Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Emelia lucked out and found an available parking spot near the entrance to Lucky’s Bar. The bar’s neon light blinked through the darkness. The Saturday night air buzzed with lively music, a country band by the sounds of it, and echoes of laughter.
She’d passed this area several times and never realized the bar was here. It was nestled at the end of a large warehouse surrounded by mom-and-pop stores that were closed for the night.
Joy had asked her to meet the girls there after the bakery closed.
Hurrying to her apartment to shower and change, she rummaged through her closet. Her outfit at work consisted of a short-sleeved double-breasted jacket and long pants covered by an apron, black slip-on shoes, and a skullcap to keep her hair in place.
Realizing how pathetic her wardrobe was, Emelia settled on a pair of brown tailored slacks and topped them with a satin taupe button-down shirt. A pair of black pumps completed the outfit. She had a short, lightweight blazer to bring in case it got chilly later.
Joy mentioned that the bar was usually casual, except for Saturday nights, when people dressed up a little more.
Not for the first time, Emelia wished she had a full-length mirror to check herself, but that was on the wish list—a rather lengthy wish list.
She applied a touch of lipstick, pulled her chestnut hair into a ponytail, secured it with a scrunchie, and spritzed on her favorite perfume.
After looking in her small bathroom mirror, she declared herself ready—ready to have fun and meet new people. Maybe even to meet a man. Emelia missed having a boyfriend. Wyatt was always jealous when she found someone she liked, and the relationship never lasted. How could she forget how controlling he was? She honestly thought he was looking out for her best interests. How gullible was she?
Emelia opened the car door and glanced around. Her heart fluttered with anticipation. Lucky’s was larger than she imagined. She pushed open the heavy door. People crowded around a long wooden bar, while three bartenders scurried about taking orders and pouring drinks with precision. Shelves on the back wall held a colorful array of top-shelf liquors, while TVs blared with sports at either end of the bar, competing with conversations and clinking glasses.
She heard the clacking of pool balls and hoots of laughter coming from a back room. Emelia peered in and noticed all the pool tables were full.
There was no room on the small dance floor for another person as people swayed to the music. The country band was loud and good. The guitarist and drummer synchronized seamlessly with the singer.
How would she ever find Joy in this crowd?
“Well,” she huffed. She wouldn’t find Joy standing by the doorway.
Emelia deftly maneuvered through the crowded bar.
She bumped into one person, had several guys leering at her seductively, and only had to slap one guy who was drunk and too handsy. Nothing that hadn’t happened before at a bar or on the street. Although Emelia wondered why guys thought women enjoyed being manhandled and ogled like desserts or sex objects.
After avoiding the creepy men at the bar and the dancers, she looked around. Was Joy even here?
“Emelia! Over here!” She spotted Joy waving from the back of the room and walked towards her. Relief washed over her.
“You’re here. Great,” exclaimed Joy. “I know you’ll recognize a couple of women. Come meet the rest of our group.”
Joy took her by the hand and led her to a table where a group of women were seated and laughing.
“Girls, meet Emelia Wells, baker extraordinaire.”
Emelia face heated. She hoped no one saw her blush.
Yes, she was a great baker, but the problems with Wyatt and negativity from social media stung. It was still embarrassing, and she hoped no one had read the negative reviews.
Everyone said hi as Joy introduced her to them. She recognized Mallory and Naomi. Joy’s friend Nicki Vanderdorf, who owned the floral shop Petals to Go, waved. Isabelle Zander was sitting with her best friend, Felicia Montgomery. They owned Two Fishes Soap Works.
“Hello from the far corner,” hollered a cute brunette, who was waving at her.
Emelia waved back.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to shout,” said Joy. “Grab a chair and I’ll introduce you to Jessie and Dawn.”
Joy sat next to Jessie and introduced her. Emelia found out Jessie owned a nursery school and Dawn worked part-time in a grocery store while she was getting her master’s degree. Emelia leaned back in her chair, feeling a sense of belonging and friendship.
A server came over and took Emelia’s drink order, and the girls ordered several appetizers. While they were waiting for their food, Joy gave her the lowdown on everyone at the table. Then the jokes started. Emelia laughed so hard she was afraid she’d pee her pants.
“So…” Joy took a sip of her drink, then looked slyly at Emelia. “Have you met Titus Finch yet?”
Titus? She’d met a lot of people but no one named Titus. Emelia shook her head. “I don’t know who that is.”
The conversation around the table paused, and everyone’s attention was focused on Emelia.
“Hmmm.” Joy narrowed her eyes. “He owns the gym right down the alley from you. PushYourLimits?”
Oh. Him.
Emelia hadn’t formally met Titus. She wasn’t sure she wanted to. He was definitely a hunk, especially with his ginger hair and beard, but on the one occasion she saw him and said hi, he scowled at her. Perhaps he was having a bad day. Although that didn’t excuse rudeness. It happened as she was renovating and the other shop owners were upset with the noise. They’d since come around and were repeat customers, but not Titus.
“Um, not yet,” she replied, toying with her napkin. “He seems to be busy with his business.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t stopped by. He’s single. You’re single.” Joy shrugged with a smile on her face.
“Well …”
Emelia never got to finish because Isabelle piped up. “He’s sex on a stick, and you’re adorable.” She waggled her brows.
The women groaned and laughed.
“That’s not a basis for a relationship, sweetie,” said Felicia.
Isabelle looked around the table. “Maybe not, but half the table here is involved with men who are hunks and working for the Brotherhood Alliance.”
“The Brotherhood Alliance? What’s that?” Emelia asked Joy.
Joy leaned in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Oh, it’s the security group my brother, Chase, runs,” replied Joy. She pointed towards Naomi. “Naomi is engaged to him. Titus is also part of the group, along with my brother Colt, who is engaged to Felicia. Isabelle’s fiancé, Will, and Dani’s husband, Ryker, are also part of the Brotherhood.”
“Wow. Is Liam part of this group?” asked Emelia.
“No, he’s a sheriff in town.”
“What kind of security does your brother provide?” Emelia asked Joy.
Before Joy could answer, the server arrived with their drinks, and another had platters of appetizers for them to share.
The question was forgotten as the women devoured the food. The conversation shifted to lighter topics and what everyone was up to. Emelia found herself relaxing.
However, several conversations later, Emelia became mesmerized by the interconnected lives of the women and the Brotherhood Alliance.
What was it about the relationships, and how did these men and women meet?
Why was Titus involved with this Brotherhood when he had a gym to run?
Where did the men come from? And why? Did they have specific training?
Had they been in the service? Who or what were they protecting? What did the Brotherhood Alliance specifically do?
She hoped it wasn’t anything illegal. Being a new business owner, she had to be on the up and up.
Enough wondering about the Brotherhood Alliance. Emelia was enjoying the evening. Meeting new friends, laughing, exchanging stories—these were all things she’d missed.
Emelia couldn’t stop herself from wondering what her new friends would think if or when they read the social media posts that slandered her or if Wyatt kept his promise of ruining her. Would they think she lied about her life? Would they still want to be friends with her?