Page 18 of Fierce-Baker

“I’ve only been bugging you about it for the past year. I know the others are going to age longer.”

His eyes moved to the room in the back full of barrels that were going to age for different lengths of time. “If you want to get your son down here, we can open it up. Kind of early for a tasting though, don’t you think?”

“If you were married to my wife, you’d be drinking this early every day.”

“That will stay between us too,” Baker said.

“Smart man.”

5

BEST KNOWN SECRET

Tasha arched her back, heard it crack and tried to keep the groan from escaping her lips.

The coffee took the edge off her sleepless night, but the tossing and turning caused her to pinch something that standing this long wasn’t helping.

“Looks like you need a break, Tasha.” Brenda yelled to her from the doorway of the shop.

“Whenever you’re ready. No rush.”

“Give me twenty minutes,” Brenda said. “I’m just waiting for Kyle to come back from his lunch.”

“You’re good.” She went back to handing out bracelets to the next people coming in for the tour, then noticed Margo bringing in more food that was sold in the tasting room.

Just a small variety of pretzels with beer cheese, nachos, hot dogs or other specials that were easy to put together and hand out. The restaurant sent food over several times a day or as requested when it was going fast.

Margo lifted her hand and waved, she returned it, then her best friend dashed over.

“I’ve got a pan of food for the break room. Did you have your break yet?”

“Soon.” She was still scanning credit cards, then stopped when she ran out of blue wristbands. “The next tour starts in five minutes, then you can all go into the tasting room.”

“With fresh food by the looks of it,” someone said, eyeing Margo.

She was pretty sure it had more to do with Margo than the food that was brought in since her bestie was what many would consider a blonde bombshell, even under her chef gear.

“Just brought it over,” Margo said. “Waiting for you all to fill up with your beer.”

Margo winked at her, then Brenda slipped out. “Perfect timing. I’m going on break now.”

“I’ll meet you in the break room,” Margo said, turning to go back through the tasting room to the van parked on the side.

Tasha wanted to offer to carry in anything but knew Margo would brush her off.

Though she brought a lunch with her, she knew Margo would be upset if she didn’t eat what was being provided. This was done often. Not always enough to feed the whole plant, but just things that Liam or Aiden were trying new and wanted to get an idea of.

She filled her water bottle back up, rinsed out her coffee cup and set it aside as Margo came in with a big pan in her hands covered with foil, another smaller container on top of that, with small slider rolls balancing to round it off.

“I could have helped you,” she said, rushing forward and grabbing the smaller container and bringing it to the table. “Oh my God, that smells good. What is it?”

“Pulled pork made with Baker’s rum.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“Nope. Liam wanted to try it. It’s pretty great and the rum is a new seller this year. Grab one quickly because people are moving over.”

She laughed as those who were in the room got up to get closer. They knew how it worked. There were about ten people in here now, but news would spread fast.