Page 148 of Best Kind of Trouble
“Well,” Dottie says, puckering her lips. “I had a talk with a few parties I thought might also be interested in investing in your business. You know, we’ve all tried the beer. It’s simply divine, and we love your ideas about using the barrel room and releasing future beers on a weekly basis.”
“I’m not about to stop working here,” Ann puts in. “I’m having the time of my life, and Otis only just started showing me how to use that Golden app thing. It’s only been a few days, but I already met a hunky silver fox.”
“And I’m so proud of you and your man with the nice ass,” Great-Aunt Sky says, beaming at me.
“I’m very invested in keeping my brother employed,” Hannah adds with a smile.
“I’d like to keep working here for now, too,” Otis says. He nudges Sophie’s shoulder, adding, “and I had this idea that maybe Soph and I could do some pop-up crafting events here.”
“So it makes sense for our crafting business to invest,” Sophie says in a no-nonsense tone.
“And I’m going to twist your arm to put my ginger beer on tap,” Nora says before glancing at Liam. “Because I sure as hell want your beer permanently on tap at The Ginger Station.”
“Weallwant to invest,” Cormac blurts, then frowns at the hat his father is still holding out. “But what are we supposed to do with the hat, Dad? No one uses paper money these days. I figured we’d be Venmo-ing.”
“It’s symbolic.” Eugene murmurs something about kids these days and then shrugs. “And Dottie printed out the brewery’s Venmo code and put it inside. But we should hurry this up. My woman’s out there with a bunch of young single men. She might rethink everything if I’m not careful.”
Nora gives him an approving look; Cormac says, “They’re probably looking foryoungsingle women, Dad.”
My eyes fill with tears as Eugene starts to pass the hat around. “You guys…I can’t believe this. You don’t have to?—”
“No,” Dottie says firmly. “But wewantto. We believe in you. We all want a part in what you’re building.”
I nod, the tears falling down my cheeks. I have to hug all of them. I have to make them cookies and light candles for them and lift them up, because of everything they’ve done for me. They’ve become the family I never thought I could have. But first…
I turn to Liam, peering up at him,and he grins down at me.
“They’re our miracle, Briar.”
Then he picks me up, twirls me around, and kisses me in front of everyone.
And I let myself believe again, fully, that I can be truly happy—that I can have the man I loveandmy dream.
“Oh my God, now you’rekissingin front of me too?” Hannah moans.
Liam laughs. “Yeah, and I’m going to do it again too.”
He tips me backward and kisses me again, and I really do feel like a princess.
EPILOGUE
BRIAR
Six months later
I smile at Liam. “You ready for this?”
“As ready as I am every week,” he replies with a grin as he climbs off his bike.
I stow my helmet and do the same.
Stubborn man that my father is, he hasn’t yet agreed to remove the clause in our original contract that says I have to attend family dinner every Friday. And, unfortunately, they have been insisting that we actually stay for dinner lately.
When we arrived at Sterling Manor on the first Friday after the New Year’s party, my father had emerged by himself, in hispajamas, and shouted, “I know it was you!”
I nearly shouted it back, but Liam placed his hand on my arm and said, “Does that mean we can go?”
“Leave!” he’d shouted.
