Page 9 of Fairground

“How does the bar make money if you put all the drinks on the house?” she says.

“Not something for you to worry about, but never fear, your drink is definitelynoton the house tonight.”

“Well in that case, may Ipleasehave another?”

“Not of just vodka, no.”

“Why the hell not?” she demands. Her cute nose scrunches up as she attempts some sort of glare at me that only makes me even more attracted to her. Underneath all that black clothing, she has a heart. Just like the grinch. And now I want to see if I can find it. Preferably while I undress her.

“Because if I keep giving you straight vodka, you’re never going to make friends and Laken told you that you needed to so therefore, I’m respecting her wishes.”

“Thought you didn’t know her,” she scowls.

I shoot her a wink and she rolls her eyes.

“Fine, how about we do a whiskey sour then.”

“That I can do, and since you obliged to my demands, let me introduce you to an old friend of mine,” I say.

Smythe vacates his chair to head to the game just as my sister Regan and one of her best friends Lydia enters the bar, her blonde hair bounces as she gives Smythe a big hug in greeting then slides into his empty seat. Lydia doesn’t drink, but I know she’ll eat and she’s good for carrying a conversation with a shoebox.

“Hi Cash!” she shouts with a smile and leans over the bar to give me a quick one armed hug.

“Hi Lydia,” I smile and pull back then look between the two women seated in front of me now. “Wow, it’s like Barbie and her best friend Skipper if skipper only listened toDashboard Confessionaland loved the color black.”

“You’re really milking this, aren’t you?” the pretty woman asks on a sigh though her lip is twitching at the corner like she's fighting a smile. She thinks I’m funny. I’ll take it as a win.

“You two have fun now. I have work to do,” I call over my shoulder, and then I turn and spin on my heel to go refill drinks for my other guests.

Chapter 5: Rae

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m not having aterribletime.

Cash brought me one more whiskey sour, only to promptly cut me off after declaring I was“finally relaxed enough not to scare away his customers.”

I tried to argue that I can walk home from here and won't be driving so it doesn’t really matter, but instead of budging, he delivered a basket of loaded cheese fries with bacon, avocado and ranch as some sort of peace offering.

And dammit, I hate that these are the best thing I’ve eaten in the two weeks since moving here.

Even chatting with Lydia, my new bar buddy, has been easy. She’s the kind of person who puts you at ease immediately, with a sweet, slightly mischievous smile and a knack for keeping a conversation going without it feeling like an interrogation. I’m appreciating the fact that she doesn’t expect me to talk the whole time and is comfortable enough in the silence.

“So, what’s his deal?” I ask, tilting my chin toward Cash, who hasn’t spoken to me since introducing me to Lydia.

He’s been working the crowd like the local celebrity he probably is, all dark hair, warm hazel eyes, and broad shoulders that practically every woman in this bar has been ogling. He’s the kind of handsome who knows it I can tell—and understands how to use it to get what he wants—slinging drinks with a grin that could charm the panties off of even the most prude woman and warm my cold, dark heart.

Lydia laughs, setting down her virgin mojito—a choice that initially surprised me until she explained she’s the reverend’s daughter, hates the way alcohol makes her feel, and hangs out at the bar more for the people in this town than the booze.

“Was he giving you a hard time? He’s really just a big teaser and doesn’t mean any harm.”

“Let’s just say it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.”

She grins knowingly. “Yeah, that sounds like Cash. He’s the goof of the family. Doesn't seem like he can take anything seriously.”

“The family?”

“Oh, he didn’t introduce himself?”

“I only know his name because you'd said it when you greeted him.”

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