Page 47 of When It Reins
“That was absolutely incredible,” she says, stretching her arms up and above her head with a big yawn.
“Barely covers it,” I reply, keeping my hand on her bare stomach. I am looking forward to wrapping her in my arms and keeping her there all night.
She turns slightly, letting herself lie there in peace, her gaze on the ceiling and a smile crossing her lips. “Mitch.” Her head turns to me, and I return her grin. “I think this may have been the best night of my life.”
I feel a stab of something—anticipation, excitement, pure fucking glee—pulse in my gut at her words.
“Mine too.”
21
juniper
Bliss wasn’ta place where you could physically exist. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told.
But it is where my heart, mind, and soul have been living ever since the moment Mitch decided he was going to give in to the pull between us.
Since then, we returned to our normal lives, everything going back exactly as it was before, with the minor exception that Mitch would kiss me whenever he arrived at work, and when he walked me back to my car every night, he usually came home with me.
The label never called, but that is okay. The experience that I had, singing and performing in front of a huge crowd, is one I will never forget.
That hadn’t even been the highlight of my night, and I would never be able to regret going on that trip.
“Well, that looks like too bright a smile to be working behind a bar.”
Turning, I blink when I see Rosemary standing on the other side. She was right. I had been standing here just grinning away.
It was early enough in the evening that we were mostly filled up with families and clubs, including Rosemary’s book club that came in every month.
“Rosemary, what a nice surprise,” I reply, reaching for another glass out of the dishwasher. Our dryer setting isn’t working properly, so I am hand drying everything that went into it.
“I came to say I got your message.” She waves her phone around like I need the reminder that I left her a voicemail. “That boy of yours is doubling down on offers. Those of us that don’t have tax liens are getting more and more tempted by the offers every day.”
“Even you?” I ask, pausing my movements. I want to help that community, to fight back what David and his company have started to do. But it would be nice to have someone in the actual community to help me.
“No. I’m not giving up my house for some city folk who just want to use the land for their own benefit.” She sniffs the air, fluffing a curl back out of her face. I smile at her, loving the fierce gumption she seems to carry around with her. “Nah, I’m ready for this money night thing you want to throw.”
Smiling at her, I nod my head. “Charity night. I think we can get a good crowd going, something that gets the folks excited to come and pay for something that they don’t get very often.” Plus, if I can get Felicity to agree to it, then even more people, local and the surrounding areas, will come in flocks.
“Well, how can I help?” Rosemary waves off the group of ladies sitting at the table behind her, calling out her name to start their club.
“How about I get some stuff together and swing by next week? We can work on ideas.” I have a feeling Rosemary is going to want to be extra involved with this project, which I am morethan okay with. It is going to take a little bit of work to get people to come together and make this whole thing happen.
Including clueing Thea in on what is going on.
“Sounds good, honey. Let’s do that. I gotta get back. They want to complain that the book we read has too much spice again.” She raps her knuckles on the bar top and rolls her eyes. “They need to embrace it.”
I laugh loudly and watch her swagger back over to her friends. She is such a fiery old lady, and I love just about everything about her.
Hours later, with the bar winding down and the floors swept, the tabs paid for and everyone heading home, I’m left alone in the bar with only Mitch.
I’m putting the money back in the safe in the office when I feel him come up behind me, his arms sliding around my body and pulling me into his strong chest. I inhale the scent of him and smile at the smell.
It is probably a silly or even weird thing to love, but I feel myself relax with peace whenever I smell it.
“It’s been a long shift,” he whispers into my ear, spreading a wildfire of goose bumps along my neck and shoulders.
“It has.”
