Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
It was... fun. More fun than I’ve had in a long time. Way better than that time Anya convinced Griffin and me to go ax-throwing with her. Sure, she and Griffin had the time of their lives, but I was bored out of my mind. Yesterday, though? Boredom was the last thing on my mind. Being out at the ranch with Violet, seeing her in her element, made me feel... proud. Proud to be part of something bigger, something she’s poured years of hard work into.
This ranch is more than just land to her—it’s her life. The sweat, the hard days, the endless hours—it shows in every corner of the place. And she trusted me enough to share it with me, to let me see the side of her that’s vulnerable and strong all at once. That impressed me more than I thought it would. She’s tough, but there’s something so real about her connection to this place, and for her to let me into that world? It meant something.
After the water finally heats up, I take my shower, letting the thoughts of yesterday roll over me as the steam fills the bathroom. By the time I’m dressed for work, I feel a strange mixture of excitement and longing, like I want to get back to that place with her. To see what else there is between us, beyond the initial spark.
When I walk into the kitchen, Violet’s already there. Her jeans are dusted with dirt, her boots muddy from mucking out the stalls. She’s got a smudge of dirt on her cheek, and her hair is a little wild, catching the morning light streaming through the window. She looks incredible—raw, real, and completely at home in this life she’s built.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” she says with a teasing smile, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
I lean against the counter, grinning at her. “I would’ve helped with the stalls, you know.”
She shakes her head. “No need,” she says with a soft smile. “I know you’ve got to get to work today.”
I slide a mug out of the cupboard and move closer to the coffee maker, which brings me right next to her. There’s an easy comfort in the way we move around each other, like we’ve been doing this for longer than we have. As I pour myself a cup of coffee, I glance over at her. An idea suddenly hits me, and I can’t help but suggest it. “You should come with me,” I say, my voice low but hopeful. “You showed me your work yesterday. Let me show you what I do all day.”
Violet’s face lights up, her smile spreading wide, and it makes my chest tighten in the best way. “I’d love that,” she says, her blue eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.
In that moment, I feel a rush of something—something I haven’t felt in a long time. Sharing this part of my life with her feels important, like a step forward. And I can’t wait to show her my world, just like she showed me hers.
“Hey, didn’t think I’d see you today,” Shep says, clapping a hand on my back as I walk past him. His usual grin is in place, but I can tell he’s a bit surprised to see me. Maybe I haven’t been working too much lately.
“I told everyone I was coming in today,” I reply, brushing past him as I guide Violet down to the brewery floor. The place isn’t open to the public yet, so it’s quiet except for the low hum of prep work. A few servers are setting up tables for lunch service, moving efficiently around the room, while Trudi is behind the bar, wiping it down in smooth strokes, getting everything ready for the lunch rush that’ll hit soon enough.
Violet walks beside me, taking it all in, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride as I show her around. This place—Atta Boy Brewery—it’s more than just a job. It’s like home. The smell of hops, the clank of kegs being moved around, the quiet buzz of early morning prep—it’s where I feel in control, where everything has a place.
“How’re things?” I ask Brock when we make our way downstairs, stepping into the heart of the operation. The brewery floor is our playground, a mix of shiny steel tanks, fermenters, and the comforting smell of yeast working its magic.
Brock looks up from the control panel, wiping his hands on a rag. He flashes a friendly smile at Violet first. “Hey, Violet. Good to see you here.” Then he turns to me, clearly pleased with whatever he’s got going on. “Making a new batch of something special. Can’t wait for everyone to try it.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. The pride I feel for this place always hits me hard, but seeing Brock excited about a new brew, it’s like seeing all the hard work pay off. "That’s great news," I say, feeling a surge of satisfaction. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love this place.