Graham nods, clearly proud of this fact. “We sure do. The two main elements of beer that you can grow yourself are grains and hops. Barley is probably the most popular of the grains, and it does provide a base flavor for the beer, but hops are where it’s at.”
“Oh?” she asks, enjoying another sip.
“Yeah, hops are what give beer a distinct, complex bitter flavor. Plus, it’s a natural preservative, which was why it was added to beer in the first place.”
I try not to gape at Graham. Those are probably the most words I’ve ever heard my brother string together at one time.
“But if you really want to get fancy with your brewing process, you can add fresh herbs from the garden, fruit, and other edibles to create new flavors.”
Summer grins. “So you’re telling me CBD beer could become a thing?”
Graham leans one hip against the table, nodding. “It absolutely could. Beers are pretty versatile already with their flavor profiles, but I was thinking more along the lines of orange or grapefruit or even raspberry.”
“Raspberry?” Summer makes a pleased sound at the idea of a raspberry infused beer. “You know . . . another thing you could look into to monetize your beer-making is to create take-home beer-brewing kits. People like to grow something with their own two hands. Harvest it. Make something out of it. You know?”
Graham’s smile widens. “That’s actually a great idea. Thanks, Summer.”
“You could supply them with all the seeds, soil, little planting pots . . .” Summer ticks off these items on her fingers while Graham nods along at her brilliance.
While Graham and Summer talk marketing ideas, I join my other brothers over by the picnic table. Austen is nursing a tall glass of amber ale while Matt is dusting off his rusty guitar-playing skills, alternating between strumming chords and adjusting the gold tuning knobs.
“Are you taking requests?” I ask.
Matt shakes his head. “Nah, man. I’m the one who has a request for you.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
He and Austen exchange a knowing look, both of them smirking like a couple of idiots. “I’d like to request that you make sure Summer doesn’t set foot outside of Lost Haven.”
As if on cue, Summer’s laughter bubbles up from the other side of the barn. It’s sweet and vibrant, like a sip of that shandy, and just as intoxicating.
“Why?”
Matt’s eyebrows jump up and down his forehead suggestively. “I think you know why.”
“Dude. Stop trying to hook up with my counselor. It’s not funny.” I wince at the memory of those comments he made about her on our hunting trip.
“Not what I meant,” he grunts. “Quit acting like you’re not insanely into her. Anyone in a two-hundred-mile radius could see that you are.”
I turn toward Austen, who is nodding along with every word Matt says. My stomach twists in my gut. I guess I haven’t built my walls as high as I thought.
“So what if I am?” I grumble.
“So, don’t let her get on a plane.” Matt levels me with a stern look. “Listen, man. This is the chillest I’ve ever seen you. But it’s not just you. When’s the last time you saw Graham this happy? Not to mention the way Mom and Grandpa are completely smitten.” He looks to Austen, who shrugs, not denying this. “Just saying. I think this girl has some magical healing powers or something.”
“Or maybe Mom has been slipping us all CBD again,” I say. The comment earns me a laugh, but it’s not enough for Matt to drop the subject.
“I’m just saying. Summer is amazing. I think you should hang on to her.”
“Hang on to her? She’s my counselor, dude. My shrink. Not my girlfriend.”
“Yeah?” He turns his head toward the bar.
I follow his gaze to Summer, who is sipping beer and staring at me, all flirty and doe-eyed. When I catch her gaze, she smiles a little, then blinks away, pretending to be distracted.
“Is that how most shrinks look at their clients?” Austen points out. “I think not.”
They drop the conversation when Summer comes sauntering our way with good news.
“Guess what? Graham is going to name a beer after me!”
“Is that so?” I lift a brow at my brother.
“The Summer Shandy,” Graham says with a crooked smile. “Kind of clever, huh?”
“Well, shit,” Matt says, ducking out from beneath his guitar strap. “I gotta try this Summer Shandy stat.”
While the guys disappear off to the bar, Summer settles in next to me on the picnic bench, nestling a little closer to me than could be considered professional. Not that I mind. If I had it my way, she’d be cozied up in my lap. Although that would just prove Matt’s point—my feelings for this girl aren’t exactly subtle. Or maybe my brothers are just really good at reading me.
“You’re lucky you have this, you know,” she murmurs, her words soft and quiet as she rests her head on my shoulder. The beer must be getting to her.
I gesture to Graham to cut her off, and she notices, gripping my arm and giving me a playful shove. My body doesn’t register that she’s messing with me, though. All that clicks is that her hands are on me, tight and warm around my bicep.
Fuck, what is it about this girl that puts fire in my veins?
“Logan?”
“Hmm?” I blink out of whatever daze I momentarily slipped into.
“I said you’re lucky to have this,” she says again, tilting her head toward my brothers. “I know things have been hard, and that you miss your dad. But this? Your family? I’d give anything to have something like this.”
There’s a wistful look on her face as she takes in the happy, domestic scene around us—my brothers, laughing and teasing one another.
I clear my throat, trying to dislodge the emotion setting up shop there. “I know. I’m lucky. And I’m sorry if I’ve been insensitive about . . . well, everything you’ve been through. I know I’m a lot more fortunate than you are in the family department.”
“You haven’t been insensitive,” she says, giving my bicep another firm squeeze.
My body responds to her touch by treating me to a kick behind my zipper. Goddamn. I should tell her to keep her hands to herself, but Lord knows that’s the last thing I actually want.
“Honestly, you’ve made me feel right at home here,” she murmurs. “You all have.”
“So, you, uh . . .” I swallow hard, racking my brain for the right words. “You really don’t have anyone back in the city?”
“No family, but I’m not sure I’d say I don’t have anyone. I have plenty of friends. And Les. He’s been almost like a father to me. Or a mentor, at least. He was so encouraging when I told him I wanted to start my own counseling business. Even now, I call him regularly with questions. Everything from how to change a tire to what deductions I should claim on my taxes.”
The idea of Summer without anyone to look after her doesn’t sit well with me. “Have you talked to him since you’ve been here?”
She nods, chewing nervously at her plush bottom lip. “We spoke today, actually.” Her voice dips to a whisper. “He, uh, he asked me when I was coming back to Boston.”