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“Emma and Clay are going, too. I’m sure she’ll give you a very detailed rundown.”
“I don’t know why you still go to those.”
“Because I have to.”
“No, you don’t,” she says.
Avery didn’t come from money like I do, but in the small town where she grew up, her family was a prominent one. She tried to be their perfect daughter until one day she said, “No more.” I understand what she’s saying—technically, I don’t have to—but her situation was different from mine. They’re my family, and I do like making them happy.
“Maybe one day I’ll stop going, but how can I pass up the opportunity to take the mountain man home?”
Behind us, Juliet gasps.
“What?” We turn and look at her, and her face is lit up.
“I just had the best idea for your next prank.” She grins.
17
BRIGGS
“Ithink we should talk,” Cole says, coming from his office upstairs.
The hair on the back of my neck immediately stands up. I don’t think he’s planning on leaving me anytime soon, but you never know, and the way he just said that sounds ominous. Even though we’re best friends, it’s not like he would have discussed it with me beforehand.
Wiping my hands, I set down the towel and turn to face him. I’ve worked nonstop in the orchard over the past few weeks. Between collecting and picking apples, getting them washed and stored in the large walk-in coolers for later use, then in the mill, pressing them and the juice sent to the fermentation tanks, I’m just beat. Everyone has been all hands on deck, even Goldie. I’ve seen her up on the mountain helping Jane, but being the owner, I feel it’s my responsibility to put in the most time and go above and beyond.
“All right. What’s up?” I place my hands on my hips.
He pauses, and his face pales. “This is awkward.”
“What is? Spit it out.”
Anxiety creeps in a little as I suddenly think I should be alarmed at what he’s about to tell me.
He rolls his lips into his teeth, lets out a deep sigh, and says, “I didn’t realize you were ready to start dating again.”
Huh?
“What do you mean?” I ask, examining him for clues as to what the hell he’s talking about.
“Nothing! I mean nothing by that, and I think it’s great,” he says, taking a step away from me.
I tilt my head a little and stare at him. Did he find out I stayed at Goldie’s? She must have mentioned it to Jane. Or maybe he found out about our deal? Does he think it’s a real date? He must, and then I laugh while walking over to the bar to pour myself a glass. Cold, crisp, tart, and delicious.
“Cole, it’s not what you think,” I tell him, shaking my head. He knows all about my family and was appalled when I told him about Jaxon and Adele. Then he very vocally announced that he never liked Adele in the first place, and he had a few very specific choice words to say about them.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” he says defensively.
“Yeah, I guess it doesn’t, but something about this has you all worked up, so spit it out.”
“Briggs”—he hesitates and then stands a little taller—“it’s just not good for business.”
I’m thoroughly confused. From the influx of people we had after the news segment, I can’t see how being friends with her would ever be bad for business. Not that I plan on exploiting her in any way. Come to think of it, it still pisses me off that she hasn’t installed a security system with all of the strangers rolling in up here.
“How so?” I ask, curious to hear how his mind works on the topic of Goldie. Although, when it comes to her, I’m not sure I care what he thinks.
“Well, for starters, you shouldn’t have used the orchard’s email address. I mean, to each their own, but have you seen how many emails have come in over the past week? There must be at least a hundred, and all with photos of people’s feet. I think using a personal email address would be best.”
