Page 30 of Something’s Brewing

She offered polite smiles, nodding to familiar faces as she stepped up to the counter, the warm wood beneath her palms grounding her in the moment.

A woman with kind eyes and a high ponytail tucked under a soft baseball cap smiled from behind the register. “You must be Madison. I’m Kate.”

Madison smiled, instantly liking her. Garrett had mentioned that Kate was dating his brother. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard good things from Garrett.”

Kate’s laugh was soft. “He’s not always wrong.”

Madison’s stomach growled loudly as she eyed the pastry case. “Please tell me that scone is blueberry.”

“Fresh batch this morning. And we added a hint of lemon glaze,” Kate said, already bagging one up.

Madison practically salivated. “You’re dangerous.”

“Only before ten a.m.,” Kate quipped.

Garrett stepped up behind her just as Madison handed over her card. “I’ve got it,” he said, nudging her elbow as he handed Kate his instead.

“You don’t have to⁠—”

“It’s coffee and a scone, not a mortgage payment.”

Kate swiped his card and leaned slightly toward Madison, lowering her voice just enough. “You two make a cute couple. How long’s it been?”

Madison blinked. “Oh—we’re not . . .”

Kate gave her a questioning look.

Madison chuckled, warmth creeping up her neck. “I’m just helping with the brewery launch. We aren’t dating.”

Kate nodded slowly, not looking convinced. “Right. Got it.”

Madison took the to-go bag with a murmured thanks and stepped aside to wait for her drink, trying not to let her grin stretch too wide.

Garrett ordered his usual—something with two shots and no frills. He caught her watching and his gaze sharpened. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said, fighting back a smirk. “You just have a very boring coffee order for someone who likes experimenting with beer flavors.”

He gave her a look. “That scone better be worth the sass.”

“It has lemon glaze,” she said, lifting her bag. “I regret nothing.”

Their drinks were ready a minute later, and as they left Sacred Grounds, walking side by side, Madison couldn’t help but notice the hush behind them, like the whole coffee shop was watching.

“Do you think the entire town is placing bets on us?” she muttered.

“Knowing Deer Creek Falls?” Garrett took a sip of his coffee. “Probably.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The chill hit Madison the second they stepped through the double doors leading down to the ice. The air smelled like sharp cold. She zipped her jacket higher as the sound of practice echoed around them—hollow puck claps, shouts, the unmistakable scrape of blades carving into the ice.

Garrett walked beside her, a bag holding his skates in hand, his arm still in a sling, eyes already scanning the rink. “We’re a little early. Just catching the end of the league skate.”

“Should you be skating with your arm injury?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Madison nodded, keeping her stride steady on the rubber flooring that led to the benches. The glass lining the boards was smudged and fogged in places, a testament to the relentless intensity unfolding on the other side.