Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Shepherd: You guys are gonna love this one. It’s a chocolate hazelnut porter.
Paxton: Ooh, sounds fancy. When can we get a taste?
Shepherd: How about this weekend? I need some guinea pigs to test it out before I finalize the recipe.
Tripp: Count me in. Anything with chocolate and beer is a win in my book.
First, Tripp, you’re not old enough. And Shep, just to warn you, if it’s bad, I’m gonna be brutally honest.
Shepherd: I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Griff.
Callum: Speaking of the weekend, anyone catch the game last night? That last-minute home run was insane!
Brock: Man, I thought they were done for. Best comeback I've seen in a while.
Paxton: I missed it! Had a busy night with Hartford, if you know what I mean. Any highlights worth watching?
Tripp: All of them! The whole game was intense. You gotta catch the replay.
Seriously, Paxton, it was one for the books. That last inning was pure magic.
Shepherd: I was so pumped, I almost knocked over the batch of beer I was working on.
Callum: Just make sure you don’t spill any of that chocolate hazelnut goodness. We need to try it this weekend.
Paxton: All right, okay, I’ll check out the highlights. And I’m definitely down for the beer tasting. What time?
Shepherd: How about Saturday afternoon? Say 3 PM at my place?
Tripp: Works for me. I can try beer, right, Cal?
Callum: I guess, don’t tell Mom.
Brock: Perfect.
Callum: Can’t wait.
Looking forward to it.
Paxton: See you guys then, and will your neighbor be there?
Shepherd: Don’t remind me about her.
Callum: What happened?
Shepherd: She’s back with her ex, so I guess I can go fuck myself.
Brock: Dude, sorry. It seemed like you really liked her.
Shepherd: Yeah, it’s whatever.
Tripp: You need to make her jealous. Show her what she’s missing.
Shepherd: Get a girlfriend, and maybe then I’ll take dating advice from you.
Tripp: I’ve had girlfriends.
Callum: High school crushes don’t count. Speaking of which, Brock, heard you’re dating Millie. The Book, Spine, and Sinker book store owner.
Brock: Yeah, it’s still new. So, no screwing it up for me.
Tripp: You’re dating her?
Brock: Yeah. She’s real nice.
Shepherd: You’ll have to bring her to Sunday dinner.
Brock: Maybe I will.
I toss my phone onto the seat of my truck, and rub my eyes. Fuck, I need to get home.
Chapter 3
Anya
I forgot my notebook, so I turn my car around in the lot of Atta Boy, and park next to Griffin’s truck. He’s just about to leave, and I hop out.
He shuts off the ignition to his truck and steps out. “Forget something?”
“I’m glad you’re still here. I thought I was going to have to wait until tomorrow to get my notebook.” It really is ridiculous that Cal hasn’t entrusted me with a key to the place yet, but I get it.
I’m an employee. Not an owner. This isn’t my place.
Callum, Shep, Pax, and Griffin started this brewery with their own blood, sweat, and tears. I’m merely trying to enhance their vision.
Griffin opens the back door, and I follow him into the brewery. He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Do you really need the notebook tonight?”
I blush a little and together we walk through the brewery. “Busted,” I say. “I wasn’t planning on going home to sleep. I was actually going to think of ideas for the party this Friday.”
Griffin offers a small laugh, and the sound of it vibrates through my bones. It sends chills skating down my spine. “I planned on doing the same thing. I was going home to work on the menu.”
I feel horrible that Griffin is most likely exhausted from working all day, and helping us get the back room in order, and now he was planning on going home and working more. “You don’t need to do that,” I tell him.
He inches closer, and suddenly my mouth grows dry. I lick my lips, and for the first time since I’ve known Griffin, I realize how tall he is. How the top of my head would fit perfectly below his clavicle. That if he wrapped his strong arms around me it would probably make me feel just right. Or so I imagine.
What am I doing?
This is Griffin.
I should not be having these thoughts about him. I blame Willow for putting the idea in my head. For pointing out how good-looking he is. How have I never noticed before?
I mean, I’ve always known he’s better looking than ninety percent of other men out there, but I have never noticed just how kind of gorgeous he is.
“I wanted to do it. I’ve got a lot of ideas.”
I smile wide at the idea that Griffin is taking this project as seriously as me. It warms me up, making me feel all gooey inside.
Is that lame?
I know it is, but I can’t help it. I’m happy to have his support, and apparently his attention. The way his eyes are laser-focused on me sends chills rushing over my skin. “What ideas?” I ask him, quietly.