Chapter 7

Alex

F inn placed his hands on his hips, then gestured toward the bar on the other side of the room.

"They get me up in the morning. My customers and employees." Finn shut his eyes and shook his head. "We're a community, and that's what Fireside Forge brewery is all about. Friendship, and great beer." He opened his eyes, then crossed his tattooed arms over his chest. "I suspect you don't know much about those things. Hyper-capitalists rarely do, because all you love is money."

I did my best to keep a neutral expression on my face, but it was proving to be difficult. "You think you know me because of our brief fling on that cruise ship, but trust me, if all you think I care about is the almighty dollar, you don't know me at all." I gathered up my things and got to my feet. "Perhaps I should go. Read the information in this folder," I tapped on it with my index finger. "The terms are excellent, and by the way, so are the benefits. I dare say that working for me would be much better for you and your employees. Higher pay, access to better health care, and retirement plans that truly take care of," I gestured toward the people at the bar who were all trying to appear like they were ignoring us. "Communities."

Finn pursed his lips, and at that moment I remembered them wrapped around my cock. Damn it, isn't there a way I can charm him into selling this place?

"I'll show you out, Mr. Hamilton," Finn frowned.

"It's Harrington, Finn." I swear he used the wrong name on purpose. "Alex Harrington."

As we walked toward the door, Finn kept his eyes on me, his expression thoughtful. "You may have graduated from an elite college and climbed the corporate ladder, Alex, but there's more to life than just pushing papers and signing checks," he said, his voice low and steady.

"I know that, Finn," I replied, trying to stay calm. "And I appreciate the work you've done here at Fireside Forge. It's not about taking that away from you or your employees. It's about giving you the chance to grow and thrive even more. The offer on the table is genuine, I promise."

Finn's gaze never left my face. "You can't put a price on the bonds we've forged here, Alex. We've built something special, and I'm not willing to let that go."

Finn opened the front door, and to my surprise, he walked outside with me.

"I'll bet you a hundred smackers you're driving that red Porsche," Finn pointed at a vintage Porsche that I would love to own.

"Sorry to disappoint you Finn, but I'm driving the ancient beige Range Rover over there." I tilted my head toward it. "I help my family with their farms, and a Porsche doesn't drive too well in a muddy pasture."

"You said farms, plural." Finn rolled his eyes. "Rich people think they can say or do anything because you own everything. And if you don't own something, you'll crush anyone in your way to get what you want."

I pressed the button on my key fob and the Range Rover's doors unlocked. Damn it, I wanted to say something, anything, to defend myself. But it would only come out wrong and piss Finn off even more. Jesus, what happened to the hunky, caring man I'd met on the cruise?

"Finn, by some strange coincidence, we're back in each other's lives. Do you really believe I'm some rich asshole who doesn't care about people? Seriously?" I opened the passenger door and placed my briefcase on the seat. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder and froze.

"What exactly should I believe?" Finn's voice dropped an octave. "You arrive here with a name that's different, expecting me to happily sign over the business I built from scratch to you?"

He had a point. I slowly turned around and was shocked to see his eyes were wet. "Finn, so much was happening when we met on that cruise. And I didn't expect you to be the owner of this brewery. Hell, if I recall correctly, you told me you were from Oregon."

"I am." Finn drawled. "Are there a bunch of people watching us through the windows?"

I glanced up and saw several sets of eyes trained on us. "Yes, you've got some nosy friends."

"They care about me, which is why I'll never sell you my brewery." Finn placed his hands on my shoulders, and I froze. Was he about to hit me or kiss me? "But I will give you one thing that I've wished for since you left me on the Bearacruz."

"What's that?" I breathed, and an image of Finn naked in my bed, curled up next to me, flashed through my mind.

"A goodbye kiss," Finn whispered, and his lips slowly descended onto mine. At first, I was taken aback, but then I allowed myself to enjoy the warmth and passion of the moment. As Finn pulled away, he smiled at me, and I could see the raw emotion in his eyes. "You're a complicated man, Alex Harrington."

As I drove up the long, winding driveway to my sister's farm, the surrounding scenery seemed almost surreal. Towering oak trees lined the gravel path, their thick branches intertwining above, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The soft, rhythmic crunch of gravel under the tires was the only sound, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.

The Plains, Virginia, was a world away from Richmond and even further from the chaos that had unfolded back at the brewery. Here, the air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of hay and the unmistakable earthy aroma of horses. Rolling pastures stretched out on either side, dotted with grazing mares and their foals. The white fencing that bordered the property was meticulously maintained, a testament to my sister and her husband's dedication.

I couldn't shake the image of Finn's eyes—wet with unshed tears, brimming with a mix of anger and hurt. The feel of his lips still lingered on mine, warm and unexpectedly soft, a stark contrast to the bitterness of our conversation. What had just happened between us? We had gone from business negotiations to a deeply personal confrontation in the blink of an eye, and I was left grappling with emotions I hadn't anticipated.

The farmhouse came into view, a charming two-story building with a wrap-around porch. It looked like something out of a postcard, with flower boxes under the windows bursting with colorful blooms. I parked the Range Rover and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before facing Summer. She was my rock, my confidante, and right now, I needed her more than ever.

As I walked towards the house, I noticed the soft neighing of horses from the nearby stable and the distant hum of farm equipment. Normally, these sounds would be soothing, but today they barely registered. My mind was stuck replaying the scene with Finn, his accusations ringing in my ears. Hyper-capitalist, he had called me. Someone who didn't understand the value of community or friendship. Was that really how he saw me?

I climbed the steps to the porch and hesitated at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. Summer had always seen through my defenses, and I wasn't sure I was ready for her insight. But I had to talk to her. She would help me make sense of this tangled mess.

Pushing the door open, the familiar warmth of the farmhouse greeted me. The smell of baked bread wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the scent of lavender from the sachets Summer always kept around the house. I made my way to her room, where she was resting. The house was quiet, except for the faint creak of floorboards under my feet and the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.

When I reached her door, I paused, gathering my thoughts. I needed to talk, to unload everything that was churning inside me. Taking another deep breath, I knocked gently and pushed the door open. Summer looked up from her book, her eyes lighting up with a smile when she saw me.

"Alex," she breathed, her voice filled with concern. "You look troubled. Come, sit with me and tell me what's going on."

I sat down on the edge of her bed, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. "Summer, you won't believe what happened today," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I ran into someone from my past, and now everything's a mess."

"Well, make it quick because Mom and Dad are on their way." Summer glanced up at the clock on the wall next to the bed. "They left Charlottesville an hour ago, so we'll have a little talk before they get here."

"I never told you about the cruise I was on when you, well, had your last miscarriage." I hated even bringing it up.

"Honey, I'm fine now." Summer reached over and patted my arm. "That's why I'm on bedrest until little George Jr. is born. Now go on, tell me the rest."

"I met a guy on the cruise, and we really hit it off. But…" My mind blanked, trying to find the right words. "I gave him a fake name while we were together because of the divorce. If she'd…"

"That bitch would've created more of a fuss if she'd known you were on a gay cruise." Summer rolled her eyes. "The day you signed your divorce papers, our entire family celebrated. Jesus, when she gave that interview about your divorce in the Washington Post, I wanted to smack her into next week."

"Cruella was the nicest nickname you gave her," I sighed. "Anyway, the guy I met on the cruise was incredible, but honestly, I never thought I'd see him again. He told me he was from Oregon, and I thought he lived there. But it turns out he owns a brewery I want to buy."

"How did you…"

"Summer, I waltzed into his brewery thinking, what a coincidence it was that a man named Finn owned it." I shut my eyes for a moment. "Like, every single time I hear that name, I immediately think back to the cruise, and how much I enjoyed being with him. But it turns out it was really him, and oh my God, he was pissed."

"So let me get this straight." Summer began. "You used a fake name on the cruise, then you approach him from out of the blue wanting to buy his business?" She shook her head and sighed. "Bless your heart, Alex. He had every right to be angry."

"I know, but…"

"Summer, we're here," Mother's voice sang out from downstairs. "And I see Alex's Range Rover in the driveway."

"Jesus, they must've flown to get here so fast," Summer whispered, then she called out, "We're upstairs, Mom."

As Mother and Dad's footsteps approached the stairs, Summer and I exchanged a knowing glance. Our parents had a knack for arriving at the most inconvenient times.

"Alex, darling!" Mother's voice called out as they reached the top of the stairs. "It's so good to see you, sweetheart."

I forced a smile as Mother enveloped me in a tight embrace, her perfume overpowering in the confined space of Summer's room. Dad stood by, nodding curtly in my direction before turning his attention to Summer.

"How are you, Summer?" he asked, his tone perfunctory.

"I'm fine, Dad," Summer replied, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Just taking it easy, as you can see."

Mother finally released me from her embrace and surveyed Summer's room with a critical eye. "It's a shame you're still on bedrest, Summer dear. You really should try that new treatment I read about in Town & Country magazine. They say it works wonders for high-risk pregnancies."

"Mom, I'm perfectly fine," Summer interjected, her patience wearing thin. "The doctors know what they're doing."

Dad stepped forward, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Victoria, perhaps we should give the kids some space. I wanted to check on that horse at the stables before it gets too late."

"Oh, Edward," Mother exclaimed, turning her attention to Dad. "You and your horses. Always finding an excuse to disappear. Summer, when did you eat last?"

"Breakfast." She glanced at the clock. "I guess I should run downstairs and make something."

"Where on earth is your husband?" Mother shook her head. "You shouldn't go all day without eating."

"Mom, I'm just not very hungry, what with the…"

"I'll make you something to eat, darling, though it's been a long time since anyone trusted me in a kitchen." Mom clucked her tongue, then hurried out.

"Alexander, after catching up with your sister, come meet me in the stables for a little chat." Dad nodded curtly, and followed Mom down the stairs.

"Look," Summer clutched my arm. "We only have a minute to talk before Mom comes back. What are you going to do?"

"Do?" I shrugged. "About what?"

"That guy, Finn, and his brewery. What are you going to do next?"