Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Lizzie
I’m smiling as I jot down another idea in my notebook, knowing in my heart these are great options.
My plan is to make a list and then choose my favorite two.
From there, I’ll incorporate other ideas, depending on the success or failure of the first two.
But I feel it in my bones. These ideas are going to be hits. I know it.
I glance down at Burt, Tom, and Earl, who is a new patron. Well, not new. New to me, considering I haven’t met him yet, but he informed me he comes in a couple times a week, while his wife is at ceramics with some of her girlfriends.
“You gentlemen doing okay?” I ask, ready to refill drinks if needed.
“Sure are, Lizzie,” Tom replies with a smile.
“I’ll take another Pepsi,” Earl states, sliding his glass toward the edge of the bar.
His request sparks another thought. “So, no beer for you?” I ask, using the gun to refill his glass.
“Nope,” he replies. “Never really had a taste for beer, even though I tried a lot when I was younger. And that hard stuff turned me into a person I didn’t like. So, I stick with soda.” He nods in a salute before taking a drink from the straw.
“Nothing wrong with that,” I tell him.
“Coming here is about seeing my friends and getting out of the house for a little bit. I don’t have to drink to have a good time.”
I can’t help but smile. “I agree. Believe it or not, I’m not a huge drinker.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he states with a smile, repeating my words.
“It’s funny, right? I grew up at the bar and restaurant my dad and uncles own, but it was more than just drinking to me. I enjoyed the people, the good times, the music. The alcohol is always a distant second to me.”
“You’re wise beyond your years, Lizzie,” Tom says.
“You know, I was thinking of having a daily special, like the bucket of beer or a specific mixed drink. What if I also had a featured nonalcoholic option too?”
“That’s a great idea!” Earl announces.
“Just as long as you keep my beer on tap,” Burt adds with a chuckle.
“Always, but I am adding two new ones,” I tell them, even though I haven’t made the announcement yet. When your family owns Crüe Brewery, and the beer is awesome, you make room at your own bar to sell it. And not just cans and bottles, but drafts of their two most popular flavors.
“Whatcha adding?” Tom asks, completely interested in the conversation, as if he’s getting the scoop.
“Well, I know the owners of Crüe Brewery pretty well, and I signed a contract to sell their products. I’ll be adding Night Crüe and All American Crüe on tap.”
“Nice,” Tom replies with a nod. “I’ve heard a lot about those beers.”
“Well, I’m a little partial, but they’re pretty good, if I do say so myself,” I reply with a chuckle.
I don’t need to tell the guys who my dad and uncles are, since they got to meet them yesterday.
Dad enjoyed getting to know some of the regulars at the bar I now own and told me he felt like I was in good hands.
“Some additional nonalcoholic options is a great idea, Lizzie. You’re doing well,” Earl tells me, offering a friendly, grandfatherly smile.
“Shirley Temples all around!” Burt announces jovially as the front door opens.
I expect to see one of the regulars joining the small Monday afternoon group, but that’s not who enters. I open my mouth to greet Collin, but I instantly realize that’s not who’s here. There’s a lightness in his steps and his smile is quick and a little disarming. Definitely not Collin.
It’s his twin, Cade.
“Well, hello there, beautiful lady,” he announces when he reaches the bar and flashes me a wide grin.
“Hi, Cade,” I respond, moving to where he stands. “What can I get ya?”
“I’ll have a Pepsi with cherry, please,” he states, sliding onto one of the stools. It shakes, one leg missing the protective end on it, and causing him to look up at me.
“Those are getting replaced soon,” I tell him, pouring the pop into the cup and adding a dash of cherry juice. Before I place it on the old, stained coaster, I plop a cherry and a straw in the liquid and hand it off.
“I knew I’d get your cherry,” he states, not missing the mischievous grin on his handsome face.
I snort and shake my head. “Sorry, friend. That ship sailed a long time ago,” I reply.
“Figures. No one saves themselves for marriage these days,” he says, shaking his head and taking a drink.
“Oh? So I take it you’re saving yourself, patiently waiting for the right woman to come along?”
Cade barks out a laugh, making me smile in return. “Oh, my sweet, sweet Lizzie. How would I know what woman is the right one for me unless I sample them all first before deciding?”
I shake my head and laugh. “That’s kinda gross.”
Cade shrugs and winks. “But honest. Guys are gross, Lizzie.”
“Well, I’ll give you that,” I state.
“What’s that?” he asks, pointing to my notebook.
“A checklist of changes I want to make, and some ideas I’ve had.”
“Ideas? I’m an excellent man to bounce ideas off,” he states, holding out his hand and making the gimme motion.
I consider what’s inside the book and quickly realize there’s nothing personal written down. Not in that notebook, anyway, so what would it hurt to run the list past him? He might actually have solid advice for me.
Sliding the notebook his way, I say, “Knock yourself out.”
He snorts and grabs the book. “I might, if this wobbly stool gives way.”
I can’t help but giggle. “You’re so dramatic. You won’t fall.”
He just levels me with a look. “You’ve never seen me in here four whiskey sours deep at closing time.” With a wink, he turns his attention to my notes.
I almost walk away, to give him time to read over everything, but honestly, I want to gauge his reaction. He looks up at me, his eyes just as bright blue as his twin’s. “Uhh, little black dress night?”
“Well, women love getting dressed up. I was thinking a fun ladies’ night with hors d'oeuvres, drink specials, and maybe like a piano player or something equally as relaxing and enjoyable.”
Just as I finish talking, the door opens and in walks Collin. Our eyes meet, and a shiver sweeps down my spine. I quickly look away, only to have my eyes slam into Cade’s wide ones. “What?”
He glances back to his twin as he approaches and takes the seat next to him at the bar. “He quits!” Cade bellows, pointing to his brother. “Hire me. Please!” he proclaims, drawing out his plea.
“What?” I ask with a laugh. “Why?”
He turns his attention to the newcomer at the bar. “She’s having a little black dress night, man. Tons of single ladies all on the prowl. That’s right up my alley,” he insists. “So, I’m gonna need to work your shift that night.”
I reach for the book and take it off the bar top. “These are just ideas,” I counter.
“Well, that one’s a good one! That should be moved to the top of the list,” he declares, making me laugh once more.
“You’re nuts,” I say.
“I’ve been telling him that for years,” Collin grumbles, his personality so very different than his brother’s. It’s kinda crazy to see two men who look identical and yet they’re so very opposite in every other way.
“You’re just jealous because I got all the good looks and the sparkling personality in utero.”
Collin shakes his head and levels me with a look. “I apologize for him.”
I flash a smile and wink at Cade. “He’s nothing I can’t handle. Guys like him are a dime a dozen. All looks and no brains.”
Shock flashes in Collin’s eyes before he barks out a laugh.
“Hey!” Cade bellows. “That wasn’t nice.”
“Neither is wanting to work ladies’ night so you have the pick of the room to continue your manwhore ways.”
Collin looks so much lighter, so happy as he laughs. “She totally has your number.”
“You’re mean,” Cade announces, standing up from his seat. “I’m going to the other end of the bar to cry in my popcorn.”
I shake my head, watching him walk down to where Tom, Burt, and Earl all sit. He jovially takes a seat beside them and dives into a bowl of popcorn I made not too long ago. “Did I insult him?”
Collin chuckles. It’s low and gravelly and vibrates straight through my veins to my clit. “Cade? Hell no.”
“Well, I kind of pegged him for that lighthearted, can take a joke as good as he gives them kind, but I’ve been wrong every now and again.”
“No,” Collin insists, meeting my gaze. “In fact, he’ll be back soon, having forgotten all about you calling him dumb.”
“I didn’t call him dumb,” I insist with a giggle.
“You didn’t?” he asks, smiling.
“Well, rest assured, you didn’t offend him, I promise. Cade is very easygoing.”
“Unlike you, huh?” I ask, leaning my elbows on the bar.
He shifts in his seat but doesn’t avert his gaze. “Yeah, unlike me.”
“Anyway, Chuck and Guy have both filled me in a little about how the schedule is usually done, but I thought I’d speak with you directly, just in case things have changed.
” Of course, I’m referring to the verbal arrangement we made, where I requested he give me a month and if he wasn’t happy, then he could quit.
He levels me with a look that causes my heart to beat a little faster and my breathing to become shallow. “Nothing’s changed.”
I release a deep breath. “Okay. Good.”
“I work two days on and then have four days off. So it’s not the same from week to week.”
“I understand,” I assure him, making a note in my book. “Chuck said he tried to use you in the middle of your four-day break so you could prepare to head back to the firehouse or catch up on sleep when you’re coming off a shift.”
He nods. “He did. That worked best.”
“Well, I’ll do what I can to continue that practice,” I reply, adding that detail to my notebook.
“What are you doing?”
I look up and find him watching me. “Making notes?” It comes out a question, since I would have thought it was pretty obvious.