Page 12 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

“Not yet, but hopefullyIwill by the end of the night.”

I laughed and told her to watch out for that one because his muscles looked like they could break through his tight shirt at any moment.

“I like my men likeIlike my coffee – strong enough to pick me up.Andhe will definitely be able to do that,”Tammysaid with a sly grin on her face. “Though, saying that,Ialso don’t want them lookin’ like somethingIdrew with my left hand, which is usually what happens whenIpick ‘em online.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her descriptions and headed over to grab some more freshly washed glasses to dry them.

Ruthie had come over after work and was sitting at the bar on my side.Iappreciated the fact that she came, becauseIknew she worked long hours over atRangerShield’sfront desk.EverytimeIwould pass by the front office, whether on my way to or from the apartment she seemed to be there.

“I keep meaning to tell you every timeIsee you thatIlike your necklace,”Itold her asIpointed to the two little pale pink boxing gloves hanging from a silver chain around her neck.

She grabbed the charm between her fingers as she looked down at it.

“Archer gave it to me when we came here,” she said and then paused. “It’sto remind me thatI’ma fighter.”Herwords were strong, yet there was definitely emotion in her voice.

“I’m not much of a pink person, but it’s really cute, and it suits you,”Itold her, smiling.

“Thanks.”Shesmiled back at me, small at first, but then she straightened her head and smiled even bigger. “Ilike your necklace too.”

I looked down at my charm necklace and smiled.

“My grandma gave it to me soIcould add charms that would tell the story of my life,”Itold her. “Imiss her so much, but it’s been nice to have this keepsake to remind me of her.”

“That’s awesome,”Ruthiesaid to me with a sad smile.

We didn’t get to chat too much more since more customers started to trickle in, but any free momentIhad,Imade my way over to her to get to know her better.Ilearned she was born and raised inVegas, and moved here at the same time asArchersince he offered her a job, which she was happy about since her grandpa lived inGeorgia, too.Sadly, her mom had died when she was young, just like mine, and she also had an older brother like me.Thedifference was she did not seem close to her family she had left at all.WhenIasked about them, her response had been, “Don’tknow, don’t care.”

We found we both shared a love of rom-coms and decided that we would see one at the theater soon.Wealso made plans to go back to theChattahoocheeNationalForestin a few days to try out a new trail.Myparents had takenJackand me toGatlinburgandGreatSmokeyMountainNationalParkwhen we were kids, andIloved it.Iloved the outdoors.Iwas gladRuthiedid too.

Tammy bumped her hip into mine with a drink in each hand and nodded her head toward the back. “Phonecall for youBlondie.”

“Who is it?”Iasked, butTammywas already on the other side of the bar handing the drinks over to her customers and chatting them up.

I walked over and picked it up, wondering who onEarthwould call me here since the peopleIwas closest to would just call my cell.Granted,Ialways kept my cell underneath the counter at the back of the bar soIwouldn’t be distracted by it while on shift.

“Hello,”Isaid, but there was no response. “Hello.Thisis theWateringHole.HowcanIhelp you?”Isaid again, but there was nothing.Ihung up and figured it was just kids playing a prank, soIwalked back over toRuthieto refill her drink up.

“Who was on the phone?”Tammyasked as she winked at me. “Hesounded like he could be handsome.”

“How can you tell that over the phone?”Ilaughed.

“Honey,I’vebeen on thisEarthfor four decades.Ican definitely tell which ones sound handsome and which ones don’t just by their voice,” she said, sounding so confident. “Now, my problem is,Itend to let the handsome face overrule all the other red flags that usually go with the smooth voice,” she said as she laughed.

I could sympathize.I’ddefinitely missed all the red flags withRandall.

“Same.Ifeel ya on that,”Ruthiechimed in, and then leaned forward and stage-whispered toTammyand me, “So, tell us more about your gentleman caller.”

I laughed at the enthusiasm coming from both of them and just shook my head.

“Whoever it was must have hung up, because there was no one there by the timeIgot to the phone.”

“That’s a shame.Weneed to get you back out there and have a little fun.”Tammysaid with a smirk.

“I don’t exactly have a great track record, and right nowIneed to focus on myself and starting school,”Itold them, though ifIwas being truthful, it was also because the only man my brain seemed to be interested in anymore wasWade.Givenhe was my boss, not to mentionJack’sgood friend, meant he was off-limits.

“Honey,I’mnot trying to marry you off,”Tammysaid, grinning like a loon. “Sometimesone magical night with a good-lookin’ man is exactly what the doctor ordered.”Shewinked and pointed at me, then made her way back to the muscled man with the goatee she had been flirting with tonight.

“That’s exactly what got me in trouble the last time,”Imumbled under my breath, but it must not have been too quiet, becauseTammy’ssmile disappeared.

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