He knew she thought hed set her up. He hadnt. But there was no way to make her believe it. Too bad. Because whatever it was that had attracted him that night wasnt going away anytime soon. She could dress down all she liked. She was still off-the-charts sexy in his eyes.
Good morning, he offered.
Morning, she returned, stony faced.
Thanks for coming.
She scoffed and shrugged her shoulders. Like I had a choice. Tell me what you need, and lets get this over with.
Zach couldnt help a surreptitious glance at the receptionist stationed at the counter across the room, trying to gauge if she was within earshot. It seemed unlikely, but there was no point in taking chances.
You want the tour first? he asked Abigail, using an outstretched arm to direct her toward the main door.
Craig Mountain Brewery offered tours of the castle, the facilities and the grounds. According to Lucas, there were quite a few tourists willing to make the hour-long, scenic drive to visit a historic castle and sample Craig Mountain beer. At the last managers meeting in Houston, Zach and Alex had turned down Lucass proposal to put in a small restaurant. But Zach was now rethinking that decision.
Why would I want a tour? Abigail asked without moving.
Because its interesting.
She crossed her arms mulishly over her chest. Im not here to see the sights.
In his peripheral vision, he saw the receptionist move to the far side of the cavernous room. Nice to know the staff were courteous.
I need you to understand how we operate here. How else are you going to argue our case?
Im not arguing your case. Im giving you some information. What you do with it is entirely up to you.
That wasnt our deal.
We dont have a deal. We have a blackmail scheme.
True enough. Youre being melodramatic again.
She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. Then I can walk back out that door and not worry about any negative repercussions?
No, you cant, he admitted.
I rest my case.
See, youre good at this.
She frowned. You expect me to laugh?
I expect you to let me show you around Craig Mountain Brewery. He gestured toward the door again.
She gave a hard, exaggerated sigh and hiked up the backpack. If thats whatll get this over and done with.
Thats whatll get this over and done with, he confirmed.
She lifted her nose in the air, pivoted on those scuffed boots and marched for the door.
He couldnt help watching her rear end as she walked away. The woman had the sexiest body hed ever seen. He supposed thats what happened when you combined natural beauty, fresh air and healthy living. The hot got hotter.
Abigail was scorching.
He followed her outside to where semicircular, stone steps led to a gravel parking lot. They were bordered by the castle lawns on the lake side and by forests of maples, aspens and evergreen trees stretching up the hill on the other. As August wound to a close, the barest hint of changing leaves had appeared. Beyond the tree line, the mountains turned to scrub and then craggy rock.
The expanse of green lawn stretched toward a rocky cliff that dropped to Lake Patricia. At the cliffs edge was a massive statue of Lord Ashton, chest puffed out, sword drawn, perched on a magnificent charger that seemed to gallop toward the water.
The expanse of green lawn stretched toward a rocky cliff that dropped to Lake Patricia. At the cliffs edge was a massive statue of Lord Ashton, chest puffed out, sword drawn, perched on a magnificent charger that seemed to gallop toward the water.
Zach had to admit, if it wasnt for the worry about DFBs future and the discord with Abigail, he would have enjoyed his stay here. Hed taken a small but very comfortable suite on the third floor of the castle. Hed even poked his head up to the small, dusty, rotund turrets. Lucas was right, the castle was a treasure trove of memorabilia.
Thats the statue of Lord Ashton, Zach offered as an opening.
Is he currently brewing beer? Abigail tartly inquired.
He is not.
Then I dont need to know about him. She rounded on Zach. Can we move it along? Lets stick to the things I need to know.
Zach couldnt really blame her for being testy. And blackmailing her wasnt exactly his most admirable undertaking. But life was tough. You took your advantages where you could. And in a few days, shed be finished with him, and shed be back in the bosom of her family, doing the ranch job she hated, none the worse for wear.
Come to think of it. She should be grateful to him for giving her a reprieve from roping and riding and branding. He wondered if hed be able to make her see it that way, or at least get her to admit that he wasnt dragging her to the gallows. Helping Craig Mountain get a few thousand more gallons of water each day wasnt going to fundamentally change anything, except the lives of Zachs employees. And that would be for the good.
The brewerys down this path, he offered, nodding the way.
She reluctantly fell into step beside him. And I need to see it why?
We brew C Mountain Ale up here, Zach began. Its Craig Mountains signature product, and its unique taste comes, in part, from the local, underground springwater. They rounded a corner of the path, and the gray, industrial complex came into view. Nationwide and worldwide, hundreds of microbreweries are going under in todays economy. Were in danger of joining them, except that we have one product thats taking our national and international markets by storm. Our Red, White and Brew six-pack.
Red, White and Brew?
Very patriotic packaging. Consumers love it. It contains one beer from each of our breweries. Theyre in six different states. All the other facilities can keep up with the increased demand. But we need to triple production of C Mountain Ale.
Why not replace C Mountain Ale with another beer? she reasoned.
Because its one of the most popular in the pack. When you find the X factor in the beer business, in any business, you dont mess with it.
Find another water source. Its water, Lucky. Water.
From where? He stopped and gestured around them. From the lake? The river? Surface water is vastly different in chemical composition. It would need a different treatment. The taste would change. And-and this is the most important point-Id have to get the bloody water license to do that anyway.
She didnt seem to have an answer for that.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to hit on the exact formula for a popular beer? he continued.
Do you know how hard it is to lie to your family?
No, he stated flatly. I dont.
They stared at each other in charged silence.
Then why are you making me do it?
Zachs heart contracted, and he was forced to push down an unfamiliar feeling of guilt. Im not. You can tell your family anything you want.
If Id told them the truth, I wouldnt be here.
And your secrets safe with me.
My conscience isnt.
Your conscience will get over it. People had to do what they had to do in this life. It was a tiny bit of white lie, one of omission really. Zach had done far worse, and his conscience was perfectly clear.
Im going to hate you, Zach, she warned.
I guess Im going to have to find a way to live with that.
You couldnt care less, could you?
No. I could care a whole lot less than I do. Truth was, he cared far more than he should. But his duty was to Alex and to his employees. He had to stay tough. He couldnt let his personal feelings for Abigail get in the way.
Abigail tried very hard not to show an interest in the inner workings of the brewery. But the manager made the tour quite fascinating, and she found herself impressed by the scope of the operation.
The bottling plant- wearing a hat and safety glasses, Lucas projected his voice over the rumble of the motors, the whir of the conveyors and the clatter of the bottles running past them toward the filling station -is the one place we wont need any kind of upgrade. Its currently only operating at eighteen percent capacity, so theres plenty of room for growth. Good call on that when you bought it. He tipped his head to Zach.
Zach nodded an acknowledgment of the compliment but didnt offer a response over the din. They bypassed the labeling conveyor to go through a swinging doorway, shutting out much of the noise. Then they headed down a short hallway that seemed to be leading them back to the warehouse.
Halfway down the hall, Lucas opened a door to a large, dimly lit room. It was lined with banks of computers, monitors and electrical panels that featured a host of blinking lights. This is the nerve center of the operation.
Just then, Zachs cell phone rang. He peeled off the hat and safety glasses theyd been issued for the brewery leg of the tour, excusing himself to move farther down the hall.
Abigail removed her own hat and glasses, handing them to Lucas as they moved farther into the control room. Two staff members were walking from station to station, noting numbers and turning dials.
We can monitor temperature, humidity, production, supplies and shipping, said Lucas. You name it.
Are all of the DFB breweries this big? Abigail found herself asking.
Craig Mountain is the smallest, Lucas replied. But weve had some of the most recent upgrades, so we like to think we can hold our own.
Im sure you can. I have to say, Im very impressed. The place seemed high-tech and very well run.
Lucas rested his butt against the edge of one of the long, black-topped counters. And I have to say its nice of you to help us out with this.
She retied her ponytail, compressing her lips. She had no intention of discussing the sordid details, but she wasnt willing to tell an outright lie. Helping Craig Mountain wasnt my choice, she admitted.
He cocked his head. I have to admit, I was surprised to hear that youd said yes.
She tried to guess how much he knew about the blackmail. He seemed to be seeking information.
Was it out of pity? he probed.
Id call it insanity, she responded. If Seth or Travis find out Im doing this-
Lucas came upright. Wait a minute. Your brothers dont know youre here?
Abigail stilled, a sinking feeling creeping into her stomach. Zach didnt tell you to keep this a secret?
You helping us is a secret?
Yes.
Are you kidding me?
Abigail shook her head. Then she swallowed. Oh, no.
Lucas slipped an arm through hers. With a surreptitious glance at the two employees over his shoulder, he propelled her out the door and into the hallway. There, they all but ran into Zach.
Yes.
Are you kidding me?
Abigail shook her head. Then she swallowed. Oh, no.
Lucas slipped an arm through hers. With a surreptitious glance at the two employees over his shoulder, he propelled her out the door and into the hallway. There, they all but ran into Zach.