Page 20 of Rebellious Hearts
“You’re not usually here this early,” Max said.
Maxwell Harrington wasn’t just the bartender during the day. He was the owner of the bar and he was the heart and soul of Jester. He was responsible for the incredible cocktails the other bartenders came up with and his passion for spirits and mixology had made this place what it was.
He also had the uncanny ability to remember every patron’s name and what they usually drank, what work they did if someone had told him, and what times they usually came in.
“I need a drink,” I sat down at the bar.
“Your usual?”
I shook my head. An Old Fashioned made with aged rum was something I loved to drink but that was for when I was enjoying myself and today I wasnotenjoying myself.
“Lagavulin 16,” I said. “And keep it coming.”
Max raised his eyebrows, but he produced a tumbler and poured me three fingers of the fine single malt whisky.
I threw it back in one shot.
Max whistled through his teeth. “That serious, huh?” He poured me another three fingers.
I nodded and took the glass from him, but this time I didn’t down it. I sipped it carefully. Lagavulin wasn’t the kind of whisky I was going to keep downing—that would be a complete waste.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Max asked.
I eyed him. He knew who I was and what I did. He knew a lot of people and what they did, but he was the kind of man who kept his mouth shut. He knew everything but said nothing.
“Did you notice the two brunettes that came in when we were celebrating last week?”
Max nodded. “If I’m thinking of the same girls you’re talking about, I saw them come in when I was on my way out.”
“Right,” I said. “I think we’re thinking about the same girls. Striking, one with eyes like mercury and the other with this motherly warmth.”
Max chuckled. “Yeah, that sounds right.”
I sighed. “I slept with one of them.”
“You’re making it sound like a bad thing.”
“It was if you consider that I have to work with her for the next couple of weeks. Alone.”
Max whistled through his teeth again.
“That sounds… interesting.”
“I don’t want her there,” I said flatly.
“Because you slept with her?”
“Yeah, and the fact that I think Alex is giving me a babysitter. Even though she’s apparently great at her job and that’s what the project needs. I just… I don’t want to have to deal with this shit. I was looking forward to having this project as my baby to do with as I saw fit and now I need to figure it out with her before I can really do anything. I just… fuck. I don’t know how to deal with it.”
“Maybe she really is good at what she does.”
She was fucking good at doing me.
“Yeah, maybe.”
“And maybe she’ll be fun to work with.”
“Maybe,” I said dully.
