“You seem like you’re doing a great job. Listen, honey, is Clayton around?”

She flushed deeper when I called her honey. “I think he’s out grabbing supplies. He should be back soon.”

I nodded. “I’ll wait for him,” I said, knowing I could call Agnes and she would pick up Trent from camp and keep him for as long as I needed.

I ordered a beer, nursing it as I idly flirted with Krista. There wasn’t anything behind it. I wasn't interested in another fling, not after what happened with Suzanne.

I’d slept with other women since, but I always kept it casual with no strings attached, and always with protection. It dawned on me that I didn’t bother to use protection with Lexie, but surely she would have told me if she wasn’t on birth control.

I didn’t have too much time to think about it because soon I spotted another blast from the past—Tristan. Mymouth twisted into a sneer as I watched him walk through the door, and I couldn’t stop myself from getting up and bumping into his shoulder—hard.

“Hello, Ollie,” Tristan said dryly, glaring at me.

“I thought I told you to stay out of here,” I hissed. This place was the very place I’d seen him last, when my fist connected with his jaw.

“You really have to let it go, man.”

“Let what go? I thought you said nothing happened?” I shot back.

“Itdidn’t, Oliver.”

I scoffed. I knew better. I’d seen it with my own eyes.

I figured that Tristan would walk away. I’d seen him in town before, and I had to admit I was constantly trying to start something, but he always just shook his head and walked away.

But this time, he didn’t.

“Lexie’s back in town, you know.”

I narrowed my eyes, anger rising in me. “How the hell do you know that? Stay away from her.”

“You don’t get to tell me to do that. She’s not yours anymore, Ollie. You threw that all away.”

“You took her from me,” I burst out. I considered hitting him, but I knew if I did, Clayton would never let me buy the bar.

“Oliver?” Krista, the young bartender, called.

I turned my head, taking in a deep breath.

“Clayton is waiting for you in his office.”

Shit. That could mean that he’d seen the confrontation with Tristan.

I took in another breath before walking into Clayton’s office. He sat behind the desk, looking at me with questioning eyes.

“You almoststarted a fight in my bar.”

“Look, Clayton, it’s?—”

“I know the story,” he said gruffly. “I was here when it happened.” He paused. “If I were you, I’d hit him, too.”

I smiled a little at that, sitting down across from him. “I’d like to put down an offer on the Pig.”

“I have a few conditions,” Clayton said.

I tilted my head, curious. “Like what?”

“You don’t change the name. And you don’t fire my staff.”