“It’sourfamily’s farm.”
His jaw ticks. “I’m aware.”
Hmm. He’s aware it’s ours, but that doesn’t make him happy. What the hell does that mean?
CHAPTER 4
Tally
“So I hear you finally met Walker?” Rosie says as she slides a shot glass over to me.
“How’d you—” I glance at my sister sitting next to me and scowl. “Oh, for fucks sake, can the two of you stop sharing secrets? She’s supposed to bemybest friend.”
Penny laughs. “Rosie’s my friend, too.”
Rosie pushes a shot toward her. “Yeah, and you’re the one who’s been gone for years. The two of us had to commiserate over missing you so much. Right, Pen?”
Penny doesn’t answer and instead grabs the shot and downs it quickly. There’s a band set up in the corner of the brewery, and a decent crowd has gathered to listen to them play. My mother was supposed to meet us for dinner, but she texted that some meeting had run late. I know she’s avoiding me because she’s going to have to explain how she gave not only our house but also my room to a stranger.
Without dinner plans, Penny and I decided to come down to the brewery.
“I don’t know why you all wanted me to say hello to Walker for you. He doesn’t seem very friendly.”
The man barely talks. After our little showdown in the kitchen, he grumbled that he had work to do, and I haven’t seen him since.
Rosie’s lips slide into a wide smile. “The town loves totease himbecausehe doesn’t talk. So everyone’s always saying hi to him, being friendly, trying to strike up some meaningless conversation. It drives him nuts.”
I swirl the liquid around in my shot glass. “You talk like the town is in cahoots.”
Penny and Rosie share a look and then Rosie lets out a raspy laugh. “Oh, honey, you’ve been gone too long.Of coursewe’re in cahoots. We had an entire town meeting about it.”
I groan in aggravation. “And he’s still here? I don’t get it. Something isn’t adding up. Do you knowanythingabout him?”
Rosie shakes her head. “Only that he and your dad used to come in here often for lunch. Your father really liked him.”
“So Penny says,” I grumble. “But I’m telling you, there’s something suspicious about him. You know he told us his sister could do my job?”
Rosie raises her eyebrows in surprise.
“Exactly. Said I could go to my next job because his sister knew how to plan weddings and was happy to come and stay.”
“But you’re not leaving, right?” Penny almost sounds panicked.
“No,” I say quickly. “Walker told me that whoever was working the weddings would have to answer to him because he’s running the farm.”
Rosie settles her forearms on the edge of the bar and smirks. “So let me guess. Because he offered to bring his sister to do the job you don’t even want—and insinuated that she’d do it better than you—you’re now committed to stay?”
I stare at the Fireball she’s poured for me and then meet her gaze. She arches her brows again, and I brace myself for what she’s about to say. “Remember the rule: If you don’t tellthe truth while drinking, you’ll be cursed with bad sex for ten years.”
I practically choke on my laughter. Rosie came up with this stupid rule when we were drinking peach schnapps in high school and I refused to admit that I had a crush on the guy who had asked her to prom. We both threw up for hours the next day, but she didn’t go to prom with Kyle and we’ve never told a lie while drinking since.
I lift my glass and grin. “Yup.”
Rosie grabs the bottle of Fireball and pours herself a shot before filling Penny’s empty glass. Then she lifts hers in the air in my direction. “Girl, you’re just as crazy asthe day you left Hope Harbor.”
As the Fireball hits my throat, I relish the burn. I haven’t felt this wild in a long time.
When Penny disappears to the bathroom, Rosie eyes me. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re back. Your family needs you. But a word of advice.”
