Hard Pressed
Hard Pressed
Synopsis
For Mira Lavigne, cider is about tradition, elegance, and class. She has little respect and even less patience for self-anointed mavericks who think their ticket to fame and fortune is throwing the rulebook out the window. Dylan Miller is one of those people. The only thing she loves more than pushing the envelope is finding ways to make cider, perry, and a few things she hasn’t even named yet more delicious and more accessible to everyone.
When Mira and Dylan are tapped to co-chair Finger Lakes Cider Week, neither can pass up the publicity and prestige of the role. But professional compromises raise personal stakes, and Dylan and Mira are hard-pressed to keep their businesses—and their hearts—out of harm’s way.
What Reviewers Say About Aurora Rey’s Work
You Again
“You Again is a wonderful, feel good, low angst read with beautiful and intelligent characters that will melt your heart, and an enchanting second-chance love story.”—Rainbow Reflections
Twice Shy
“[A] tender, foodie romance about a pair of middle aged lesbians who find partners in each other and rediscover themselves along the way. …Rey’s cute, occasionally steamy, romance reminds readers of the giddy intensity falling in love brings at any age, even as the characters negotiate the particular complexities of dating in midlife—meeting the children, dealing with exes, and revealing emotional scars. This queer love story is as sweet and light as one of Bake My Day’s famous cream puffs.”—Publishers Weekly
“This book is all the reasons why I love Aurora Rey’s writing. It’s delicious with a good helping of sexy. It was a nice change to read a book where the women were not in their late 20s-30s…”—Les Rêveur
The Last Place You Look
“This book is the perfect book to kick your feet up, relax with a glass of wine and enjoy. I’m a big Aurora Rey fan because her deliciously engaging books feature strong women who fall for sweet butch women. It’s a winning recipe.”—Les Rêveur
“The romance is satisfying and full-bodied, with each character learning how to achieve her own goals and still be part of a couple. A heartwarming story of two lovers learning to move past their fears and commit to a shared future.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] sex-positive, body-positive love story. With its warm atmosphere and sweet characters, The Last Place You Look is a fluffy LGBTQ+ romance about finding a second chance at love where you least expect it.”—Foreword Reviews
“If you enjoy stories that portray two gorgeous women who slowly fall in love in the quirkiest way ever coupled with nosy and well-meaning neighbors and family members, then this is definitely the story for you!”—Lesbian Review
Ice on Wheels—Novella in Hot Ice
“I liked how Brooke was so attracted to Riley despite the massive grudge she had. No matter how nice or charming Riley was, Brooke was dead set on hating her. A cute enemies to lovers story.”—Bookvark
The Inn at Netherfield Green
“I really enjoyed this book but that’s not surprising because it came from the pen of Aurora Rey. This is the kind of book you read while sitting by a warm fire with a Rosemary Gin and snuggly blanket.”—Les Rêveur
“[Aurora Rey] constantly delivers a well-written romance that has just the right blend of humour, engaging characters, chemistry and romance.”—C-Spot Reviews
Lead Counsel—Novella in The Boss of Her
“Lead Counsel by Aurora Rey is a short and sweet second chance romance. Not only was this story paced well and a delight to sink into, but there’s A++ good swearing in it and has lines like this that made me all swoony because of how beautifully they’re crafted.”—Lesbian Review
Recipe for Love
“Recipe for Love by Aurora Rey is a gorgeous romance that’s sure to delight any of the foodies out there. Be sure to keep snacks on hand when you’re reading it, though, because this book will make you want to nibble on something!”—Lesbian Review
Autumn’s Light—Lambda Literary Award Finalist
“Aurora Rey is by far one of my favourite authors. She writes books that just get me. …Her winning formula is Butch women who fall for strong femmes. I just love it. Another triumph from the pen of Aurora Rey. 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur
“This is a beautiful romance. I loved the flow of the story, loved the characters including the secondary ones, and especially loved the setting of Provincetown, Massachusetts.”—Rainbow Reflections
“[Autumn’s Light] was another fun addition to a great series.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian (Nevins Memorial Library, Massachusetts)
“Aurora Rey has shown a mastery of evoking setting and this is especially evident in her Cape End romances set in Provincetown. I have loved this entire series…”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
Spring’s Wake
“[A] feel-good romance that would make a perfect beach read. The Provincetown B&B setting is richly painted, feeling both indulgent and cozy.”—RT Book Reviews
“Spring’s Wake has shot to number one in my age-gap romance favorites shelf.”—Les Rêveur
“Spring’s Wake by Aurora Rey is charming. This is the third story in Aurora Rey’s Cape End romance series and every book gets better. Her stories are never the same twice and yet each one has a uniquely her flavour. The character work is strong and I find it exciting to see what she comes up with next.”—Lesbian Review
Summer’s Cove
“As expected in a small-town romance, Summer’s Cove evokes a sunny, light-hearted atmosphere that matches its beach setting. …Emerson’s shy pursuit of Darcy is sure to endear readers to her, though some may be put off during the moments Darcy winds tightly to the point of rigidity. Darcy desires romance yet is unwilling to disrupt her son’s life to have it, and you feel for Emerson when she endeavors to show how there’s room in her heart for a family.”—RT Book Reviews
“I really liked this novel. The obstacles seemed realistic and conflicts hinged on differing worldviews and experiences, not simple misunderstandings. All the adults acted like grown ups and talked things out for the most part, even when they didn’t handle everything perfect. …This book has a nice balance of sweet and believable as well as having some pretty hot love scenes. The whole thing was very satisfying and fun. Five stars.”—The Lesbrary
Crescent City Confidential—Lambda Literary Award Finalist
“This book blew my socks off… [Crescent City Confidential] ticks all the boxes I’ve started to expect from Aurora Rey. It is written very well and the characters are extremely well developed; I felt like I was getting to know new friends and my excitement grew with every finished chapter.”—Les Rêveur
“Crescent City Confidential pulled me into the wonderful sights, sounds and smells of New Orleans. I was totally captivated by the city and the story of mystery writer Sam and her growing love for the place and for a certain lady. …It was slow burning but romantic and sexy too. A mystery thrown into the mix really piqued my interest.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
“Crescent City Confidential is a sweet romance with a hint of thriller thrown in for good measure.”—Lesbian Review
Built to Last
“Rey’s frothy contemporary romance brings two women together to restore an ancient farmhouse in Ithaca, N.Y. …[T]he women totally click in bed, as well as when they’re poring over paint chips, and readers will enjoy finding out whether love conquers all.”—Publishers Weekly
“Built to Last by Aurora Rey is a contemporary lesbian romance novel and a very sweet summer read. I love, love, love the way Ms Rey writes bedroom scenes and I’m not talking about how she describes the furniture.”
—Lesbian Review
Winter’s Harbor
“This is the story of Lia and Alex and the beautifully romantic and sexy tale of a winter in Provincetown, a seaside holiday haven. A collection of interesting characters, well-fleshed out, as well as a gorgeous setting make for a great read.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
“One of my all time favourite Lesbian romance novels and probably the most reread book on my Kindle. …Absolutely love this debut novel by Aurora Rey and couldn’t put the book down from the moment the main protagonists meet. Winter’s Harbor was written beautifully and it was full of heart. Unequivocally 5 stars.”—Les Rêveur
Hard Pressed
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By the Author
Cape End Romances:
Winter’s Harbor
Summer’s Cove
Spring’s Wake
Autumn’s Light
Built to Last
Crescent City Confidential
Lead Counsel (Novella in The Boss of Her)
Recipe for Love: A Farm-to-Table Romance
The Inn at Netherfield Green
Ice on Wheels (Novella in Hot Ice)
The Last Place You Look
Twice Shy
You Again
Follow Her Lead
(Novella in Opposites Attract)
Greener Pastures
Hard Pressed
Written with Jaime Clevenger
A Convenient Arrangement
Love, Accidentally
Hard Pressed
© 2022 By Aurora Rey. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-211-8
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: October 2022
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editors: Ashley Tillman and Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design by Jeanine Henning
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Acknowledgments
While test-driving titles for Greener Pastures, I became enamored with the phrase “hard pressed.” It was a little too racy, though, especially for a book that didn’t have cider-making at its core. It proved too good to pass up, though, so I gave Rowan a business partner who could have her own adventures with a rival cider maker, and Hard Pressed was born. It also gave me a great excuse to spend more time at Eve’s Cidery, a truly phenomenal cidery here in upstate New York. Autumn and Ezra care so deeply about what they do, and their cider is top-notch. I can’t recommend them highly enough.
This was a fun book to write and I’m grateful to Sandy, Rad, and the BSB team for supporting it. Ashley and Cindy, you make me snort-laugh—I mean a better writer—with every book. Special thanks to Jaime for the always excellent feedback and to Maria Pena and KD Williamson for the insightful sensitivity reads.
And maybe most importantly, thank you to everyone who reads these stories of mine. I’m so grateful you go on these adventures with me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dedication
For everyone who grows, tends, harvests, and crafts
Chapter One
Mira scanned the agenda in front of her. Confident she’d covered all the bases, she pushed her chair back from the small conference table and stood. “Thanks, everyone. Let’s have a good week.”
Others followed suit and her staff scattered to their respective desks and offices. Everyone except Talise, her director of marketing and communications. “Do you have a minute?”
Her gaze flicked to the clock on the wall. “Ten.”
“Perfect.” Talise tapped a few keys on her laptop. “Have we started planning for Cider Week yet?”
The ten-day stretch in October served to highlight the ciders and cider makers of upstate New York. It was one of their biggest weeks of the year, at least in terms of public events. And she’d chaired the planning of it for the last three years. “Cider Association is my next meeting, actually, so if you want to circle back this afternoon, we can brainstorm.”
Talise smiled. “Running the show again?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I mean, if you want something done right…”
“Do it yourself? Or were you going to say ‘put a woman in charge’?”
“Same difference, no?” She didn’t love that cider, like wine, remained a male dominated field. A white one at that. But she’d carved out her place and had no trouble holding her own. She’d only been the COO of Pomme d’Or officially for a few months, but she’d been doing the job for close to five years.
“Touché.” Talise closed her laptop and stood. “Where’s the meeting?”
She let herself sigh. “It’s virtual.”
Talise’s lip curled.
“I know. Frederick has decided at least every other meeting should be virtual so the smaller and farther flung cideries can participate more easily.”
“It’s not a terrible idea.” Talise’s expression made it clear she was being generous.
“It isn’t.” Even if she preferred face-to-face and made a point of attending regardless of location, not everyone had that luxury. And the Cider Association served all producers, not just the established ones.
“I’ll put myself on your calendar for later today or tomorrow.” Talise typed, probably a note to herself, before looking up.
“Let’s fold it in with our brainstorm for the reparations initiative. I’m hoping I can get everyone on board with selecting Acres of Equity as the featured nonprofit for the gala.”
“I like.” Talise nodded as she typed now. She’d been the one to pitch the organization to Mira. Because unlike Mira, who grew up in California wine country, Talise was local. She hadn’t grown up on the Onondaga Nation, but her parents had, and the issue of native lands was close to her heart.
“Well, cross your fingers there’s not a coup at the board meeting.” Not that she was genuinely worried. People liked to talk about doing things their way but rarely wanted to show up with time and energy to make it happen. Especially something that didn’t directly contribute to their bottom line. That counted as small thinking in her book, but their loss meant her gain.
“If there is, can I come watch?”
“Ha ha.”
Talise tossed her glossy black hair and straightened her shoulders. “I’m kidding, mostly because I think people like what happens when you’re in charge.”
Mira indulged in a smirk. “Mostly.”
Talise headed to her office and Mira returned to hers, where she chipped away at her inbox until it was time for the meeting. At exactly two minutes to twelve, she logged on, testing her camera to ensure a flattering angle and innocuous backdrop. Frederick had already signed on as host and within a minute, names populated the participants box and her screen filled with a checkerboard of faces. Most she knew, casually if not well.
Frederick started with introductions, having members introduce themselves and the cider they represented. It took up the first ten minutes or so of every meeting, but she appreciated putting names with faces—and with cideries—especially the people she’d never met in person.
They’d just finished when an unfamiliar face joined, slotting into the bottom right of her screen next to Steve from Seneca Hill Cider.
The woman had short brown hair and a killer smile, not that Mira was in the business of noticing such things. She seemed to be standing in the middle of her production area. And she was soaking wet.
Frederick paused his efforts to approve last meeting’s minutes. “Dylan. Welcome.”
Dylan. Dylan. Why did that name sound familiar?
The woman lifted a hand. “Hi, hi. Sorry to be late. I got caught up in a tussle with one of my fermentation tanks and lost track of time.”
Most of the group chuckled. Mira pressed her lips together in a way that could be amusement even if it was really in lieu of rolling her eyes.
“We were just doing introductions,” Frederick said affably.
“Aha. Sorry to have missed that, though I’ve met most of you and read up on the rest. Dylan Miller, Forbidden Fruit Cider.”
Dylan offered a winning smile that earned her smiles and waves from most of the boxes. Mira joined in, even as her mind connected dots. She’d not met Dylan, but she’d heard of her. Breaking rules and attracting attention seemed to be her primary style, at least when it came to making cider. Perhaps it was a more pervasive personality trait.
“Good to have you.” Frederick gave a decisive nod. “Now, where were we?”
They returned to approving minutes and the more mundane parts of the agenda. Mira half listened and, since no one could tell one way or the other, kept her gaze trained on Dylan. Dylan darted off-screen and returned with a towel that she proceeded to rub over her head, turning her soggy appearance into more of a sexy disheveled look.
Well, not sexy, sexy. Sexy in that stereotypical white butch way. Like ads for cologne sexy or androgynous swimwear sexy. Not sexy to her. Obviously.