Page 10 of Tennessee Trouble

Luna’s confusion morphs into something else. Something I can’t name. But it’s softer and full of hope.

“You…you got into brewing because of Ol’ Reverend?”

I nod. “Yup. Was inspired by the best, not mass-produced shit, and knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Throwing her head back, Luna bursts into laughter. The sound weaves its way into me, anchoring itself to my heart and taking root. There’s no way I’m ever going to forget that beautiful sound or the way it’s making me feel.

“Brewer,” she says, stepping forward until we’re all but touching. “Do you trust me?”

It’s a loaded question, given the nothing we know about each other. But there’s only one answer. Because deep down, I know.

“Yes.”

“Good. Because I want to show you something. Come with me.”

4

LINDEE

My whole body is vibrating with excitement as I round the last corner before the turnoff up in the hills outside Trouble. The sun has all but disappeared behind the horizon, giving this adventure an extra thrill. And there was already plenty.

In all of my wildest dreams, I could not have conjured a more perfect man than the one currently sitting in the passenger seat of my Jeep. Part of me is still wondering if I’m imagining it.

Admittedly, my heart dropped for a split second when he mentioned his own moonshine. I thought that I’d been had. Tricked into something. That the other shoe had dropped—he was here to infiltrate us somehow and steal the family secrets.

But when he told me he came up here because of my family’s creation—our legacy—I knew. I knew my one night of fun was going to be more than I could have ever imagined.

Leaving me already wishing that we were going to have more than just one night.

“Wait, wait…” I say through my laughter. “I want to know what the cops said!”

“Oh God,” Brewer drawls, his exasperation shining through his own chuckle. “I can still hear the chief talkin’ into that radio. Don’t worry, y’all…we got ’em. They’s just out here drunk on some hooch. Looks like they cooked them up a still.”

I laugh even harder at his impression, not having a clue if it’s accurate, as I make the turn down the makeshift road that leads to the old hideout. This story is so perfect, and now that I’ve heard it, I know he’s going to appreciate this place even more.

“I don’t know what Mama was more pissed about, that we’d disappeared for over a week or that we were making our own illegal booze. She whooped me into the middle of next week for that one. So much for bein’ relieved I wasn’t bear food.”

“But you said you still have that still?”

Brewer nods. “We do. It’s housed in our brewhouse now. All the shine I make to this day still comes from that same setup.”

Wow, that’s impressive.

“How’d you manage that? The cops didn’t break it down when they busted you?”

“My best friend, he’s a…well, he comes from a prominent family. And when they busted us, we used the defense about how this is what we wanted to do with our lives. At least we made good on that part. Unbeknownst to us, his dad convinced the chief to keep it one piece. When we graduated college and started the brewery, he gave it back to us. Told us we might need it. Oh, he also made us promise that if we commercialized our product, we’d name it Wacky Water.”

I put the Jeep in park and turned to Brewer, my heart squeezing. “Wacky Water, that’s a good name.”

“Right? And if I ever get his wife’s sweet tea recipe and figure out how to pair it with the ’shine, that’s what we’ll call it.”

Smiling, I reach over and take his hand, giving it a squeeze. There’s a part of me that wants to tell him that maybe we can work out a deal. Figure out a way to partner up. Because I would love to make a sweet tea ’shine. Simply never found the right ratio to meet my standards.

But then I remember that we made a deal. One night only. Wherever the moonshine takes us.

So I change the subject.

“But you opted for beer instead?”