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I grimaced and ran a hand through my hair. “That was the plan, but the space next door became available unexpectedly, and it’s too good an opportunity to pass up. Frank Murphy is a sullen old arsehole, and he swore black and blue he’d die before giving up the deed. Turns out his daughter needs the money now, and he promised to hear my offer before officially putting the place on the market.” No need to mention that the guy insisted that the offer be made before the end of the week, and he wasn’t interested in negotiations.
Birdie closed the business plan with a smack and pursed her lips to one side. “Don’t suppose we could take a look at the property before I make my final decision?”
I leapt to my feet, the keys Mr Murphy had given me already free of my pocket and jingling in my hand. “I can give you a tour right now.”
“It’s nearly midnight,” Isaac grumbled, begrudgingly getting to his feet. Birdie took his outstretched hand, and Isaac slid her out of the booth and against his side.
“Which is when I do my best work.” Birdie elbowed Isaac in the thick muscle around his ribs and gave him a wink. “You know that. This won’t take long, and then we can sign the paperwork. Put Mr Kidd here out of his misery.”
She offered me a grin, and I returned it as professionally as I could. So close, but not there yet. And definitelynota favour.
I led Birdie and Isaac through the bar to a back door that led out into the service alley, and they followed the half-dozen steps to the warehouse next door. I unlocked the entrance and was the first one in, switching on the blinking fluorescent lights before moving further into the space. Birdie and Isaac followed close behind.
“It’s not much to look at now,” I said, striding to the centre of the room, my shoes leaving prints in the thick layer of dust covering the old timber floors. “But it’s the perfect size for a microbrewery. Grain mill will go here”—I gestured to one side of the warehouse, then began to pace as equipment materialised before my eyes, creating a state-of-the-art brewery that was going to be the foundation for my entire future—“hot liquor tank there, the brewhouse system, fermentation vessels—”
Birdie sniffed and then sneezed, and I snapped my mouth closed. Nobody could possibly look at this dilapidated old building and see what I saw, but the details were in the businessplan anyway, and Birdie had already read it. I stuffed my hand in my pocket before I could run it nervously through my hair again.
Birdie did a quiet circuit of the warehouse, eyes roaming over the dirty windows covered with torn pieces of canvas nailed to the frames and the old buckets and broken barrels stacked in the corners. I watched her as Isaac watched me.
“Stop fucking looking at me,” I muttered under my breath.
Isaac chortled, then raised his hands. “Sorry, but you look stressed. It’s going to be fine.”
“I don’t want to take Birdie’s money unless she believes in this place, okay? I’m serious.”
“I’m sorry,” Isaac repeated, only this time he sounded like he meant it. “I didn’t mean to bug you, but if it’s any consolation, Birdie’s as honest as she is smart. She’s not going to agree to anything unless she thinks this place is a good bet, and she’ll tell you what she thinks whether you want to hear it or not. I’m not the business type, but your report looked thorough. You answered all of Birdie’s questions, and it sounded to me like you knew what you were talking about.” Isaac grinned again. “Good thing you’ve got your act together. No way you’re getting into her pockets on those dimples alone, Kidd. Trust me.”
The corner of my mouth ticked up. It felt good to know one of my oldest friends could see how hard I was working at making something of myself. Still, old habits died hard. “These dimples have never failed to get me into a girl’s pants before, Greene.”
Isaac rolled his eyes, but his punch on my arm landed with enough impact to make me grunt. “You’re lucky we go back as far as we do, Kidd, and I know not to listen to you talking shit like that.”
I chuckled quietly. “Noted.”
Birdie had completed a round and was going back for a second. Isaac crossed his arms over his barrel chest and watched, still as a statue, while I kicked absently at the duston the floor. The two of them—him the gentle, giant, small-town cop and her the globe-trotting pro poker player—were an unlikely couple, but they fit like they were made for each other. And following a totally unconventional agreement that involved sex coaching, they were the latest to give in to the love bug plaguing Valentine Bay. One by one, my best mates had all left bachelorhood behind, and I was happy for them, but right now, I only had eyes for the brewery. If Birdie agreed to this loan, I’d be staring down years of more work, more responsibility, more debt. That was enough commitment for me.
“I’ve got a counteroffer for you,” Birdie said from across the room, her voice jolting me out of my thoughts. She walked back our way and stood behind Isaac. “One that I hope you’ll take up because if we can pull it off, it’ll mean you should easily make enough to repay my loan. You might even make enough to clear some of your debt on The Stop as well.”
Birdie was smart, but she was also a risk taker, and whatever could make me double my money sounded like a huge gamble.
My stomach rolled with anticipation. “I’m listening.”
Birdie nodded once. “Good. There’s a local poker tournament scheduled for the weekend before Valentine’s Day—a smaller event in Scarborough Cove—but two days ago, the venue pulled out. The organiser has until the end of the week to find a suitable alternative, or the entire event will be cancelled.”
I glanced disbelievingly around the dirty warehouse. It was large enough to fit dozens of people, but it wasn’t what anyone would call hospitable. “Valentine’s Day is barely a month away.”
“Yep.”
“And you think they’d want to do ithere?”
“I know they would because I’m the organiser.” Birdie crossed the floor and stopped in the middle, then turned to face me. “Here’s my deal:Iagree to the loan, and you delay your plans to set up the brewery. I’ll need you to clean the place up—tidyit, of course, but also arrange any repairs or refurbishments well before the big day. I know all the costs for that were included in your business proposal, but if you need more to get it done fast, I’ll cover the extra overheads. I’ll also need you to be here to receive deliveries and manage the hired furniture and equipment.”
I rubbed my eyes and tried to keep up. The relief that Birdie wanted to give me a loan was swamped by my scramble to understand where in this plan I’d make enough at just one event to clear so much of my debt. “I’m not sure I follow you.”
“That’s because I haven’t got to the part about the money.” Birdie lifted her hand and unfolded her fingers along with her list of perks. “One: I’ll hire The Salty Stop to provide all catering and beverages. Two: We charge a cover fee and split it between us. Three: You’re free to display any kind of branding you want in here and market yourself to patrons on the day.” Birdie cocked her head and considered me for a moment. “And four: I’ve pulled some strings, and it won’t be a strictly small-town crowd for this one. There might even be some deep pockets interested in investing in a local, up-and-coming craft brewery. Money like that will cut your five-year business plan in half—at least.”
My pulse jumped as the possibility of finding an investor fired up the adrenaline. “Seriously?”
Birdie shrugged and gave me a smile. “You never know.”
