I slap it on the high-top behind me and block his access with my body. I’d bought the beer for him as a thank you for helping so early this morning, but now, it’s fueling his stupidity. Kenny sure as hell wouldn’t be prodding his boss about last year’s fuck-up if he was sober.
Everyone on the farm knows what happened. I’d had no choice but to sit them down and warn them that they’d potentially be out of a job on short notice. A one-off accusation of unsafe storage temperatures might get you a simple inspection, but Mackenzie’s father—one of the waterfront mansion-owners who wants us off his front lawn—is buddies with a local official. He piled on enough false allegations to make the situation into a solid clusterfuck, and it was only Anson’s connections that saved us from a suspension and investigation that would have destroyed our reputation. We’d moved past it, but the whole thing was nearly disastrous, and everyone had the sense to know it was a sore subject they should stay the hell away from.
“There are different kinds of drunks in this world,” I tell Kenny. “Some get funny, some get quiet, some get sad. And some, like you, unfortunately get a little stupid. You’re going to want to get that under control.” Or he’ll end up getting smacked in the face by someonehe offends at a bar.
He opens his mouth to protest, but Amanda saves him by butting in. “Someone’s mouth getting them into trouble?”
Kenny shakes his head and waves us off. “I’m gonna go kick Steve’s ass at pool, then I’m coming back for my beer.” He jams his thumb into his chest as he skirts away, and declares, “That’smybeer, Boss!”
Over his head, I catch an eye roll from Steve, my farm manager. Everyone knows Kenny sucks ass at pool.
Wednesday nights are when the team typically hits Dyl’s after work. It isn’t some exclusive, planned occasion. Just something locals tend to do around here, to break up the workweek and take advantage of the weekday dinner specials. Some of the construction guys are throwing darts, and I recognize most of the residents scattered around.
“The kid needs a chaperone,” Amanda grumbles, taking a sip of her water.
I chuckle. “He just turned twenty-one. He’ll learn.”
“I’d pay to be there to watch that lesson.” Her eyes dart to the corner for a second. “Eliza’s here.”
“She is.” I’m way too aware of it.
“She looks lonely.”
“She looksbusy.”
“Maybe she’s making herself busy because she doesn’t want to look like a sad, lonely puppy in a place where everyone has someone to talk to.”
“Or maybe she’s a workaholic who doesn’t know how to slow down and enjoy a quiet town like this.”
Amanda raises her brows. There’s something she wants to say, but all she gives is a lackluster, “Maybe.”
I steal another glance at Eliza. She has a glass of wine in hand now, the other furiously scrolling across her keyboard.She’s either incredibly busy, or doing a damn good job pretending to be.
I’ve made no introductions. I’ve warned my team against being distracted by her. I’ve officially outcast her. Another week or two, and she might finally leave.
Mission accomplished.
Except seeing the results of my actions—this pathetic picture of her sitting alone while everyone else is chatting together—has me feeling like evenmoreof an ass.
Goddammit.
“You’re the keeper of Kenny’s beer,” I tell Amanda. She opens her mouth to protest, but I make my way across the room before a sound gets out.
My presence must shift the air, because Eliza’s head tilts up like she senses me coming. When her eyes lock onto me, her entire face falls into a scowl. Except that scowl is framed by a few pieces of hair that fell out of her ponytail, making it less mean and more like a disgruntled kitten.
I have a feeling she’d shank me if I shared that comparison out loud.
“That seat is taken,” she says as I pull out the empty chair across from her.
“By me,” I finish, plopping down and settling in.
“By my sanity, actually,” she fires back. When I don’t move, she blinks at me expectantly. “I’m afraid you’re squashing it right now.”
“Not squashing it. Replacing it.”
“With what—your giant propensity for assholery?”
I deserve that. “With an apology.”
