Page 8 of A Lonely Road
Groaning, I said, “You were out in the boonies and the news still managed to travel that fast?”
“C’mon, man, you’ve lived in Spruce Hill long enough to know how that stuff gets around. Especially with Sam involved. She’s been texting me for days. So, spill. You two hook up yet?”
I shot her a warning glance. “No. She’s barely been here a week.”
“Sure you’re not losing your touch?”
Silently cursing my sister, I served another patron and waited until the older man walked away before saying in a low voice, “I’m not losing anything. Nora is . . . cautious. Skittish, maybe. A little jumpy. She reminds me a bit of Angelica back in college.”
One of our closest friends had been assaulted walking back to the dorms during sophomore year. We’d all closed ranks in the aftermath, committed to keeping every member of our little crew safe.
Casey blew out a breath, her expression growing somber. “You think she’s been hurt?”
I thought about it for a long moment, then ran a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. Maybe not like that. Could have been a bad relationship, a bad family situation? She doesn’t talk about the past much and I don’t think she’s ready for anyone to pry.”
“Duly noted. Well, I look forward to meeting her.” When my eyes narrowed slightly, Casey grinned. “Easy, cowboy. I won’t encroach on your territory, don’t worry.”
“She’d probably kick all our asses if she heard herself referred to as ‘territory,’ so watch your mouth around her,” I warned. I glanced toward Nora’s usual booth for probably the hundredth time in two days and felt my spirits fall a little at seeing it still empty. “She comes in most evenings to work, but it’s been a couple days.”
“Let me guess, you’re afraid you scared her away,” Casey ventured.
Before I could reply, my gaze caught on the figure slipping through the front door and my heart inflated like a balloon. I felt Casey’s focus sharpening on my expression—there was no doubt she saw it written on my face, all the signs that my interest in Nora wasn’t strictly neighborly.
When I glanced back at Casey, she smirked. “Oh, hell, Lincoln. You’re into her.”
Casually, she turned to look at the woman who’d just entered the restaurant. At first glance, Nora was certainly pretty, but it wasn’t until those deep brown eyes locked on mine and a small smile curved her lips upward that I suspected Casey might understand. That smile, the little hint of mystery, was so startling in its beauty that even Casey did a double take.
“Can you behave like a respectable adult for a minute while I say hello?” I asked, barely looking back toward Casey.
“You know I’d never cockblock a friend,” Casey teased under her breath. At that, I shot her a brief glare, but she only grinned in response. “Go on. I do expect an introduction eventually, but heaven forbid I interrupt a reunion of lovers.”
I barely heard her as I filled a glass with root beer and brought it over to Nora’s table. “Hey, stranger,” I said lightly. “I was afraid you’d found someplace else to work.”
“No, I’ve just been . . . ah, busy.” Though she looked calm and composed, a faint blush highlighted her cheekbones. I cocked a brow at the weak excuse and she wrinkled her nose at me withoutelaborating.
“Right, of course. In any case, I’m glad you’re back,” I said smoothly. I waited until her eyes lifted to meet mine and then had to fight down the urge to touch her. “There’s a bachelor party coming in tonight, just so you know.”
She closed her laptop. “I’m sorry, I can go if you need the space.”
“No, no, not at all. Stay. Please stay. I just wanted you to be prepared. It’ll probably be louder than usual tonight.”
I couldn’t help myself—I laid my hand over hers on top of the computer. The warmth of her skin seeped through my palm.Just as soft as she looks,I thought, and my heart thudded when she didn’t pull away from me. Still, I was afraid to test my luck, so I reluctantly drew back my hand and smiled at her.
“Bea’s got a new dessert special tonight, you should try it so you can give me an honest review. Let me know when you’re ready for a refill.”
Nora didn’t respond, but I felt her eyes on me as I strode back to the bar, like she was as surprised as I was that the physical contact hadn’t caused her to jerk away. It wasn’t until I flashed her a warm smile from behind the bar that she opened the laptop again and turned her focus to her work.
At the other end of the bar, Casey raised her brows comically high. “I haven’t seen that kind of sexual tension since—well, ever. Shit, man. She might actually be into you, too. I really expected some kind of unrequited love here, based on your puppy dog eyes when I came in.”
I gave a short laugh, but my eyes strayed back to Nora every time I had a free second throughout the evening. Something about her presence calmed me, like I could finally relax.
The bachelor party showed up just after the dinner rush ended, a group of six guys from Oakville, the next town over. It became clear pretty quickly that they’d already consumed a fair amount of alcohol, but not so much that anyone needed to be cut off yet. The group would require watching, though. I had no problem kicking out a bunch of rowdy drunks, even if Sam and I had been making an effort to bring in events like this.
When Casey eyed the group and offered to stay to help me keep a handle on things, I was aware enough of my own distraction to gratefully accept. We’d worked as bartenders together at The Mermaid after college, a perfect weekend gig for two recent graduates. My father had been happy to have the help and even happier to keep a close eye on us.
Casey washed up and joined me behind the bar. “Just like old times, huh?”
For the first hour, we were much busier than usual, even with Casey’s help. The two of us, with the ease of long practice, moved seamlessly around one another as we mixed drinks, opened beer bottles, and poured wine. In addition to the bachelor party seated at the bar, familiar patrons flowed in and out with a regularity that I usually appreciated.
