Page 18 of Smooth Talk

Knox, who apparently witnessed the action, comes over to see if we need assistance. “I just need another,” Sara insists, handing over her empty glass. I do a quick inventory. Emma is still making out with Mr. Co-ed. Ruby is actually shooting pool now. And from the scowls on the men’s faces she’s playing with; they all made the same assumption I did. She’s drunk. But they also assumed that she couldn’t play. That’s on them. My girl can shoot a mean game of pool, tipsy or sober. Just as I’m spinning back to the bar on my stool, I hear Sara lightly gasp, “Oh, I spoke way too soon. Who dat is?”

I look up to the door to see Emma’s cousin, Jake, stroll in. Sheriff Jacob Walker. Quite the looker. Dark hair and eyes, cleanly shaven with a toothpaste-commercial-worthy smile. A snug black uniform barely conceals his very sturdy six-foot something frame. Hello muscles. Dang, Jake is H.O.T.— hawt. Did that just happen, or have I reached my drink limit? How have I never even noticed his hotness before? Maybe it’s the uniform. He’s smiling at me and walking toward us. “Hey Pop. How are y’all doin’ tonight?” he drawls.

I lean up to give him a one-arm-hug. “Good, you?”

“Just peachy. My crazy cousin here with you somewhere?” He smiles.

I tip my head to the other side of the bar where Emma is still making out with that kid and he follows with his eyes. He starts chuckling. “Same old Em.”

Gosh his smile really is stupid-handsome. His smile is handsome? I’m drunk. I need water stat. I may have said that aloud, because Knox just put a tall glass of iced clear liquid in my face. Maybe he’s just good at reading people; he’s an awesome bartender. An awesomely hot bartender. Oh no! I’m past my drink limit; everyone’s hot. Sara was right, one drink too many and there’s a veritable buffet. Dang tequila shot. Must. Chug. Water.

“And who might you be?” Jake’s looking at Sara. She’s smiling so big; I think she’s switched from operation from GPL to GSL.

“Sara Williams, wedding planner extraordinaire. You in the market, deputy?” She asks extending her hand for him to shake.

“I’m single if that’s what you’re askin’, and it’s Sheriff Jake Walker, not deputy. How’d you come to meet our lovely Poppy here?” Aww, Jake thinks I’m lovely. Maybe all the men in Willow Creek aren’t total turd muffins.

“We were roommates at NYU. We’ve been besties ever since. You here on a social call sheriff?” Did she just wink at him? I look at Jake, who seems utterly charmed. Pretty sure he winked back. Are we at a dang winking convention?

“No ma’am; I’m on duty. I need a word with the proprietor.” He looks up to find Knox on the other side of the bar and gives him a head nod.

“I’ll meet you in the office, Jake.” Knox says and hands him a key.

Jake nods to us, “if you’ll excuse me ladies,” and walks toward the back hallway. Knox finishes pouring a beer while chatting with Jemma then follows Jake to the back.

“Holy damn!” Sara sighs. “My mind is made up. I’m moving south. They just don’t make men like that in New York.” I laugh because we both know, in fact, they do.

“I can’t wait to have you close again. If everything goes well with this wedding, how long would the expansion take?”

She crosses her fingers, “If all goes well,’ and knocks her knuckles on the bar for luck, ‘we could be operating full swing in the new offices by next Spring. We’ve found a perfect location and I’ve basically talked my mom into letting me run the Charleston branch. Keep me in your prayers though, because if I have to deal with Dadzilla for the next few months, I’m going to kill him or fuck him. And honestly, I don’t know which would be worse for business.” She’s laughing when she says it, but I can tell she’s seriously contemplating either. Or maybe both; praying mantis style.

We finish our drinks. It’s 10:30 and Mr. Potential didn’t even have the decency to show up. Knox comes back behind the bar and we stuff a couple $20’s in the tip jar. “I think it’s time to head home,” I say on a yawn. Sara nods too.

Emma isn’t going home alone tonight, so I need to make sure Ruby has a safe place to land. I shoot Em a text; I hate interrupting her when she’s ‘busy’: Have fun, be safe. Love you!

“Slow night in Willow Creek. Can I offer y’all a lift home,” Jake says coming up behind us. I was just going to Uber it, but I’ve never been in a squad car before. Looks like I’m abandoning my cardinal rule and allowing a super-hot guy to take me home. Even though he’s not warming my bed, I can shamelessly scope out the hotness that is Sheriff Walker from the comfort of his backseat for the next fifteen minutes.

Oh wait. “What about Ruby?” I look at Sara, “You want to be the one to tell her it’s time to go?” Sara eyes the pool tables where Ruby is most definitely kicking butt and taking names.

“Nope. Maybe Emma can do it?” I’d like to pass the buck as well, instead I shoot her a text to say our ride’s leaving and she’s welcome to stay at my house tonight. I see her check her phone. She blows us a kiss and waves goodbye. Knowing Ruby, she has money riding on that game. I’m not one hundred percent comfortable leaving without her.

“I’ll give her a ride,” Knox says. I raise my brows and eye him suspiciously. He holds up both hands in front of him. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’ll see that she gets home safely. Promise.”

“I’m trusting you Knox,” I point at him. “If anything happens to her, you’re a dead man.” I squint at him as menacingly as I can, which, I’m sure, isn’t intimidating in the slightest.

I think I hear him mumble, “if anything happened to her, I would die.”

Awww, I think he likes her. Like, likes her, likes her. Did I just say like, like fifty times? Also, did I just threaten to kill Knox in front of the law? Whoops. I hop off my stool a little too quickly and stumble a bit. Jake grabs my arm and steadies me. I walk out on my own, but he’s right behind me, just in case. Jake’s had his fair share of run-ins with my gracelessness. “We heading to your place Pop?”

“Mmhmm.” My bed is calling my name.

“Your chariot awaits,” He sweeps his arm and opens the back door of his sleek black ride emblazoned with Westwood County Sheriff in silver. Sara and I slide inside. Man, these seats are comfortable. I could definitely nap back here. Suddenly, I’m not feeling very judgy about Ruby’s selective narcolepsy. Thankfully, I don’t have to give Jake directions; Em conned him into helping me move last year, and he remembered the way.

We get to my house in what feels like two minutes. Jake thanked, door locked, water drank, ibuprofen taken. I holler “Love you!” to Sara, who’s across the hall from me, and hear her muffled, “you too!” Tonight, was so much fun. It’s been too long since I’ve let loose with my girls. I needed this. With a smile on my face, I snuggle deep under my covers and drift away.

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