woman to spin around on the dance floor though.” He reached for his empty bottle and set it on its side. Then he rubbed his hands together. “Let’s play a game.”
“Spin the bottle?” Jack grimaced. “I’m not kissing either of you two frogs.”
Luke laughed, feeling his tension slip away. “What kind of game?”
Granger shot Jack a pointed look. “At least Luke is willing to hear me out. We each take a turn spinning. The first woman it lands on, the spinner has to send her a drink. If she takes the bait and comes over, the spinner has to ask her to dance.”
Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “What happens if she doesn’t walk over?”
Granger shrugged. “Nothing. We just keep playing.”
“Boring,” Luke said. “If she doesn’t walk over, the sender has to drink.”
Jack held up his hands. “I don’t do drinking games.”
Luke had noticed that Jack didn’t seem to do drinking either. He had a Coke on the rocks that he was sipping occasionally. “The last time I played a drinking game was when I was in the fire academy,” Luke said. “I had to crawl into bed that night.”
“Let’s hope you hold your alcohol better now,” Granger teased.
“Or that the woman you send a drink to finds you interesting enough to walk over,” Jack added.
They chuckled a little. They weren’t really going to play. They were just joking around and talking.
Then Granger leaned in, grabbed hold of the bottle, and gave it a spin. “I guess I’ll start the game.” The bottle spun at least a dozen times, finally slowing until it pointed at the table in front of theirs, where three older women were seated.
“Ohh.” Jack grinned. “That’s my old high school math teacher.”
“She’s probably married,” Granger said hopefully.
“Nope. Single. Buy her a drink, bud,” Jack said on a laugh. “This was your idea and your rules.”
The teacher waved from the neighboring table when she got her drink but didn’t walk over, so Granger had to order a shot.
“I might as well order half a dozen,” he said, “because we might be striking out a lot tonight.”
Jack took his turn next, even though he didn’t have an alcoholic beverage in front of him. The bottle slowed on a table of guys. “No women. My turn is skipped.”
“Was that a rule?” Luke asked. “Don’t you spin again?”
“Nice try,” Jack told him. “Your turn, buddy.”
Luke sighed and spun the bottle. He got the English teacher’s friend, who was also in her midfifties.
“My high school language arts teacher,” Jack informed him.
She didn’t walk over either.
Luke lifted a shot glass and looked between his two friends. “If this goes on, we’re calling an Uber to take us all home. Agreed?”
“Unless you find a woman to give you a lift,” Jack said. “Now, drink.”
After three shots, Luke was ready for someone to walk over just so he didn’t have to knock another back. Jack was already on the dance floor without having to even take one shot, and it was just Luke and Granger at the table.
Luke leaned forward and grasped the bottle between his thumb and pointer finger, and then he gave it a twist. The bottle spun and spun, around and around. Then it slowed and stopped, pointing to the bar.
Luke blinked through the buzz of alcohol as he focused on the back of the woman sitting where the bottle had pointed. She had long, dark hair and a slender frame.
“Send over a drink,” Granger said.
Luke sighed before signaling the waitress who’d been weaving to and from their table, understanding that they were making frequent requests. “Over there this time,” he said. Please let this be the one.
“Sure thing,” the waitress said.
Luke watched the waitress deliver a drink to the woman. Then the waitress pointed in Luke’s direction. This game was fun, albeit a little embarrassing. The woman at the bar turned, and Luke sucked in a breath.
Brenna waved, reached for her drink, and stood.
“Oh, she’s walking over,” Granger said. “Hey, that’s Brenna McConnell. Looks like she might be interested in you, buddy.”
Luke swallowed. He was interested too, and he’d had just enough alcohol tonight to forget why he wasn’t supposed to be.
Chapter Twelve
Thanks for the drink,” Brenna said, standing in front of Luke’s table. She was surprised to find him here of all places. He didn’t seem like the type to hang out in a crowded, noisy place. Then again, neither was she.
“You’re welcome,” Luke said, his gaze heavy on her.
“How are the kittens?”
Luke gave her one of those bone-melting smiles of his. “They went home this afternoon. I dropped them by Ronny Hill’s place because the mama cat was released from Dr. Lewis’s care.”
“Aw, that’s good news,” Brenna said, even though she was frowning. “I have to admit I was kind of hoping to see them again.”
“I’m sure Ronny wouldn’t mind a visitor,” Luke said.
Granger cleared his throat, reminding them they weren’t alone. Luke had forgotten that detail for a moment.
“We’re playing a game,” Granger told Brenna. “Since you accepted the drink and walked over, Luke here now has to ask you to dance.”
“Oh.” Brenna narrowed her eyes at Luke. “So you only sent me the drink because you had to?”
Luke grimaced. “Guilty. And now, apparently, I have to ask you to dance.”
Brenna cocked her head to one side. “Sorry, but my answer is no.”
“Oh man!” Granger slapped a hand down on the table. “Rejected.”
Luke chuckled.
Brenna pulled out the empty chair between them and sat down. “I don’t dance but I do appreciate the drink. Unfortunately, I’m the DD for my friends tonight so I can’t accept it.” She slid it in front of Luke. “Afraid you’ll have to drink it yourself. I’ll stick to my Coke.” She pulled her soda in front of her.
“You are striking out all over the place,” Granger told Luke.
“So drinking games tonight, huh? Can I play?” Brenna asked.
“But you’re not drinking alcohol,” he pointed out. “There’s no downside for you to drink.”
“Not true. Too much sugar makes me crazy.” The corner of her mouth quirked. “Let’s play Truth or Lie.”
“I don’t know that one.” Luke turned to Granger. “Do you?”
He nodded. “We say something about ourselves, and the others have to guess if it’s the truth or a lie. If you get it wrong, you drink.”
Luke looked at Brenna. “Is that how it goes?”
“Yep, I’ll start. I love to dance in my kitchen while I’m cooking.”
Luke laughed. “Lie. You said you don’t dance.”
She giggled softly. “I misspoke. I only dance in my kitchen when no one is watching.” She pointed at his shot glass. “Drink,” she ordered.
