Page 22 of Enemies in Earnest

“I can do as I wish because it’s my bar. I answer to no one. Much to the great mortification of my parents who I am certain think I am experiencing a nearly ten-year midlife crisis; I love my life. And while my parents think I’m doing it to spite them, living here, charting my own course, I’m prouder of what I’ve accomplished here in Candy Cane Key than of any of the slips of paper that hang on my wall, or in any of my academic research.

“Perhaps I did name my bar Temperance because it’s cheeky. But when I picked it, the true intent was more about striking a balance between passion and necessity, than intending to be ironic.”

Her chin jutted in that defensively proud way she had about her. As if I was going to judge or criticize her for what she’d just told me. It was the furthest thing from my mind. She was amazing. I hated that anyone ever made her question herself and hated even more that perhaps our time as enemies had also made her feel judged or criticized.

“Our banter,” I began. “I want you to know that I never truly meant anything unkind by what I said. If that is how it came across, I’m truly sorry, Acacia.”

I gathered her soft mane of hair in my fist, and gently tugged so I could look directly into her eyes. If nothing more happened between us past this night, it was important to me that she at least know how sorry I felt if I’d only rubbed salt in already smarting wounds.

“You not only are impressively intelligent, but successful, compassionate. The whole town just thinks the world of you. I’m incredibly proud of you and the success you’ve had with your pub. Knowing what a big risk you took to strike out on your own, against the acceptance of your parents, makes it even more brave and inspiring.

“The truth is, bantering with you has been the highlight of my life these past five years. It allowed me to stay near you, even if you were hissing at me and throwing barbs in my direction.”

The truth of that statement resonated to my core. Fucking Klaus. He loved to be right. And he’d landed a double bullseye with that observation. Thinking about Klaus had me realizing that it was beyond late, and I didn’t remember them ever coming home.

Klaus: Based on the sounds from the front door we assumed you didn’t want company. We’re at MariJo’s.

That would bean interesting explanation over breakfast in the morning.

“Is that your cousin?” Acacia asked.

Her cheeks were tinted a subtle pink. I’d made her blush. She didn’t even have to acknowledge my apology. Just seeing that little hint of delight pleased the hell out of me. Maybe we finally had set down our weapons and officially called a truce.

“It is,” I said. “They didn’t want to interrupt. They went next door to my mom’s.”

“Oh god.” She buried her face between her hands. “Your mom is going to know that we had sex.”

I leaned over and switched off the light, wrapped my arm around Acacia’s waist and snuggled us both down beneath the covers. Feeling her warm body pressed against mine, the scent of her hair, and the slow relaxed cadence of her breathing was more successful at relaxing me than my favorite sleep app. Having her with me was definitely something I could easily get used to.

“She’s deaf in one ear.” I told her, smiling against her temple. “I promise you she didn’t hear us.”

Even if she had she’d probably be thrilled that I finally went on an actual date.

“You don’t think she’ll wonder why your cousins are sitting at her breakfast table in the morning?”

“Well then,” I nipped at the tendon along her neck before rolling on top of her, pinning her with my hips. “We may as well make sure that all your needs are fully tended to. Mama would be mortified if she thought I wasn’t a good host.”

I didn’t give her a second to argue. I dove beneath the covers intent on letting the whole neighborhood know who exactly was screaming my name in apogee.

ChapterSixteen

“No.No! Not over there. We need you to put the podium over there, to the left of the bar, you imbeciles! That is the focal point of the entire evening. Why would we put it by the front door when thewateris what we want everyone looking at.”

Dr. Asher Krane stomped through the bar shouting orders at anyone who dared spend more than thirty seconds doing nothing. The guys from the playhouse had come down with their P.A. system like they did every year, and yet Asher suddenly took offense to everything they did. With the Hemingway tribute only a day away, he looked as if he would expire beneath the weight of his plans.

“What is with this wind?” Asher approached, tossing his clipboard onto the bar with a noisy clatter. “You may need to pull down your open-air windows. I can’t risk all of these decorations getting strewn about.”

He flicked his hand in the general direction of the tables behind him. I know it bothered him that I was nowhere near as apoplectic as him. I probably should have been. But cucumbers had begun to envy me, I was so chill. Of course, sex with Edwin, twice, would do that to a gal.

Just thinking about him and what we’d done the night before brought the heat back to my cheeks.

“Ms. Ashley, I know I told you to go and have fun with Mr. Wheeler—but could you please refrain from daydreaming right now. This is very important. The flower shop didn’t have lilies and banana leaves for your wreath. They’re wondering if palm fronds and freesia would be okay. But freesia is so small and delicate. It will break apart the moment it hits the ocean.”

The tribute was my big day. My contribution to drawing the tourists in. Yet I couldn’t find a single thread of concern over the seemingly important things going wrong around me.

“Ohmigod, he dicked yourealgood, didn’t he?” Felicity skipped into the bar, beelining straight for me. I recognized her friends Disney andSons of Anarchyapproaching at a much less frenetic pace.

“Felicity!” I giggled, tossing my towel at her.

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