Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

2. Wells

2

WELLS

I saac stares at me with unabashed amusement as I walk back into Love Beach Brews, and that is not the first impression I hoped to make. Isaac doesn’t seem mad which is good because I feel like I just got my ass kicked.

Vienna Greene is hell on wheels, so I basically did.

“I’d ask how you know Vienna, but I feel that’s probably unnecessary considering she’s my fiancée’s best friend,” he says pointedly, making me roll my lips inward as I try to think of the best way to navigate this conversation, “and she told us she was seeing someone this summer.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me and fuck it.

“I didn’t realize she worked here. I knew she lived in Love Beach, but I was just trying to get settled before I dropped everything on her.” Taking a breath, I add, “We kept things…casual so I never told her about Haven.”

“I gathered that.”

“Look, I understand if you can’t hire me after all that,” I say, resigned, as the adrenaline starts to dissipate and reality comes crashing down.

“Relax.” He chuckles, a smile splitting his cheeks. “Vienna is more than capable of handling herself.” Turning serious, he says, “As your boss, I’m telling you to keep it professional when you’re in here. As her friend, I’m telling you that if you fuck up, you’ll have to deal with my fiancée and ain’t no one savin’ you from that.”

Perfect.

“I understand.”

“Good, let me show you around.”

Nodding, I try and focus as he talks about the beach memorabilia on the walls, the neighboring businesses, and the kind of crowd to expect depending on the season in this tourist town.

He shows me the brewing equipment and explains the kind of brews that have done well, things he’s looking to expand on, and a chocolate and beer pairing he’d like to make a regular event with the shop next door.

“And”—he beams—“the best part is we start every day with ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ by Jimmy Buffett.”

I’m sorry, what?

“Excuse me?” I ask in disbelief. Not because I don’t like the song but because I’m not sure I heard him right.

“It’s our anthem of sorts. I mean, seriously—there’s no way you can listen to that song and not be excited. It’s a guaranteed mood boost for the day.”

“Mood boost, got it,” I say obediently because fuck it, when in Love Beach—or however that saying goes.

“See?” Isaac says as he claps me on the back. “You’re gonna fit right in.”

“Daddy!” Haven yells as soon as I walk in the door. She leaps into my arms, and I spin her around until she giggles and I’m at risk of falling over.

“How did everything go?” my cousin Saige asks as she comes around the corner, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She’s younger than I am, but she’s made a name for herself in real estate in Love Beach and I couldn’t be prouder.

“Uh, mostly good,” I start and she narrows her eyes. “I got the job but I also hit a bit of a snag,” I hedge, setting Haven down on the floor.

“Haven, why don’t you go grab a cookie and pick a movie? We’ll be in there in a second,” Saige tells her, and I frown, looking at the clock.

“It’s only ten in the morning,” I say as my daughter cheers and runs into the kitchen.

“And you have a snag. Besides, they’re oatmeal raisin. That’s practically breakfast.” I can’t argue with her reasoning and instead follow her into the kitchen where she hands me a cup of coffee.

And a cookie.

Taking both, I wait as she starts the movie for Haven and whispers something I can’t hear before coming back and taking the seat across from me.

“Spill.”

“I found out the nanny that Isaac suggested I hire to watch Haven is Vienna Greene.”

“Okay, and…why is that a snag?”

“The woman I was seeing this summer?”

“Oh, this is gonna be good.” She snickers as she takes an unladylike bite of her cookie.

“It’s Vienna Greene.”

“You shut your filthy mouth,” Saige hisses before cackling and almost falling off her chair.

“I’m not sure why that’s so funny,” I huff, offended, but not entirely sure for what yet. I don’t have to wait long.

“She’s a little feisty for you, isn’t she?” my cousin says, wiping a tear from her eye.

Awesome.

“It was only for the summer and I’m allowed to?—”

She holds up her hands in surrender. “I’m proud of you for getting out there and having fun after finally divorcing”—she looks behind her to make sure Haven is still occupied before lowering her voice and hissing—“the wench.”

I snort. “You’re gonna get caught calling her that.”

Saige lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “I’ll say it to her face. It’s no secret I never liked her.”

“You were never subtle.”

“She cheated on you and you took her back and married her.”

“I got Haven.”

“She’s the only bright spot.”

Kim had decided somewhere around Haven’s fifth birthday that she wanted more from life than just being a mother. It was a punch to the gut but not entirely surprising, and if I’m honest, I’d been relieved when she finally asked for a divorce.

The problem now is that Kim only comes around when she feels like it, missing the majority of her court-appointed weekends and holidays, leaving Haven wrecked each and every time.

The move to Love Beach had been Saige’s idea, and I jumped at it because I needed the change.

We needed it.

“When do we close on the house?”

“Next week.”

“I can’t believe you made that happen,” I say but she just shrugs.

“It’s what I do.” Her expression softens. “I’m sorry I can’t help more with Haven.”

“Don’t,” I say firmly. “We crashed into your life, and you’ve already done so much. I don’t want to impose any more than we have.”

“You’re not imposing,” she hisses and looks back to make sure Haven isn’t listening. “I love having you guys here.”

“I know and honestly, I love being here too. It will just be nice to have our own space—let Haven decorate her room the way she wants.”

Saige’s lips curve up into a soft smile. “You’re a really good dad, Wells. She’s amazing. This is going to be really great for her.” Her words warm my heart, but it only lasts for a minute before her expression becomes more amused. “And I get to watch this whole thing unfold between you and Vienna.”

“There’s no thing and there’s no unfolding,” I grunt. “If she agrees, everything will be strictly professional.”

“Yeah, because single dads never hook up with the nanny.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say wryly but also hating how easily I could fall into that stereotype. “How was I supposed to know he was talking about Vienna? Seriously, what are the odds? I never saw her here—only in Magnolia Point where her sister lives.”

“Normal people usually ask who’s being recommended to watch their kid.”

“You’re not helping.”

Lifting a shoulder, she lets it drop. “There are worse things. After the wench, it’s all uphill from here.”

Groaning, I shove her shoulder and she laughs. “Whatever. Grab your coffee and let’s go watch the movie for the hundredth time this week.”

“You’re too easy.” She snickers as she follows me.

“Yep,”—I sigh ruefully—“that’s always been my problem.”