Page 58 of Unbreak My Heart

“You numbskull!” his twin brother Gerry interrupted. “He isn’t talking about marrying him. It’s the Cow thing.”

“I know that! Just thought it’d be funny,” retorted Joe Junior.

“Always knew there was something odd about you Jamesons,” Mick Pierson offered, a cheeky grin on his face.

Gabe groaned. “Not you too.”

Max hauled Simon onto the dance floor by his bicep and threw his arm round his shoulder. “You’re all looking at the new co-owner of the Spotted Cow!” Max pointed at Mick and Joe Junior, standing close together. “And you two can behave yourselves, or hewillthrow you out on your asses.”

That brought more laughter and congratulations as people came up to them. Someone turned on the jukebox, a pumping hit from the nineties booming out, until Gerry yelled for them to turn it down. The noise reduced significantly, and Simon shook his head, grinning.

He looked around for Eva, worry that she would slip out chasing around his gut. But there she was, standing at the back away from all the fuss, just watching the room. Matty was with his grandmother for the opening. They were going to go get him and show him the Cow the next day before opening hours, so he could look around properly and not be overwhelmed.

Max stood still and waited until she noticed his attention, and jerked his head, holding out his hand.

A faint pink flush washed up her cheeks.

Heck, he loved that blush.

He reached behind Max as his brother moved and headed for the bar, and took hold of her hand, drawing her closer. The press of people around them forced them closer together and he grinned at her.

“You’d better get used to this.” He gestured around them. “This lot can getreally annoying,” he said loudly over his shoulder, with a large grin, “but they’re pretty harmless.” He lowered his voice and leaned down toward her. “Welcome to the Cow, shortcake.”

He stroked her cheek, so incredibly happy she was here with him for this. “Did you know?”

Beautiful ebony eyes held his as she shook her head slightly, keeping the contact with his hand. “No. I knew they were up to something, but he didn’t tell me what it was. Just that he had a surprise for you and to keep you from coming in before today.”

His thumb rubbed gently over her cheek. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her, even here.

“Come over to the bar with me? I’ll have to serve for a while, but we’re only keeping her open for a few hours today.”

A whisper of a smile and she nodded. “Of course.”

Simon took her hand and wove his way toward the growing crowd surrounding the long wooden bar. Max handed a drink to Mali, and she slipped off the corner barstool, and winked at them.

“Grab my seat before someone pinches it, Eva. You gotta be fast here!” Mali said.

Eva’s hand slid from his and he couldn’t help the sense of loss that washed through him as he continued to where his brothers were hard at it.

“Thanks, Mali,” Eva replied as she climbed up onto the stool.

Climbed. That brought a smile to Simon’s face as he stepped in front of her, the gleaming wood of the bar between them.

“What can I getcha?”

Eva frowned at him. “Stop laughing at short people, mister. It’s rude.”

That just made him actually laugh. “Sorry, shortcake, but no dice. Watching you climb up there is cute-as. I can’t help that it makes me smile.”

Eva tilted her head and pointed at the bottle in Gabe’s hand where he stood beside Simon, pouring a drink. “Dry red, please.”

Grabbing a wine glass, he pointed it toward her, then took the bottle from Gabe, filling it for her.

Gabe looked at him from where he’d started pulling a schooner of beer. “So, you finally decided to join us back here, eh?” he teased, his eye on the rising level of golden liquid.

Even after so long away from the taps, Simon was impressed. Gabe had always drawn a good draught.

“What are you insinuating, brother?”

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