Page 8 of Hammer and Hops

“I see that. What are you doing?” Maybe a little goad to see how he’d react.

As expected, he glared at me. “Fixing the tap. Fricking washers.” He muttered as he started reassembling the faucet. His hair fell to his ears at the sides of his head, a little longer in the back, and he had a prominent Adam’s apple. He was getting a little end-of-the-day stubble scruffing his cheeks and chin. All of it made him more appealing.

I tried to think of something else to pester him with, but he finished too soon. Then he poured me a beer and slid it across the bar top.

“Thanks.” I took a sip, and he looked at me expectantly. “It’s fucking good, dude.”

He gave me a curt nod, then turned to leave.

What the hell had just happened?

“Hey. Wait. Can I get your number?”

Everett glanced back at me over his shoulder. Man! Did I ever want to poke him more. Smokey-sexy-smoldering eyes. Then he shook his head and left, leaving me bereft. How could I at least make friends with him?

My reaction might have been from my overwhelming need to be friends with everyone. My family had been in this area for multiple generations, and I practically knew everyone around. But I did not know Everett, and from just our one interaction, I sure as hell wanted to. Call it lust at first sight. Call it ego. I didn’t give a fuck. As long as I could call him. But no… He was so uptight I could practically see the stick up his ass as he walked away from me. His shoulders were tense, and his stride was a bit like Darth Vader's.

I swore to initiate Operation Get Everett to Relax into gear fast. He needed a good long soak in a hot bath, preferably with me. Or a rub down, with my hands doing the rubbing. Whatever it took, I was in. I didn't know why he was so unreasonably angry, but I wanted to change that. Challenge accepted.

My brain went into planning mode. Who did know him? Nate? I looked around to see if I could corner the bar owner and finagle the digits from him. Where the hell was he?

Chapter five

Give Him a Chance – Everett

That idiot. He could have totally fucked up the tap, and replacing it was the last thing I needed. Hell, I was practically paying clients to take my beer in the first place, and part of that deal was supplying and maintaining the equipment for my brew. I could have wrung that guy’s irritating neck. Anyone would be mad about someone fucking with their career. I had to succeed, and if I didn't stop bleeding money, I'd be living in the brewery—or worse. Going back to party planning. That thought made me shiver.

“Everett, hey. Thanks for fixing the tap.” Nate clapped my shoulder. Was he trying to calm me down? Nope. Not happening.

“Don’t let that gremlin touch my stuff.”

“Gremlin? Oh, you mean Cameron?”

“Whatever his name is.” I pointed to the front of the bar where I knew he was still perched on a bar stool like a damn gargoyle. “If he broke the system, it wouldn’t be covered under insurance.” I had no clue whether that was true, and I didn’t want to find out either. “Just keep your patrons on the right side of the bar.”

“Well, Cameron isn’t your ordinary customer. He’s like family. Everyone knows and loves him. Really, he’s a good guy. His family has been in the area forever. You could do worse.”

Worse than what? “I’m not looking for a boyfriend. I’m not even looking for a date.” That was the last thing I needed. Hook-ups were off the table. And why would he be pushing this gremlin toward me anyway?

Nate shrugged. “You can always use a friend. And Cameron is as good as it gets. Let me give you his number, because even though you took his head off back there, he’ll still be around if you ever need anything.”

His words stopped me short. He was only trying to help, and honestly, it wasn’t him I was mad at but the tap messing up. And who couldn't use more friends? It was only that when Nate called me to come out to look at it my irritability kicked into overdrive in true Everett fashion. Probably wasn’t fair to take it out on this Cameron dude. “Well…”

“Give me your phone.” He reached his hand out and wiggled his fingers.

Reluctantly, I opened my phone and handed it over. After he typed it in, he handed it back. “Uh, thanks?” Was I actually thankful? Jury was still out on that one.

“Trust me on this. Call him.” He smirked at me like he knew something I didn’t.

“Had no idea you were a matchmaker too, Nate. A bar with rooms to rent isn’t enough for you?”

“And the campground.” He winked at me, but I knew he didn’t mean anything by it. He was totally involved with Kit.

“Whatever.” I shoved my hair out of my face. I needed cut, but I didn't have the money or the time for that. “It’s working now. Call me if anything else happens.”

“Sure. Thanks again. It's really getting popular." At least that was something good to take out of this situation. "Have a good evening.”

I waved and headed out the back door, but I heard him yelling at me to call Cameron as I went. Should I trust him on this one? I’d never had great luck with guys, especially in the recent past, and I totally didn’t trust my own gut. Maybe I should listen to someone else for a change, but I would probably regret it if I did.