Page 7 of Hammer and Hops

“You’re not going to do well out there. Special hops or not.” He sneered. Had this all been a ploy to get my secrets?

“You don’t know that.”

“There’s no market out there, Everett. Seriously. You’d be better off here.”

“Like you?”

“Yeah. Like me. Hell, with me.”

“Sure, you’d like that because your beer sucks.”

“Hey.” He scowled like I’d called his mother a bad name.

“Fuck off, Mitchel.” I was already headed to the door. I’m sure he muttered something under his breath as I marched my ass out of there. Sounded a lot like Just a suggestion, but I was not interested.

Well, that was less than a one-night stand. Sweet diversion while it lasted, but I needed to focus on my business, not hot dick, and especially not jerks like him. I needed to get back to the convention and finish off this list. Besides, after I left, he would never think about me again.

Chapter four

The Beer Tap - Cameron

Pints ‘n Pool was the place in Foggy Basin to sit around and hang out with friends, enjoy a beer, or play pool. It might also have been one of the only places, but I knew most of the people here, so if I wanted to hang out, this was it. The owner, Nate, was a cool dude who made sure his place had a laid-back atmosphere. He even had an old antique jukebox rather than the new digital kind. I sort of loved that about the place. It was fixed up nicely but still had a classic appeal.

I lifted my mug up to order another beer, and Kit, the bartender and Nate’s partner, took it. He stuck it under the tap, and the thing fizzed and sputtered. “Shit. Dude. Want something else?”

“No, is it empty? I can help you connect a new keg.”

“Nah, dude. I think it’s the tap. Nate’s actually in the back calling the brewery now.”

I certainly didn’t want anything else since the local craft brewery made the best beer. They’d set up shop about four months ago and were already making a good name for themselves. I slid behind the counter to see if I could fix it. I wiggled the pull, then examined the connections. “Seems to be loose or something. Got a wrench?”

“Let me see. Hang on.” He went in the back, and I fiddled with it some more.

“What the fuck are you doing? Get away from that.” A sexy blond man slapped at my shoulder and pushed me back. I’d seen him around, but he was new to the area, so he was one of the few people I didn’t actually know.

“Hey. Trying to fix this. No big deal.”

“It is a big deal. This is my tap and you obviously don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Your tap?”

“Yes. I’m Everett Lundy. I own Foggy Basin Brewery.” Everett had a scowl that put a canyon between his thin eyebrows, but his face still remained quite attractive. “You do not touch this. Ever.” He pointed at me—actual finger in my face. “Who the hell gave you permission to even be back here behind the bar. Who the hell are you?”

“Relax.” I held up my hands in supplication, but he wasn’t having it.

“Don’t tell me to relax—” Had his face turned a deeper shade of red?

“Everett. Hey. This is Cameron Telliyard. He’s just trying to help.” Kit tried to calm him, but the guy was livid.

“Does. He. Work. For. You? Is he an employee of Pints ‘n Pool?”

“Well, no but…”

“No. The only people who touch this tap are you…” He pointed at Kit. “And me.” He jabbed his chest with his thumb. Even though he was furious, he was sexy as hell. He smashed his lips together, making me want to pry them apart with my tongue. “Understand?”

Oh, I wanted to understand, alright, wanted to learn more about him. “Sorry. Just trying to help.”

“Well, don’t. I got this.” He shoved me again, so I returned to the customer side of the bar, fully chastised but wanting more at the same time. Maybe I could keep pestering him, so he’d yell at me more. The fire in his gray eyes was like a spark of life.