Page 20 of Just One Chance

We needed to put last night behind us. I was fairly sure I could push it into the furthest recesses of my mind. Only to be brought out at night when I was alone in bed.

It was too bad that nothing could happen, no matter how much I enjoyed our evening together and wanted a repeat.

I could do this. I could work with a man I slept with and still wanted. I just needed to stay focused on my job. I needed this one to go well so that I could add it to my portfolio. I needed more variety to prove that I was good at what I did.

Jodi was the one who pointed out that I worked with the same kind of hotel each time. It was time to broaden my reach.

I followed Boone into the tasting room where Beck had already poured flights for the table. There were three rows of glasses lined up.

Boone pulled out my chair, and I sat.

"I don't know much about beer," I said.

Boone grimaced. "You want me to find a bottle of wine for you? Clara keeps a few bottles in the back room for when she hangs out with her friends."

"I want to get the full experience."

"I'm going to check on the pizza," Beck said, disappearing into the kitchen area.

Boone pointed at the lightest-colored brew. "You should try this one first. It's light with a clean test and a mild herbal hop finish."

"I don't know what any of that means, but I trust you." Something flashed in his eyes at that statement, and I realized it was true. If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have invited him into my room or my body last night. I must have sensed he was a good person on some level.

I lifted the glass, and he said, "You want to sniff it first and then take a small sip, letting the flavor wash over your tongue. You'll want to wait for the finish."

I raised a brow. "I didn't realize it was such a technical process."

"It's not for most. But I thought you wanted to know what we do here." He lifted his own glass, swirling the liquid thoughtfully as he brought it to his nose. He sipped it, closing his eyes as he savored the flavor on his tongue. Then he swallowed, and I was mesmerized by the way his throat worked.

He was so big and masculine, and I found it endearing that he worked in his shop without electronics. He said he didn't like dealing with people, but he was good with his customers, congenial and professional. I was impressed. Not that I'd ever tell him that.

The problem was that he saw me as a threat to his position in the business. He wanted me to say that the Harts should use his furniture, and I didn't have an opinion on that yet. I hadn't seen much of anything on the property besides the hot tub and my bed.

I mimicked his movements, lifting the glass to smell the brew. It was a different experience from what I was used to. I usually went from one thing to another, not taking my time to enjoy anything. Maybe there was something to small-town country living. I could relax for once and not worry so much. I sipped the beer, doing my best to let it wash over my tongue before finally swallowing it.

He held up his hand. "Wait for the finish."

"What's that exactly?" I asked confused.

"You probably refer to it as the aftertaste. It's the flavor that lingers. This one is subtle." He was fully engaged in the conversation, his gaze intent on me. "Rowan is the one who creates the recipes for the brews, but he taught us how to appreciate them."

"It lingers, but it's nice," I finally said, and Boone smiled. He was pleased with me, and a satisfied flush went through my body. It was nice to share this with him.

Beck returned with a large cheese pizza on a tray. He set it in the middle of the table, and plated a few slices, handing them to us.

My stomach growled. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

"You didn't eat much at breakfast," Boone murmured.

I was too upset about the situation to focus on eating. But now, I felt more settled. We could do this. I took a large bite, enjoying the cheese and marinara flavor.

"I love pizza and beer. They go together," Beck said.

"Is that why you chose to serve pizza?" I asked, wanting to know more about his thought process.

"We were originally going to do snacks, maybe popcorn or pretzels. Then we realized families like to come to breweries with their children, so we made it more family friendly,” Boone said.

"In the summer, we'll be able to sit outside and provide yard games," Beck added.