It is a look that makes me seem each harmless and attractive. I line my lips with crimson pencil and fill them in with crimson lipstick to finish the look.

“Adequate,” I say, nonetheless annoyed with my ideas, earlier than grabbing my bag and strolling throughout the property to The Barn Door. I’ll remorse strolling when my shift is over, and I’m completely wrecked from standing for hours, however I’ll cross that bridge after I get to it. Proper now, I need to stroll.

Suppose.

Breathe.

Contained in the membership, Maggie helps inventory bottles with Hazel and Ella, one other signal that tonight might be loopy.

“Hey, ladies!” I inject a smile into my voice and supply up just a little wave as Maggie hauls one other field to my bar. Hazel and Ella Mae smile however preserve shifting, most likely to the opposite bars.

“Hey, lady. What’s up?” Maggie’s face is filled with concern, which means I’m doing a piss-poor job of smiling by means of my turmoil.

“Who says something is up?”

Maggie snorts. “Your face.” She rests her elbows on the bar, cradling her chin in each arms, smiling. “We’ve been pals since I obtained right here, so don’t even take into consideration mendacity to me.”

“Actually, I don’t need to speak, however I do want to speak.” I set free a heavy sigh and lean towards the bar. “However I don’t even know the place to start. My head is all fucked up, Maggie.”

“Man troubles?”

I snort. “Isn’t it all the time?” Perhaps the issue is me. “Ever since I obtained my shit collectively after my mother and father’ deaths, life has been trouble-free. I imply, Sage is all the time in some bother, but it surely’s small bother. However now, abruptly…” I can’t even end my sentence.

“Abruptly? Since a giant hunk of blond strolled again into city?” Her smile is playful, nearly teasing.

“Perhaps,” I admit sheepishly, immediately feeling silly. I seize a towel and begin wiping down the bar. “Are you working tonight?”

“Good change of topic, however no. I’m simply serving to set all the pieces up, after which I’m going to place Freya to mattress and luxuriate in some bare time with my man.”

“Then you definately higher hurry earlier than you get roped into staying.”

Her smile grows larger. “Wow, you actually don’t need to discuss this downside, which sort of makes me need to learn about it much more.”

“Perhaps I’ll let you know, however positively not now. Gotta discover my smile for this shift until you bought tip cash?”

“Right here’s a tip. Go for the one who units your physique and soul on fireplace. Good luck.” Maggie shoves the field in my route and pushes away from the bar earlier than disappearing into one other a part of the membership.

When the doorways open, it’s a fucking madhouse. I swear that each single member of the intercourse membership is right here, they usually every introduced somebody. It’s scorching and stuffy, however the booze flows and my tip bag is overflowing. The evening is a hit, and I’m so busy that I haven’t thought in regards to the kiss or the person in a minimum of…5 minutes.

It is a welcome aid, and I transfer ahead underneath the delusion that I’ll cease enthusiastic about Stone and the kiss and our spot. I make martinis and negronis, margaritas, and all the pieces neat or on the rocks with a smile on my face. The whole lot is a blur, however I lean into it, having fun with the confusion as a welcome aid to regardless of the fuck else I’ve been feeling.

“Ivy.” Grey’s voice sounds over the hum of the music and dialog.

I can faux I don’t hear him, however that’s immature and never my model. So, I search for from the gin and tonic I’m mixing with a bland expression. “Grey. Hello.”

“Hello?” He throws his head again with a bitter giggle. “Is that each one you must say to me?”

I shrug. “What would you like me to say, Grey? You’re right here, pissed off, spoiling for a battle, and I’m working.” It won’t be the neatest strategy, however I’m feeling reckless, I suppose.

His nostrils flare. His anger is palpable as we glare at one another whereas the membership continues shifting round us. “Why are you staying within the bunkhouse?”

“As a result of it’s out there and handy.”

“Ivy,” he growls, his persistence at its breaking level. “How the hell am I purported to really feel about you selecting to remain on the bunkhouse as an alternative of with me?”

I chew again my preliminary response, however he’s observing me all macho and high-handed as if I’m the issue. “Your mother and father’ home, you imply.” He winces as if I hit him, however I shrug it off. “We don’t dwell collectively as a result of we’re not there but, so it doesn’t make sense to stick with you.”

“Bullshit,” he growls. “This has nothing to do with you and me, and it has each goddamn factor to do with Stone.”

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