Page 12 of Flirting with Sunshine

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Just thought I’d check. You never know. These tourists can drive anyone to drink.” He threw his head back like he couldn’t wait for the season to finally end.

“These tourists pay our bills for the entire year,” I said even though he already knew that.

Everyone in Port Rufton knew that the out-of-towners, no matter how difficult they could be at times, kept us afloat during those winter months when we were forced to stay closed. Half the businesses in town shut their doors completely from November to February. The weather was simply too unpredictable to stay open with any regularity, and getting supplies was even more difficult. I, however, tried my best to keep the restaurant going, but with limited hours. It seemed to work. And it kept the town fed.

“Oh shit.” Rory suddenly grabbed me by the waist and spun me around just in time to see my ex-husband, Liam, walking through the front door, a determined look on his face.

“Why on earth…” I started to question, but the words died on my lips as his eyes searched the room before landing on mine and holding.

“Did you know he was in town?” Rory asked as people began whispering around us at the bar.

The tourists had no idea what was going on, thankfully, but the handful of locals all knew exactly what was happening.

“We got your back, Ava,” one of the guys said from his seat at the opposite end of the bar.

I forced a smile in return right as Liam stopped in front of me, his eyes glaring with disapproval.

“Knew I’d find you here. Right where I left you.”

Seriously? Where he left me?

“If you remember correctly, I left you. Back in the city. What do you want?”

Liam looked around, as if taking stock or inventory on a place that no longer had anything to do with him. “Nice to see what my money has given you.”

“Given me?” I practically spat in his face.

My family had done this for me, not Liam or any of his adulterous dollars.

“You think I don’t notice the upgrades? New floor. Updated signage. Who knows what you’ve added in the kitchen.”

He tried to look around my shoulder toward the swinging double doors, but Rory stood tall behind me, blocking his view. It wasn’t like he could see inside of there anyway. He would have to walk into the space, and no one here would ever let that happen.

“Why are you here, Liam?” Rory asked, and Liam’s eyes practically lit up, as if he had only just noticed him.

“Oh man. You’re joking, right? Please tell me you two are not together. That would just be rich,” Liam asked with a sick-sounding laugh.

Before I could answer, Tony was suddenly at my side, asking if everything was okay and attempting to break the tension.

I hadn’t even heard or seen him come in, although my body was hyperaware of his nearness. With my attention zeroed in on Tony’s broad shoulders and dark eyes, my response to his question died in my throat with one word from Liam.

“Tony?”

I watched as Tony turned, as if in slow motion, meeting my ex-husband’s curious gaze with one of his own. “Liam?”

“What are you doing here?” they both asked one another at the same exact time.

I looked between the two men, my confusion crystal clear.

“You two know each other?” I pointed between them as my world started to spin.

Bracing myself on the back of one of the barstools, I suddenly felt sick.How the hell does Liam know Tony?

“Unfortunately,” Tony bit out, his tone disgusted, and that at least gave me a small sliver of joy.

If they were acquainted somehow, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. My stomach settled slightly.

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