Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
HOW GOOD DOES BLAIR LOOK TONIGHT?
Griffin
Lily
Are we invited to the party tonight?
Me
Not a party.
Lily
Karaoke night. Party. Same shit.
Me
It’s not my event.
Lily
That’s what I thought you would say. See you soon, brother.
Poppy
I’ll be there tonight guys!
Lily
ALERT THE MEDIA. POPPY IS COMING OUT.
Me
Are we done here?
I can’t believe I agreed to do this karaoke night knowing how much I hate the evening crowd around here. But this makes Nan happy.
Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s ever been happier.
Okay, that’s a stretch.
I think she’s happier at pickleball on Tuesday nights.
Nan has the place decorated from top to bottom. I’m pretty sure she put confetti poppers and mini strobe lights in the fucking bathrooms too. The karaoke machine sits in the corner with a full projector screen to display the lyrics and a small table for people to sign up. I have no idea where she got all of this stuff, but I’ve got to give it to her, she did a great job putting this together.
The bell for the front door chimes and I already know that’s going to piss me off all night.
In walks a man I’ve never seen before. He’s wearing dress slacks and an ivory-colored button-down shirt. He looks all business, which tells me he’s definitely not from here or a regular. Looking down at his watch, he moves to take an empty seat at a high-top table along the back wall.
The bell chimes again, and Tucker walks in followed by Levi.
I snap my fingers before pointing in his direction. “Tucker.”
He stops mid-step, throwing his hands up in defense. “I didn’t do it. Whatever it is, I didn’t do it.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t say you did anything. But can you, please, for the love of God, unwire that fucking bell over the front door before I lose my shit.”
He turns to look at where the bell sits before looking back at me. “You mean this is what’s going to piss you off? How is that different from any other thing in life that makes you lose your shit?”
“Don’t start.”
He chuckles before heading into the back to grab the small ladder to reach the wire. Tucker has it disconnected in a matter of seconds before putting the ladder back and taking his place behind the bar with me.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to do this,” Tucker says.
“Same,” Levi says from the other side of the bar, sipping water.
“Tell me about it, but Nan sure knows how to plan things, though,” I tell them.
Tucker moves to set up the bar and pulls the glasses I just washed out of the dishwasher rack to display them on the counter behind us. “What are you serving tonight?” he asks me.
“The usual.” I shrug. “But I pulled out some Foxx Bourbon I had stashed in the back and some top-shelf whiskey.”
Tucker gasps. “Are you feeling okay?”
I scowl in his direction just as the loud piercing sound of a speaker forces me to wince.
“Sorry, y'all,” Nan shouts.
I look in her direction and find her setting up the machine. I drop the dish rag in my hands and make my way to her.
“Need any help?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know shit about these wires and where they go, but I saw some videos online, so I’m good.”
I narrow my eyes. “Is the bar going to blow up?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath before turning to leave her to do her thing.
Just as I turn, I see my sisters walking through the door. I look past them, hoping Blair came with them. No one said for sure if she was coming and I didn’t have the guts to text her myself and ask.
Knowing Lily, she probably made her come out.
It’s so good to see both my sisters together. I feel like it doesn’t happen often because each of them has their own personalities that often clash. Lily is the happy and outspoken one, with occasional sass mixed in. And then Poppy is just the opposite. She’s innocent and a rule follower. She loves her job, teaching and working with kids. It’s her entire life and personality. She never gets out much for fear of being judged as a teacher in a bar, but she’s working on becoming more social.
I continue making my way to the bar and Tucker must spot the girls too.
“My favorite cousins!” Tucker beams.
“We’re your only cousins, Tuck.” Lily rolls her eyes.
“Which makes you my favorites, duh.” Tucker looks around. “Where’s your new friend?”
My chest tightens at Tucker asking the question I was afraid to ask, but I step closer to him, acting like I’m wiping the counter to make sure I can hear their response.
Lily turns to look at me, a wicked grin crossing her lips. “She’ll be here.”
“Why are you looking at him like that?” Poppy asks.
“No reason,” Lily brushes her question off.
Poppy’s gaze bounces between me and Lily. “No. No. I need to know. What have I been missing?”
“Lily is waiting for Griffin to get his head out of his ass and realize he’s got a thing for the new girl in town,” Autumn chimes in as she makes her way for the girls.
Poppy gasps. “No way.”
I shake my head. “It’s not fucking happening. So drop it.”
Just as the words leave my lips, I feel a pull to look toward the front door. The way goosebumps pebble my skin tells me exactly what’s about to happen. I quite literally feel her before I see her.
Holy. Shit.
Blair looks like a goddamn smoke show tonight. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her looking like she fits in here.
Looking so…country.
Looking like she could stay here.
She’s wearing a dress that reaches the floor, but it’s not overly fancy. It’s pink with deep pink and red flowers etched through the fabric. As I continue scanning her from bottom to top, my eyes land on the swell of her breasts. It’s a strapless dress, showcasing her perfectly tanned skin that I’d love to trail my fingers over.
I feel all the blood rush to my cock the longer I stare at her. The part of the outfit that’s making me feel a primal need to claim her is the black cowgirl boots peeking out under the hem of the dress that matches her black rhinestone-studded cowgirl hat.
I’d love to see her in nothing but those boots and that hat.
I can’t help that she looks so fucking good right now. To the point it’s painful to keep staring at her.
I shouldn’t be looking at her like this.
I can’t allow myself to go there with her.
I clench my jaw and look in Tucker’s direction. Only to find his face laced with satisfaction that he was right about her the day we built the deck. That there’s something there with her.
I throw him the middle finger and place the last of the glasses on the counter behind us.
I’m here to work.
An hour later, Seven Stools is the busiest I’ve seen in years.
All the stools we have are occupied—which isn’t saying much. I mean, there’s only seven.
The entire town came out tonight for this event. Including my father and some out-of-towners I don’t recognize, who must be staying at the Inn and heard about this event.
I’m impressed with what Nan has put together.
The singers tonight are questionable, but everyone’s having fun.
“Griff, this place is packed,” Tucker shouts over the music and chatter of people talking. “Looks like you’ll be keeping this on the schedule, huh?”
I groan, rolling my eyes.
“And, looks like City Chic finally fits in.” Tucker smirks.
“Call her by her name,” I scold, pointing a finger in his direction. “It’s Blair.”
Tucker holds his hands up in defense. “Oh, sensitive subject. But after seeing her tonight, I definitely need to stop calling her that.” He turns to look at her.
“Don’t you dare look in her direction,” I warn.
Tucker chuckles. “I love possessive Griffin. You’ve gone from Grumpy Griffin to Give-me-her Griffin. Wait, no…” He pauses, hand to his chin. “That’s too many syllables.”
I stare at him, unblinking. “Something is wrong with you.”
“Hey, Tuck,” Poppy interrupts, coming to the bar.
“Ahh, my favorite cousin,” Tucker says, leaning his elbows on the bar.
“I heard that,” Lily says from Poppy’s side. “And it’s such a shame, because you were my favorite cousin.”
“I’m your only cousin, Lil.” Tucker laughs.
Lily sways side to side with the beat of the music, not responding to Tucker, and takes a sip of her vodka and cranberry. “This is epic, Griffy.”
Well, she’s drunk.
“You’re cut off,” I tell her.
“I drink to dull the pain.” She emphasizes with the back of her hand on her forehead in dramatic fashion.
Poppy rolls her eyes at her but laughs.
She acts like she has a long-lost love out there somewhere. It’s wild to me.
“How good does Blair look tonight?” Lily winks at me before turning to face Blair, watching the singers and dancing in the middle of the room. “I think she’s succeeded in her mission tonight.”
“What was that?” Poppy asks .
“She’s trying to find herself,” Lily says, still looking at Blair and smiling before turning back to face us. “You guys know her parents were a lot like ours, but less cool.”
I cock my head to the side.
“They were politicians,” she continues. “But, like, big city ones.”
“You don’t say,” Tucker jokes.
“Shut up.” Lily leans on the bar and smacks the side of Tucker’s head. “All she’s ever known is people hovering over her, telling her what to do and how to dress. Her life was black and white, and she was never able to just be herself. And look at her,” Lily says, and all of us turn to face her.
Nan stands next to her, both of them laughing hysterically before she grabs Nan’s hand and does a twirl with her before they rock side to side with the music again.
She never stops laughing.
She never stops smiling.
If Lily hadn’t told me that, or Blair hadn’t told me a little about her life back in the city, I would never believe the shit she’s been through.
Right now, she lights up the dark bar.
And it’s not just the vibrant colors of her outfit.
My eyes trail her body, the same way I did when she first walked in. Her hips sway and I want my hands on them more than my next breath. I want my hands on every single part of exposed skin I see.
I’m suddenly finding it difficult to catch a breath, because she has taken it from me.
Staring at her right now…
Blair fucking looks like mine .