by Aurora Rey
Two cups and two pieces of toast later, she pulled the door closed behind her and started the walk to work. She passed her parents’ house and contemplated stopping in for a real breakfast. It didn’t matter the day, her mother prepared the works: eggs, sausages, beans, and at this time of year, tomatoes. She’d gotten out of the habit of eating that much after moving to the cottage on the far side of the property, but she liked knowing it remained an option when the mood struck.
In the end, she kept walking, deciding she’d rather be first into the office.
She let herself in via the side entrance, the one used by the production crew and delivery people. She flipped on lights, enjoying the way it made the space come to life. She went to her office and booted her computer but didn’t linger, heading instead for the main still room. She fired up the two main stills, getting them ready for the alcohol and botanicals that had been left to macerate overnight. She’d mostly stepped back from the larger-scale production side of things, but it felt good to keep her fingers in it, keep herself fresh.
“Am I late and don’t know it?” George’s voice boomed across the room.
Cam turned and offered her production manager a smile. “No, I’m early and thought I’d start things in here instead of in my office.”
He let out a dismissive sniff. “Can’t blame you there.”
They’d had countless conversations through the years about the production and sale of gin. She’d learned as much from George as Harry, the old head distiller whose job she’d earned when he finally—finally—retired. Unlike Harry, who she’d butted heads with incessantly, she and George always got along. He was smart, had great instinct and an even better palate, but he had no interest at all in the business side of things. Or the people. He was gruff and prone to surliness, even with the people he liked. Considering she had a less extreme version of the same tendencies, she could relate. “I’m going to do some blending later. Care to join me?”
The space between his bushy eyebrows closed. “It depends. You aiming to put something else in production?”
Cam chuckled. When she’d made the decision to put Carriage House into commercial production a couple of years prior, George hadn’t been pleased. Mostly it had to do with how much he disliked change. But she’d won him over with another part-time assistant and by including him in the final round of refining the flavor profile. By the end, he’d become a friend as much as a company employee and one of Carriage House’s biggest champions. “Just some things for the tasting room.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. “You know where to find me.”
Before Cam could answer, Dev and Tom walked in. They rounded out the morning crew and would get the gin to the point of being ready to bottle. If she wasn’t careful, she could while away her entire morning on the production floor. It would be a nice way to spend her time, but would mean she spent her afternoon in her office instead of the blending room. She bid the three men a good morning and headed to the work waiting for her.
An hour later, she’d sorted through the production schedule for the next month, making sure it matched up to the standing orders and inventory needs. Thanks to her impromptu meeting with Sophie the day before, she had a handle on Carriage House’s place in all that, and spent a few minutes thinking about how she could make its sales match her vision.
After twenty minutes of staring at the wall, she had nothing.
Cam sighed. Her brain just didn’t work that way. Not that she wasn’t creative at all. She could create flavor profiles and craft cocktails every which way. She simply wasn’t a marketer. In her mind, an outstanding product sold itself. It seemed to work for Barrister’s. The problem was that people didn’t buy something they didn’t know about, no matter how good it was. Obviously, Barrister’s had that sorted out before she was born. She shook her head.
Maybe she should talk to Rohit after all. Or consider bringing in someone from the outside. She hated the idea—from the expense to the thought of some slick-talking Londoner strolling in and telling her what to do.
“You’re looking glum again.”
Cam looked up to find Sophie hovering in the doorway. “You’ve got me thinking about marketing and it makes me sour.”
Sophie smiled. “I’m not sure if I should apologize.”
“No. You’re right, I just don’t like it.” Cam rolled her head from side to side, trying to loosen the tension that had settled at the base of her neck. “I’m going to go walk it off.”
“Always a good idea.”
Sophie headed to her own office and Cam stood. Taking a walk in the middle of the day made her feel like her father, but she didn’t mind. It worked for him during his years at the distillery and his father before him. Her mother had encouraged it, saying it was good for the body and the soul.
She left the way she came, heading into town rather than toward home. As she often did on her walkabouts, she decided to pop by the pub. It was too early for a pint, but Charlotte would be opening up and there’d be few if any customers. They’d share a pot of tea and Charlotte would tell her of her latest girlfriend or, now that she’d expanded her pool to include trans guys, boyfriend. It was like a queer soap—entertaining, but made her glad she was watching and not a participant.
She was halfway there when Lauren’s face popped into her mind. They’d barely met and somehow this woman had gotten under her skin, although it was hard to tell if it was the woman or what she represented—modern, trendy, and urban. Either way, Cam had no desire to bump into her. She’d pop by Kitty’s office instead, pet some animals, and catch up with Charlotte later.
Satisfied with her plan, Cam turned up Baker Lane and continued walking. She realized her mind had drifted away from her marketing problem and landed squarely on the beautiful new owner of the Rose & Crown. What she couldn’t decide was whether that situation made her mood better, or worse.
* * *
After getting directions from Mrs. Lucas, Lauren set off in the direction of the solicitor’s office. It was all of a three-minute walk. A small brass plate on the door announced the office of Jane Crawley, Solicitor. Inside, she found a tiny waiting area with a pair of chairs, but no reception desk. The door to the inner office stood open. Before she could call out a greeting, a woman appeared. She had golden hair pulled back from her face and blue eyes that seemed vaguely familiar.
She offered Lauren a smile and said, “Good morning. You must be Miss Montgomery.”
Lauren shook her hand. “I am. And please, call me Lauren.”
“Of course. And you must call me Jane. It’s so nice to meet you, although I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.”
“Thank you. Although, by all accounts, my uncle seemed to have lived a full and happy life.”
Jane’s smile softened and kindness seemed to radiate from her. “He certainly did. Please, come in and take a seat.”
Jane’s office seemed a perfect mirror of her demeanor. Unlike Mr. Brightwater’s office, the room was light and airy, the shelves and walls painted a pale green. There were a few rows of books, but the other shelves and surfaces held photos and knickknacks. The result made the space feel feminine but not cluttered.
“How much did Mr. Brightwater convey to you?” Jane laced her fingers together and set them on her desk. The calmness of her demeanor, especially compared to the fidgety Mr. Brightwater, was striking.
“Not much. Only that I inherited the pub and inn and everything that came with it.” Even after spending the night there, it was kind of surreal.
“That’s correct. The building, its contents, and all of Mr. Collins’s personal effects, including Tilly.”
“Tilly?” Please let that be a cash till full of money.
“Mr. Collins’s springer spaniel.”
A dog? Seriously? What was she supposed to do with a dog? “Of course.”
“The local veterinarian has a small kennel. Tilly’s been staying there since Mr. Collins’s passing.”
It wasn’t that she disliked dogs. No wait, it was. Smelly and full of energy and always wanting to go outside and chase things. She shook her head.
“She’s a very sweet dog, no trouble at all.” Jane looked at her with concern.
Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose. Shunning the companion of the uncle who just left her everything would make her look like a total bitch. As much as she didn’t mind that reputation in New York, it would work against her here. Here, she needed to win people over. Fortunately, she was really good at that. Even if it meant doting on some dog. She smiled. “I’m sure she’s a doll. I don’t have much experience with animals, but we’ll work something out.”
Jane’s features softened and she smiled. She was quite pretty, in a sweet, wholesome sort of way. “The veterinarian is my sister, so I can say with confidence she would be more than happy to help.”
Lauren bit back a laugh. “Small world.”
“Small town, at least. Four of us still live here, one is off in Scotland.”
Wow. She couldn’t decide what was stranger—having three siblings close by or having so many siblings in the first place. “What do the others do?”
“Cam and Sophie both work at Barrister’s. It’s the family business.”
Wait. This woman was Cam’s sister? Cam, the gorgeous woman who barely spared her a second glance the day before? Fascinating. “I think I met Cam briefly yesterday, at the pub.”
“Oh, you may have. Charlotte, who manages the bar, is her best mate. She has lunch there more days than not.”
Lauren’s brain kicked into overdrive, filing away all the points of connection and overlap. Although the advertising industry had a fair amount of cross-pollination, it had nothing on this. Good thing she was used to keeping track of massive amounts of detail. “Is everyone in town connected?”
“In one way or another.” Jane shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Good to know.” Lauren waited a beat, trying to settle on the most tactful way of asking if Albert had left any money that she might be able to use to overhaul the place.
“Mr. Collins also left his car, the apartment attached to the inn, and a small stake in the Winslow sheep farm.”
A sheep farm. Of course. “I hope this won’t come across as tactless on my part, but—”
“There are no liquid assets, I’m afraid. Mr. Collins did not keep any personal bank accounts. The register at the inn shows a balance of six hundred and eighty-three pounds.”
Her shoulders slumped. She should have known better than to think this whole thing would amount to a windfall.
“From what I’ve been able to surmise, the pub is solvent, if for no other reason than it was owned outright. The monthly income typically covers wages and inventory,” Jane said.
Typically. That meant there were months when the place didn’t even break even. If she was going to do this, it would mean dipping into her savings. The payoff might be totally worth it. Or she could wind up broke on top of jobless. Not a decision to make lightly. Even if she’d sort of already made it. “Do you have the books?”
Jane offered a sympathetic smile, as though she could read Lauren’s thoughts. “They’re in the office over at the Rose. I believe Mrs. Lucas has been handling the day-to-day of the financials for the last couple of years.”
That was a relief. Even if things weren’t in great shape, she was glad to have someone who understood them. Although it did raise concern that the woman who oversaw reservations and the kitchen also had time for the books. “I’ll set up a time to go over everything with her.”
“Excellent. When you’re ready to get Tilly, let me know. It’s just a short walk and I’d be happy to show you the way.”
Of course it was. Well, no time like the present. “Would you have a few minutes now?”
“Absolutely.”
She hadn’t really expected Jane to say yes. What kind of lawyer had random free time during the day? Lauren sighed. One in a tiny village where nothing ever happened. “As long as you’re sure I’m not interrupting anything.”
Jane beamed. “Not at all. I like to take a walk late morning anyway. And this way I’ll get to say hello to Kitty.”
A veterinarian named Kitty. She couldn’t make this shit up if she tried. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Five
Cam made a face and sighed. “Shit.”
“What? What’s wrong?” Kitty looked at her with alarm.
“Nothing.” Did she really have to run into her again? Already?
“Clearly, you’re lying.” Kitty came over to peer out the door. “Who’s that with Jane?”
“It’s the woman who inherited the Rose & Crown. Lauren Montgomery.” Cam realized Kitty was giving her a funny look, so she added, “Or something.”
The funny look turned suspicious, but Kitty didn’t work in a jab the way Sophie would. “Oh, Jane must be bringing her here to meet Tilly. I do hope she’s a dog person. Poor Tilly’s been so lonely.”
Without having anything to base it on, Cam assumed Lauren was not a dog person. She came across as a little too neat, a little too polished, to enjoy the fur and slobber of canine affection. Or maybe she had one of those little dogs, the kind women carried around in purses.
“Why are you sneering?”
“I’m not.” She needed to get a grip. She’d spent all of two minutes in the same room as this woman and she was letting her get under her skin. It was not her style, and she didn’t like it.
Fortunately, Kitty didn’t get the chance to argue with her. The door opened and in came Jane and Lauren. Cam couldn’t resist looking at her. Their gazes caught for a second, but Lauren quickly looked away. Clearly, Cam didn’t even register as a blip on her radar.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Jane said.
Cam lifted the pill bottle she’d thought to procure for their mother’s dog. For some reason, it made her feel better to have a justification for being there. “Just picking up Seamus’s meds.”
“That’s good of you.” Jane smiled and gestured to Lauren. “I understand you two have already met?”
Lauren offered a smile that, honest to God, kicked Cam’s heart rate up a few notches. “Briefly.”
“Are you settling in all right?” Cam asked.
“So far, so good. Although, ask me again after I’ve met my new dog.”
Cam chuckled and tried to think of a clever reply, but Kitty jumped in. “She’s just in the back. I’ll go get her for you.”
There was no reason for Cam to linger, but she was curious. Kitty disappeared and returned a few seconds later, Tilly loping happily behind her. She came up to Cam and leaned against her legs. “Hi, pretty girl. I missed you, too.”
Cam bent down to scratch her ears, but Tilly immediately rolled onto her back and flashed her belly. Unable to resist, Cam got down on one knee and rubbed her with both hands. Lauren joined her and, after a moment of hesitation, extended her hand. “Hi, Tilly.”
Tilly rolled onto her side and sniffed Lauren’s hand. Once she’d given it the once-over, she nudged it with her snout. Lauren froze. Cam smiled. “That’s the universal signal for ‘you passed the test, please pet me.’”
Lauren laughed and stroked the dog a few times. Kitty said, “I think she likes you.”
Lauren continued to pet her. She looked uncomfortable, but like she was trying. Like what might happen if someone tried to hand Cam a baby. She wouldn’t hate it, but she wouldn’t quite know what to do with it, either. For some reason, Cam respected that. “I could pick up some food for you, if you’d like. I pass the feed store on my way to work in the morning.”
Both Kitty and Lauren looked at her with surprise. Not as surprised as she was, though. Where the hell did that come from?
“Um, that would be great.” Lauren seemed uncomfortable accepting help, but also like she was smart enough to know she needed it. “Let me give you some money.”
Cam waved her off. “You can repay
me in beer.”
Lauren smiled in a way that, if Cam were inclined to be susceptible, could be damn dangerous. “Deal.”
Kitty handed Lauren a folder. “I made a copy of her records so you’d have them. She’s very healthy for a dog her age.”
Lauren stood. “And how old is that?”
“Eight.”
Since that number didn’t seem to mean anything to Lauren, Cam added, “It’s middle age in dog years. She’d old enough to be mellow, but has a few good years in her still.”
She nodded slowly. “Right.”
Jane, who’d been quiet thus far, chimed in. “Tilly is the epitome of mellow. She spent most of her days in the pub, sleeping on a bed in the corner.”
Lauren furrowed her brow. “Is that legal here?”
She sounded so scandalized, Cam laughed. “Let’s call it a gray area.”
Lauren resumed nodding. She seemed so much out of her element, Cam had a flash of sympathy for her.
Kitty said, “That will give her plenty of socialization, but she’ll need exercise, too. A good walk more days than not.”
Finally, Lauren smiled. “That I can do. Do you think she could handle running?”
“If it’s nothing too crazy or strenuous, I don’t see why not. You’ll likely have to ease her into it, though.”
Jane lifted a finger. “Unless there are rabbits. Then she’ll tear off like nobody’s business.”
“So I can let her off leash?”
Cam might have felt bad for laughing, but both her sisters laughed, too. “I’m pretty sure Tilly has never seen a leash in her life,” Cam said.
“Oh. Okay, then.”
This poor woman. If her adjustments to life here thus far were anything to go on, she was in for a bumpy ride. Of course, she might not bother sticking around. Not that it was any of Cam’s business what her interests or immigration status were. “I’m heading back that way. I can walk with you if it would make you feel more comfortable.”
