Page 13 of Always the Baker

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. Who cared? That was the good thing about being somewhere new. With one last glance in the mirror, I stepped out into the hallway, ready to embrace whatever the night and the city had in store for me.

I pushed openthe heavy doors of the cocktail bar, and my senses were immediately assaulted. My nerves sizzled as I smiled and took in one sight and smell after the other. The bar was dimly lit with soft jazz playing in the background. It was nothing like the dive bar back home where Ember and I went often. The good thing about the bar back home was the drinks were strong and cheap. This place screamed twenty dollar drinks with half a shot of liquor in them.

“Sheesh, even the air smells better,” I muttered under my breath.

I made my way to the bar and took in what I needed to be a calming breath.

The bartender, a tall guy with short locs and a crisp white shirt, turned to me with a practiced yet genuine smile. “What can I get for you this evening?”

“Uh...” I panicked. What do sophisticated city women drink?I can’t ask for a shot of gin or vodka in a place like this. “Something fancy?”

He chuckled as he leaned against the bar and eyed me. “How about a French 75?”

I felt my cheeks warm as his eyes continued to slowly scan every inch of my face. “Sure, that sounds perfect.”

As he mixed the drink, I tried to look casual… Like I belonged here. But my eyes kept darting around, taking in the decor and the well-dressed patrons. I was grateful I’d put on this dress and heeled sandals. He set a glass of water in front of me, and the first sip made me grip the bar. Even their water here tasted fresher and so damn good!

A minute or so passed before he returned.

“Here you are,” the bartender said, sliding a pretty drink toward me.

“Thanks. Uh, what’s in this?”

He gave me another smile. This one was more genuine. “Gin, champagne, and some other shit.”

“Ooh, this is actually perfect then. I’m definitely a vodka and gin girl.”

“Really?” He eyed me skeptically, almost like he was intrigued. “Not too many girls out this way drink gin unless they get this drink.”

“Well, it could be because—” I immediately snapped my mouth shut but then said to hell with it and finished anyway. “My first alcoholic drink was moonshine. Gin wasn’t too far behind that.”

“Oh, you like to have your chest warmed? I like that.” I laughed with a nod. “I’m Jake, by the way.” We shook hands.

“Billie,” I replied before taking a sip. It was delicious, light, and refreshing. Not overly sweet at all like a margarita, but it gave the gin a lighter flavor. “This is great, thanks.”

Jake leaned on the bar, his smile widening. “So, Billie, what brings a pretty lady like yourself here tonight?”

I almost snorted as I laughed. If only he knew I was here for an escape and feeling completely out of my element, but he was nice, and he made me feel comfortable, so I decided to play along.

“Just enjoying the city.”

Jake nodded approvingly. “Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place. We get quite the crowd here.”

As he talked, I couldn’t help but feel a little thrill. Here I was, in a fancy bar, with a handsome bartender genuinely talking to me. It was probably just part of his job, but still, it felt nice. He even gave me an extra shot of gin on the house.

“So, what do you do when you’re not charming customers?” I asked, surprising myself with my boldness.

Jake laughed. “Trying to uncover my secret identity?”

I grinned, feeling more at ease. “Maybe. For all I know, you could be a superhero by day.” Hell, he certainly felt like one to me. My nerves had completely left, and I felt so at ease. It had been my plan to try two or three different places tonight, but with how things were going, I’d probably spend the evening here.

As Jake launched into a dramatic tale about his ‘secret life,’ which was really just him going to school by day to get his law degree, I sipped my drink and allowed myself to further relax.

I was about to ask Jake another question when a sudden buzz of whispers caught my attention. Glancing around, I noticed a cluster of people near the end of the bar. Their eyes darted excitedly toward someone as they clung to each other. I couldn’t quite see what the ruckus was about. Possibly some hometown celebrity or someone they treated like one. Either way, I shrugged and turned slightly since it had nothing to do with me.

“What’s going on over there?” I asked Jake, nodding toward the commotion by the door. As the crowd grew and whispers increased, so did my curiosity.

He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Looks like we’ve got a VIP in the house tonight. Happens sometimes. The regulars know not to make a big deal out of it, so I assume those people might be tourists.”

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