Somebody Like You: A Small Town Single Mom Romance (The Heartbreak Brothers Book 4) by Carrie Elks (best love story novels in english .txt) 📗

the kitchen and all the places Nathan probably left out when he took you around last week. Then we’ll order some coffee.”

Becca led Mia through the security doors that led to the distillery itself. The air was heavy with the sweet, thick smell of brewing whiskey, as they passed the huge metal washbacks that stretched from the ground to the high vaulted ceiling, then through the cooperage – G. Scott Carter still made their own barrels – to the offices beyond. Becca introduced Mia to every member of staff they passed.

“There are only fifty of us working here,” Becca told her, “so you’ll get to know everybody quite fast. I’m not going to give you my opinion of anybody, because I don’t want to influence you, but nearly everybody is lovely. Even Eliana, as long as you do what she asks of you. And Nathan is pretty great, too.”

“Is it the two of them who own this place?”

“No, but only the two of them are working here right now. Nathan has an older brother, who runs a distillery in Scotland of all places. From what I hear, that’s a good thing because when he was here he was a bit of a tyrant. And they also have a sister and brother from their dad’s first marriage, who sit on the board, but they live in New York. Eliana and Nathan are the ones you’ll deal with the most.”

They’d made it to the HR department, which turned out to be one part time HR Manager. “I’ll leave you here,” Becca told her, after she’d made the introductions, “and I’ll pick you up in half an hour. You’ll need that coffee after all the forms you have to complete. Just be glad they’re on a computer now. When I joined they were all paper. I couldn’t move my hand for a week.” She laughed. “How do you take your coffee? I’ll add it to our list at the local coffee shop.”

“Americano with hot milk please,” Mia smiled at her.

“Got it.” Becca nodded. “Now good luck, be strong and I’ll see you on the other side.”

“Thank you so much for everything,” Mia told her.

“It’s not a problem. I’m so happy you’re here.”

So was Mia. And wasn’t that a good thing?

Cam was crazy bored. After his abortive phone call with Mia, he’d spent the next hour lifting weights in the basement gym that Tanner had fully equipped for him, then had gone out for a run that had done nothing to clear his head. If he was in Boston – still playing – he’d be running drill after drill right now, shooting the breeze with his teammates in between, laughing and ribbing each other like they always did.

A few more weeks and he’d lose the fitness that was getting harder to maintain each year. He had to run harder, lift heavier, and go longer than he had than when he was twenty-three. And if he was honest, it all hurt more now.

He was about to call Logan to offer his help at the farm –that’s how bored he was – when his phone rang. Cam smiled when he saw Brian Lockharte’s name flash across the screen. He hadn’t spoken to his assistant since the day he’d moved into this house.

It was funny how much Cam missed his face and voice.

“How’s the new place?” Brian asked after Cam had accepted the call.

“Pretty good. Tanner’s done a great job on the renovations,” Cam told him, leaning on the kitchen counter as he pressed the phone to his ear. Glancing to his left, he could see the stool he’d sat on for dinner on Friday. The same one he’d dragged Mia onto, letting her body straddle his as he’d kissed the hell out of her.

Pulling his gaze away, he blew out a mouthful of air. Damn, he needed to get that woman out of his mind.

So why did you call her, dumbass?

“How’s Boston?” Cam asked, walking to the refrigerator and grabbing an ice cold bottle of water from the door. Along with everything else he did to make Cam’s life easy, Brian had arranged a weekly food delivery for him from the local grocery store.

“It’s good. Weather is still warm, so we’re making the most of it before winter hits.”

“And the team?”

“Yeah, they’re all good, too.” Brian spent a lot of time at Freedom Field. “Did you watch the game yesterday?”

“Yeah.” It was a lie; he still couldn’t bring himself to watch the team play without him. It physically hurt to watch them play. “Good result.”

“There’s talk of making the playoffs. Hey, maybe you’ll be back if we do. Though the rookie is doing pretty well. Coach Mayberry likes him.”

Cam inhaled sharply. “Yeah, I heard that.”

“That’s kind of why I’m calling.” Brian’s voice lowered. He cleared his throat. “Um, Coach has suggested I help out the new guy while you’re away. He needs to get some things for his apartment, and he’s hopeless with shopping. Kind of like you, I guess.” Brian laughed awkwardly. “I said I’d ask you first. I don’t want you to think I’m going behind your back or anything. But I do have a lot of time on my hands while you’re not here.”

Weird how that question hit him right in the gut. It wasn’t like Brian was cheating on him. Just trying to fill in some time with some work to do.

Cam knew how he felt. “Yeah, sure. Whatever Coach wants.”

“Do you know when you’ll be back?”

“Not yet.” Cam kept it short, because he didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t want to admit he had no idea how to get back on the field. Not without causing himself greater harm. But he still wasn’t ready to let football go.

Because then what else could he do?

“I guess you’ll be coaching the high school team for a while. How is it going?”

“Yeah, pretty well.” Cam felt the tightness in his chest lessen. “They’re a good bunch of kids. Enthusiastic, talented,