“But with all this land out here, I’m surprised you're dirty.” I huff before I gasp, my eyes widening, and I slam my hand over my mouth. Why can’t I just shut up?!
“Sorry. I didn’t mean… I just… I don’t mean to say you're dirty. I just mean dirty energy.” Heat blooms across my cheeks as Sutton throws his head back and laughs.
“God, I love these facts…” Sutton says quietly next to me. Tanner looks at him, then back to me. His brow furrows a little before a small smile comes to his face.
“I’m listening,” Tanner prods.
“I should probably just go…”
“Tell me what you think. Might as well, you’ve already started.” He crosses his arms over his chest and watches me, and I look up at Sutton for encouragement.
His proud expression never wavers. “Tell him, Tinker bell.”
I clear my throat. “The wind runs west to southwest out here most of the time, which is in line with the gardens I just saw out front. I mean, I’ve never been here before, not sure what else is out there or out back, but you could harvest it.”
“Harvest it?” Tanner clarifies.
“The wind.” It’s simple, really. What’s he not understanding?
“What about solar? I’m currently looking at covering the roof with panels.”
“There’s not enough sun,” I explain easily.
“I had a team come in to consult last week. They were adamant that solar was the best option.”
That sparks my interest. “Which team?”
Tanner's eyes narrow. “SunVault Strategies.”
I laugh before I snort and then gasp with another layer of embarrassment. Fuck my life.
“And I love that little snort too…” Sutton shakes his head, smiling like he’s won the lottery, his hand never leaving my back, but Tanner eyes me suspiciously and takes a step forward, startling me. I feel my heart racing beneath my ribs, nerves dancing, but he’s only grabbing a sandwich.
“Step back from her.” Sutton’s voice is immediate, sensing my unease as he stands at full height, stepping forward a little. Tanner stops immediately with a quirked eyebrow, taking a step back.
“I apologize. I didn’t realize I was. I’m just interested in the topic, since it’s something I'm looking to invest in.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. Tanner Whiteman just apologized. To me. Sutton stood up for me, protecting me. What the hell is going on in my life lately?
“Continue.” Sutton allows me the time and space to gather my thoughts.
“SunVault only offers solar, so of course they would pitch that. But Whispers has more wind here than daylight hours. Plus, wind can be generated day or night, doubling your capacity. You have the space to run a few turbines. I don’t know the whiskey business, but it’s possible to run this place on one hundred percent renewable energy, and possibly be the only distillery that does so.” Once I get talking about my favorite topic, it’s hard to stop.
Tanner rubs his chin in thought. “That was my plan. I like reusing what we’ve already got. I don’t like creating a bigger footprint than needed. I just thought solar would be better.”
“The environment doesn’t lie. You just need to listen to it.” As if on cue, a wail of wind brushes past the window.
“You should see the wind turbine she’s making at home. It’s awesome,” Sutton tells him, and my gaze snaps up to his. Again, there’s pride in his voice. This man really sees me.
“You make turbines?” Tanner asks.
I shrug it off. “Just a hobby.”
“A hobby? Wind turbines?” Tanner's eyebrows are sky-high in surprise. I wring my hands together, not wanting to go on another ramble. I really need to leave and get out of this conversation.
“Some people knit, some people run, I like sustainability.”
“Have views on waste recycling?” he asks.
