Page 59 of Square Deal

She was gorgeous, that was for sure. Dark hair, warm skin, big brown eyes, and a great body. The girl was the whole package.

Steve drained the rest of his coffee, pulled a few bills out of his wallet, and dropped them on the bar. “I should probably get back home.”

“Give me a call if you or Erica need a break. I can come by andclean or bring dinner. Or I can come get some baby snuggles while y’all just rest.”

“Thanks, HJ.” He gave Bridget a wave before heading out the door.

The change in Steve was night and day. He went from being an angry, snarly grump to a lovestruck sap. It was all Erica. Those two went through hell and back, but found each other and fell in love along the way. They were like a damn Hallmark movie.

Bridget waited until the door closed behind him. “Spill it. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” I lied, praying that my poker face wasn’t as shitty as Steve said.

I rapped my pale pink nails against the beat-up oak bar top. My mother would have a conniption if she knew this was the kind of place I frequented. Then again, she had a conniption about most things I did these days.

“So, poker night tonight?” I asked, changing topics like a pro. “Maddie texted me when she and Luca got back from their honeymoon, so it’s on.”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” Bridget said, swiping a towel across the bar. “Hey, um… Do you mind if I crash at your place tonight?” She chewed on her lip. “It’s just… I’ve gotta open in the morning, and if I stay out late and then have to drive all the way back to Havelock, I’ll barely get any sleep, and I?—”

“Open invitation,” I reminded her. “You know I keep the guest room made up.” I walked to the register to pay for my drink. While she swiped my card, I added, “And you don’t have to make up excuses if things aren’t good with Kyle and you need a break or if you need somewhere to stay while you figure out a move.”

“Just one night, and then I’m out of your hair.”

I snatched my debit card back and slid it into my handbag. “See you tonight, Bee.”

“Hello, Mrs. DeRossi!”I squealed as I nearly tackled Maddie to the ground in a bear hug.

She wiggled her fingers, showing me the engagement ring that Luca proposed with. It was a family heirloom, and the thing was all kinds of gorgeous. I had seen the ring near a million times, but this time, her engagement ring sat snuggled up to a diamond-encrusted wedding band.

Over her shoulder, Luca gave me a curious look. He glanced at the door and then shrugged and went back to talking to Chase.

“How was the honeymoon?” I asked.

“Amazing,” she giggled. “Oh my God—so much food, so much sex. We had the best time. Let me tell you, vacations are magical. I should have gone on a honeymoon by myself years ago.”

My little workaholic was all grown up.

The front door opened, and Steve led the way, carrying a diaper bag big enough to be a suitcase. Erica followed with Aly swaddled in her arms.

Maddie clasped her hands over her mouth. Luca came to the rescue and wrapped his arms around her, restraining her long enough for Erica to walk inside. When Steve gave Luca a nod, he unleashed Maddie.

“She’s so beautiful!” Maddie shriek-whispered, jumping up and down like a kid overdosing on Halloween candy. She threw herself into Steve’s arms. “And you proposed to Erica and didn’t tell me! I’m so happy for you!”

I headed down to the man cave for something alcoholic. All this talk of marriage, honeymoons, engagements, and babies made me feel…

Absolutely nothing.

I choked down those stray desires and slipped behind the bar to pour myself something strong.

“Figured I’d find you down here,” Luca said as he jogged down the stairs. “I never got a chance to say thank you for all the work you did for the wedding.”

“Don’t mention it,” I said dismissively. “Not a big deal.”

Luca rested his big, tattooed arms on the lacquered bar top. “Isaac didn’t give you too much trouble, did he? I told him to be on his best behavior.”

I laughed as I poured myself a glass of wine. “He was himself.”

Luca let out a string of curses and shook his head. “Look, I’m sorry about that. He’s a good guy, but he can be a bit much if you don’t know him that well.”

---