Page 46 of Marvelous
Harlee winced, “She can’t sing.”
Carter nodded, “Sounds like a dying elk.”
Alec said, “A hungry hippo.”
Garrick said, “A horny rhino.”
Dom winced, “A sick tiger.
Ethan nodded, “A scared snake.”
“Hush all of you,” Misty snapped.
Frank just laughed.
Then I found out what they meant, and she was only on the second line.
I smiled up at her and called out, “Talia?”
She stopped, then looked at me with her cheeks flaming red, “Just ask next time. Yeah?”
At her nod, I winked.
Then I looked at Harlee, “My job still open?”
She nodded.
Birdie clapped. “Good. I already gotta deal with one hot head any time someone hits on me. I don’t want the whole Griggs clan in here when it happens to Cassie.”
All the women’s eyes swung to her, and all the men chuckled.
I finished my shift, and eventually they all had to head home, but not Alec.
No, he stayed on a corner barstool, keeping an eye on things.
And when one customer reached out to pat my hand, he had come off his barstool.
Birdie had shaken her head when I came back to the bar for another round of drinks, tilted her head to the side, and said, “See what I mean?”
Monday morning came around, and as I finished dressing, there was a knock on my door.
I finished putting on my last ballet flat and headed to the door.
Checking the peephole, I smiled when I saw Alec.
I opened the door, he smiled, then winked, “These are for you. Congrats on your first day.”
I took the white lilies from him.
He had remembered it.
It was one of the things we had talked about that night on his back porch.
Softly, I said, “Thank you.”
Then he winked as he started walking backward to his truck, “Who said romance is dead?”
I laughed. Then I watched him climb into his truck and leave.
