Page 68 of All We Need

Midnight is an hour away.Aftervideo calling with my parents and brothers,Ipicked up my paintbrush, only to stare at the canvas blankly again.Nothing.Igave up and rushed to get ready and hightailed it over here, not wanting people to assumeIwas going to be a no-show.Thatwould not work in my favor, especially asIslowly gain the trust of my employees.

Ignoring the peculiar stares,Ihead over to the bar, desperate for a drink, and findJohannaprepping what looks tobe aTomCollins.SinceChristmasDay, her smiles are more relaxed, genuine.Thesame forPatrick, who waves at me from the other side of the bar.

“Aly, hey,” she shouts over “Wannabe”by theSpiceGirls. “What’syour poison?”

I nod at the drink in her hand. “I’lltake one of those, please.”

She slides the glass toward me. “Takethis one.It’sBooth’sbut he’s disappeared…”Shescans the room before her eyes flare in amusement. “Nevermind.Foundhim.”

Following her gaze, it shouldn’t surprise me whatIsee.

Jazz hands, floppy chocolate hair, and an ear-to-ear grin.

He’d look ridiculous if it weren’t for the shirt molded to his chest and arms, the sleeves rolled up to display corded, bronzed skin.Asheen of sweat covers his skin, making him glow under the flashing lights.

Any other man, the gyrating of his hips and lip-syncing, would give me the ick, but of course,Boothdoes the complete opposite.

“Are you joining them?”Johanna’squestion has me pausing.

Them.Whichis whenIseeHarrietbeside him, matching his moves as he serenades her passionately.

Shaking my head,Isnatch up my drink. “I’dhate to interrupt them.”

Jo’s eyes flit between me and the dance partners. “It’snot what it looks like,” she says asBoothgrabsHarrietby the hip and dips her.

“It can look however it wants.WhywouldIcare?”Hopefully, she can’t hear the tightness in my voice over the bass.

Shrugging, she finishes pouring a beer and passes it to another patron. “Ithink he’d care if he was standing where you are.They’rejust friends.Trustme.”

“With a history?”NowIsound likeIcare.BeforeIleft theSadlerhousehold,Ispotted a wall filled with prom photos.Frontand center satBoothandHarriet, looking cozy.

“You could say that.”Shecontemplates her next words before saying, “I’mgoing to pretend you’re not my boss for a second.Weall saw the chemistry between you two atChristmas.Boothisn’t one to chase, yet somehow…”

My nose wrinkles. “Somehow…?”

She bites her lip. “Hiseyes follow wherever you go.Iswear he looks for you in the mornings when he comes into the restaurant.”

I take a large gulp of my drink. “Let’spretend this conversation never happened?”

Laughing lightly, she nods. “Deal.”

Pulling out a twenty,Islap it on the bar but she slides it back. “I’mnot charging the boss.”

“You meanScaryBossLady?”

Her cheeks turn scarlet under the fluorescent lights. “Thatchild is a menace.”

I wave her off. “Ifshe ever wants to work for me, let me know.”

She laughs. “You’llregret that during her first week.”

We chat until a crowd forms around the bar, andIleave her to it.Whilescanning the room,Itouch up my lipstick, admiring how the ruby red matches my nails.Spottinga quiet corner,Imake my way over but come to a halt whenIspyMartin.Yeah, not tonight.Turningin the opposite direction,Iscan the room and findGraham,Quinn,Dex, andFlorence.Acceptingit’s my safest bet,Ijoin the group.

Their welcome is a huge contrast to a few weeks ago, andIrelax asIfall into their conversation easily.

“Have you decided how long you’re in town for?”Quinnasks.

Fighting the urge to glance inMartin’sdirection,Ishake myhead. “Ihave a few more things to do first, but probably at the end ofJanuary.”

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