Make Me Fall (Books & Brews Series Book 2) by Sara Rider

Author:Sara Rider [Rider, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-23T18:30:00+00:00

11

“What’s that smell?”

Eli brushed his hands against his jeans and turned to look at Julia, who’d just come into the brewery. He’d barely heard her over the sound of the bar patrons laughing and talking in the background, but he knew what had drawn her here. “Bourbon.”

She frowned, letting the door close behind her and leaning against it. “I’m not sure we’ve talked about expanding our operations to include hard liquor.”

“I’m not making bourbon. I bought a bourbon barrel. And chips. Check it out.” He waved her in, urging her to sniff the aroma from the aged wood.

She inhaled deeply, then looked at him. “Okay, it smells good, but I’m still not following. How is this supposed to be not crazy?”

“I never said it wasn’t crazy. It is, however, going to be delicious. Bourbon barrel-aged stout. I don’t have a good name for it yet.”

She didn’t look displeased, which he considered a win given everything he did lately seemed to fall short of her expectations, but she did look confused. “I thought we decided no more seasonal brews. How are you going to maintain a supply of that for the customers with only one barrel?”

“I’m not planning on serving this at the Holy Grale. It’s for the remembrance ceremony.”

He braced himself, waiting for her reaction. Julia’s shoulders fell slightly as the air left her lungs in a slow, measured exhalation. She looked tired suddenly, like she no longer had the energy to hold up the mask of cheerful perfection she always wore. He hated that he had that effect on his sister. Since they were little kids, they’d always had each other’s backs in a way that was impossible to describe to someone who didn’t have a sibling. But ever since they’d been planning this ceremony, there’s been too many bad memories dug up. Too much unspoken hurt buried for too long.

“Mom hated beer.”

“But she loved bourbon.”

Julia looked to him. Her lips curved ever so slightly upward. “Yeah. She did. And she would have been proud of what we’re doing here.”

He nodded, unsure how to deal with the relief that made his chest feel like it had been filled with helium.

“Do I get to try it?”

“It won’t be ready for a few weeks, but you’ll be the first to try it when it is.”

She walked all the way into the room, but instead of heading to the barrel, she went directly to Eli and hugged him. “I’m sorry I’ve been hard on you.”

“Nah,” he said, hugging her back. “I probably deserve it.”

She let him go and brushed the non-existent wrinkles out of her sweater. “Nora says you’re doing a good job with the SPCA fundraiser.”

He couldn’t help but grin now. Everything was coming together even better than he could have imagined thanks to Nora’s help. “Yeah. I think you’ll like the surprise I have planned.”

She raised an eyebrow. “She’s a good influence on you. I like her.”

He opened his mouth to say he liked her, too, but stopped himself. It wasn’t Julia’s fault Nora had basically chosen her over him.

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