Page 29 of Hammer and Hops

“What? Who? No. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.” I turned to see if I could spot the ambulance and Shannon Oakes. He hadn’t been around long but seemed like a really nice guy. Kendall was directing the guys around to the back and the side of the building, and I thought I spotted Roger as well. All great guys and very competent. They’d have the fire out in no time.

I waved Shannon over as soon as I saw him, and he started checking out Everett. His hands went all over my man. My brain said he’s a medical professional and I needed to chill, but my heart pounded furiously with jealousy. I didn’t want anyone touching Everett but me. I’d never felt that way before and it startled me. I wasn’t one to get growly or emotional over anything. But this was a whole new ball game. I was already in over my head and very attached to Everett.

Chapter twenty-three

At Home Trying To Make It Work – Everett

I had minor smoke inhalation, but nothing that would get me admitted to a hospital. It would be a pain in the butt because I had to stay home and rest. Hell, I lived at the brewery more than in this little house.

I’d bought the place actually before the brewery. Someone had built it as a vacation home a few years back and never used it, so it wasn’t old at all, only small. It had two bedrooms on either side of the main living space that was all open, and a small dining room in the back that I had converted into an office. Sliding doors led out from there to a wide patio, where I could see mountains in the distance. I liked having my morning coffee there, watching the sun slowly rise, spilling light and shadow across the bulking masses that lumbered up toward the sky. Not today, though. Today I was in my comfy chair in the living room, which was the only part of the room I liked. It still needed painting and new floors.

This was the most I’d slowed down in a long time, even with the few dates I’d had with Cameron, but I hadn’t always been this way. Or had I? Back in college, I had some partying days, which is where I originally got the idea for a brewery. It had developed a lot since then into what it was now, a small craft beer operation with three different flavors on the market, and a fourth in planning. But that fifth wasn’t likely to happen if I didn’t figure something out quick. That fire set me back even more than the bad batch, because I couldn’t do anything until repairs were made. Hell, the electricity had been shut off, meaning nothing was brewing. I was going to lose all six vats, not just the one that had short-circuited. Although I was pretty sure it had help getting shorted. It was brand new.

I’d sent Lukas back to Sacramento for a short vacation until we squared things away. Then I called the insurance company, and they gave me the runaround. If it was arson, they didn’t want to pay for it, and while I understood their reasoning, it sure as hell didn’t help me. I needed to get a report from the fire station, but that would have to wait. For now, I needed a nap. Guess that inhalation shit was going to mandate a slowdown whether I liked it or not.

And what about Cameron? Did he start that fire, or was I wrong about him? I mean, he did save my life, but why was he actually at the brewery in the first place? He seemed to be centrally located where all of my problems were concerned. Maybe we needed to talk about this. I grabbed my phone to shoot him a text.

I waited a bit, thinking it over. If he were trying to hurt me, he could come over and kill me or something. Fuck. I was being paranoid now, when what I really needed was help. I hated asking, but this was something beyond me. I texted him my address.

Before he got here, I fell asleep and was startled when he knocked on the door. I slowly got up and let him in. “Hey. Come in.”

“Brought you soup.” He held up a bag from the diner in town.

“Thanks. Not hungry right now.”

“I’ll put it in the kitchen for later.” Passing me, he crossed the room. If he was going to make himself at home, I was going to let him, since I had no energy for anything else. I crawled back up in my chair. “Were you sleeping?”

“Yeah. I need rest right now, I guess.”

“That’s what Shannon said, yeah.”

“Shannon?”

“The paramedic.”

“Ah…I was kind of out of it.”

“You were. I was worried. I’m still worried. Can’t you see that? If someone is messing with you, you could be in danger. Did you report all this stuff to the sheriff?”

“About the fire? Thought the fire department would do that.”

“No. I mean, about all of it. Starting with those slashed tires.”

“No. I reported the tires, but that’s all.”

“Let’s talk to Clay. He can help us put all this together. Without you telling him everything that’s going on, he won’t be able to do that.”

“Guess you’re right. Hadn’t really stopped to think about it.”

“You don’t stop for much, do you?”

“No. It’s been a long time since I actually took a break. I mean, like a vacation break. I just haven’t been able to.”

“You haven’t let yourself.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “If I’m sabotaging anything, it’s getting you to stop and relax for half a minute before you work yourself into the ground.” It was the first time I’d seen him actually scowling instead of smiling. How about that? I guessed he was serious, and I was probably wrong to accuse him.

“I’m sorry, Cameron.”