Chapter 14
Jessica
I’m in a foul mood and not fit for company.
But apparently, it’s become a city hall thing to hang out in Sam Roberts’s bar after a long week being public servants, and I feel obligated to bond with my coworkers.
The place is semi-crowded with city employees, significant others, and friends.
I forced Hailey to come so she can get out of her head.
Earlier in the week, she’d caught a thread and had been writing nonstop, which means it’s time to get her into the land of the living.
So, despite her grumbles and protests, she’s here.
Hailey and I are sitting at a table with Sophie and Darcy, while they entertain a steady stream of extra-jovial people who come talk to us.
I’m doing my best to get into the mood, but it’s not easy.
The twenty-three-year-old receptionist named Kylie fluffs her cherry-colored curls.
“Darcy, I read your article ‘Lipstick Fueled Menace’ because I thought it was going to be about how to find the perfect red lip. And ohmigod, thank you sooooo much. Now, every time a guy at the front desk raises his voice, I tell him to calm down and smile more. Works like a charm.”
Turns out the first lady of Revival writes think pieces on feminism and sexual politics, so she and Hailey have plenty to talk about.
Darcy drains the rest of her wine and puts the empty goblet on the worn table. “That’s me, tricking girls into taking down the patriarchy, one clickbait article at a time.”
Kylie laughs, smoothing out her short, pleated skirt with leather buckles on the side. “I love watching their faces get all red and flustered.”
I pick up a cocktail napkin and play with the corner, lamenting that I’m failing as a woman because instead of handing out sage advice on infuriating men, I’m pining over one instead.
It’s like he sucked all the mojo out of me.
It feels like I’ve lost something.
Hailey nudges me and says in a low voice, “Do you want to go home? It’s okay if you do.”
“’Course not.” I offer a bright smile. “I’m having a great time.”
“No, you’re not.” Hailey’s pretty face is marred by her frown.
“This is good for us.” I take a sip of my bourbon, only to find it empty. It reminds me of the night I met Charlie.
Ugh. I was so cool back then.
“We’re interacting with the community.” I study the pockets of people in their Friday attire, doing their very best to shrug off the week. I jump off my stool and plaster on my best, bright, sunny disposition. “I’m headed to the bar. Who needs a drink?”
Darcy raises her wine goblet. “I’ll take another Pinot Grigio.”
“You want me to go with you?” My sister’s gaze is troubled, an expression she’s been wearing all week that irritates me.
“I’m good.” There’s nothing to be troubled about; everything is fine.
I weave my way through the crowd and stand at the edge, leaning over the counter while I wait for Sam, who’s taking care of people at the other end of the bar.
There’s a tap on my shoulder.
Unreasonably, my heart leaps in my chest, filling me with a stubborn hope that will not die. I swing around. The hope is snuffed out because it’s not Charlie. Why would it be? He’s not even here.
Instead, the tall, broad, handsome Cole Montgomery is standing there, grinning at me. “Hey, how was the rest of your week?”
Unlike my disaster of a meeting with Charlie, my meeting with Revival’s new fire chief was comfortable and easy. No friction at all.
He’s exactly who I should hook up with to get over Charlie, but my treacherous body couldn’t care less.
All because I’m pining over a man.
I’m so disappointed in myself.
What’s worse? My predicament is entirely of my own making. If I hadn’t decided to put on a show of indifference, I wouldn’t be in this mess.
Now I’ve gained the attention of a guy I don’t want and lost the attention of the guy I do.
Why do I always end up being my own worst enemy?
“Hey, Cole.” I slide my elbow onto the bar, my credit card in hand. “Thanks for sending me the documents I requested.”
He flashes dimples that make him rakishly charming. “You couldn’t have come along at a better time. The last guy was like ninety. I found policies that haven’t been updated since the 1930s.”
“Seems we have good timing, then.” I spot Sam at the end of the bar and catch his eye, raising my card. When he acknowledges me with a tilt of his chin, I turn my attention back to Cole. “Make sure you tell the mayor how glad you are that I’m here, so he knows I’m worth the budget.”
His gaze travels the length of me. “Well worth it.”
Inwardly, I sigh. I’m going to have to correct his perception that I am an option.
I only hope I can do it before he decides to ask me out.
Without Charlie as an audience, I haven’t taken any of the subtle openings Cole’s offered, and he seems like a smart guy.
I’m hopeful he’ll figure it out without my needing to get involved.
Before I contemplate further, the front door of the bar opens, and Charlie walks in with Ryder and the mayor.
I can’t help but stiffen as his gaze finds mine. It’s always like this when I’m in his vicinity. As if I can sense him on the wind the second he steps into my orbit.
Cole touches my arm and then follows my line of sight.
Charlie takes us in, his expression hardening into a scowl.
Goddamn it! Now it looks like I’m here with Cole, when I’m not.
All this is going to do is push Charlie further away.
That’s the last thing I want, but I have no idea what to do about it. It’s not like I can set him straight in front of my brother and my new boss.
Ryder spots me, and the three men head my way.
I steel my spine, squaring my shoulders like I’m preparing for battle against a formidable enemy. Even though Charlie is the last person I want as a nemesis.
When I look back at Cole, he’s studying me like he’s caught me revealing something.
I divert, sighing like I’m forlorn. “Here comes the big brother.”
“Seems that way,” Cole says.
“Hopefully, he won’t be too big-brotherly.
” My throat feels tight, but I manage a weak smile at Ryder when he walks up.
“Hey, everyone’s at a table already.” I point in the direction of where his bride-to-be waits, before waving at the bottles of liquor lining the bar. “You boys want something to drink?”
I glance furtively at Charlie, who glances furtively at me before glowering when his attention snags on Cole.
“Hey, Jessica. Let me get it,” Ryder says because he can’t help being a big brother.
“No, don’t be silly. I’m getting it. It’s the least I can do after all your help,” I say.
Griffin and my brother give me their order.
I can’t avoid Charlie any longer. I clear my throat. “What about you?”
Those midnight eyes of his meet mine. “Bourbon.”
The word flutters over my skin and stutters across my heart like he’s just declared his undying love for me.
I’m impossibly aware of him.
My fingers twine around my gold necklace.
He tracks the movement. Everything tightens as I remember the stretch of his hands around the cords of my neck, the weight of his thumb pressing into the throb of my pulse as his mouth devoured mine.
I blink, shaking off the visual, before I swallow hard. “Okay.”
His expression darkens.
I linger on him.
This has to stop.
We’re over.
It was sex. That’s it.
I jerk my attention to Griffin, clearing the thickness of the memory from my throat. “I’ve instructed everyone to tell you how awesome I am and how much easier I’ll make their lives. Just in case you’re questioning your hiring decisions.”
He chuckles, sliding a glance at Charlie before returning to me. “I can promise you’ve already made your mark.”
“It’s an uphill climb, so I’ll take it. I understand most people aren’t happy to have me around.
I get it. Lawyers make things complicated and have this pesky habit of pointing out why you can’t do illegal things just because you don’t think they should be illegal.
So I have to find some way to make up for my shortcomings. ”
I tap my card on the bar, fidgeting with the edges.
Cole speaks up. “I did notice you had a way of making us feel like we should be happy you’re giving us work to do.”
Charlie’s shoulders tense.
My back straightens.
Griffin looks at Charlie and me with amusement, while Ryder frowns.
Luckily, Sam chooses that moment to come over to take my order.
I swing around to face him, and his blue eyes meet mine.
Something in me eases.
I exhale a deep breath.
His expression brings me a surprising comfort, and for a brief, suspended second, I experience a still quietness in the sea of noisy people.
“What can I get you, Jessica?” His smooth, almost lazy voice breaks the sensation like a glittering mirage that shimmers then disappears in the desert.
“Hey, Sam.” I rattle off my order, and when he leaves to retrieve the drinks, I don’t turn to the group of men at my back. Instead, I do my best to collect myself, tapping my credit card against the wood. My vision fixes on the bottles that line the bar, then the mirror.
Charlie’s gaze locks in on mine.
For a brief second, we’re connected, caught in some cosmic force.
Sam returns with the drinks, and I break away from the man who’s haunting me. I busy myself paying and hand the drinks to Ryder and Griffin, before holding up the goblet of white wine. “This is for your wife.”
The mayor takes it from me. “We’ll get next round.”
Charlie’s bourbon is all that’s left.
My breath catches in my chest.
I pick it up and hold it out to him.
His hand touches mine.
Literal tingles travel the length of my arm.
Our fingers twine, and when our eyes meet, the space-time continuum comes to a standstill.
He takes the glass from me, pulling away.
The heat of his palm feels imprinted on my skin.
I want to be branded by him again.
I blink and realize my sister has walked up. I tilt my head in her direction. “You remember Hailey.”
“I do.” He raises his glass and takes a sip of his drink.
“Great to see you again.” Hailey smiles, then tugs my arm. “Jess, can you come with me to the bathroom?”