Chapter 4
AUDRA
Ididn’t know how flustered I would be when my family dinner plans changed so unexpectedly.
It’s not like that happened often, so I knew that things really had to be bad.
But with my dad having the flu, and my brother picking up an afternoon shift for a coworker, only one brother and my dad’s wife could make it. So, we decided to postpone dinner.
Audra
Jules
If anything would get me to come to Savannah Springs tonight, it’s meat.
Cora
I wish I could
Maeve
Tuck and I have plans, too. Bring some to the office tomorrow if you’re on Main. We’ll happily take some, and I’m sure Donovan would too. You make the best fajitas in the world.
Little did she know that was already my master plan.
Audra
Ugh. There’s no way these potted plants will survive for weeks either. Anyone want potted plants, too?
Cora
You can do it, Audra! All you need is water!
Jules
You’re rolling your eyes at me? You just told her plants need water.
Maeve
Are you bringing your margs too? I’m confident Sir Donovan will let us drink at noon. What time is your shift?
Sir was a salutation we gave to Donovan when Maeve first started working for him. He never cracked a smile then, and really only talked to her about professional things. Plus, he just seemed so damn stuffy and serious all the time.
Audra
I can’t drink before my shift, but I can bring some for the two of you. I’m covering for someone from 1-7 tomorrow, so plan on an 11:30 lunch?
Jules
I miss you guys.
Maeve
You’re not far. But if you moved back, you could join us for lunch.
Jules
I need a more robust sausage variety than Savannah Springs can offer.
Cora
I can’t believe you just said that.
Jules
Would you rather I say dick? I need a variety of dicks, Cora.
Cora
Tourist season is almost upon Savannah Springs, Jules. It’ll be a traveling sausage show.
I silenced my phone before things went too off the rails with dick chat.
Once I got over the initial annoyance of the cancellation, I switched my mindset and looked at it with a glass-half-full kind of lens.
As of late, I was doing a poor job of making time for myself, so that night, I was getting the chance to enjoy a clean house, a pretty table, and good food.
Plus, Noelle, the owner of the coffee shop in town, Savvy Sips, had asked if I wanted to join her and her friends at The Yard to see a band.
That coffee shop was probably where I spent the most time outside of work and home, so I’ve really gotten to know Noelle.
In high school, she was always fun and friendly, but I was looking forward to spending some time with her and getting to know more about her outside of her working hours.
Throwing together a quick fajita bowl, I ate and then got dressed to meet her in one of my favorite dresses.
It was a long-sleeved mid-thigh number with a flirty V-neck and cowboy boots.
I knew this one got me some attention, and I was looking for that tonight.
Since the band was playing at one of the twins’ bars, I was sure I’d see at least one of them there, too.
Murphy Gannon and Bennett Connelly were twins.
Separated at birth, the two of them reunited as teenagers.
It was a crazy story, but they had the opportunity to move to Savanah Springs with their families after they found each other, and they took it.
Together, they now owned two bars here and others in the surrounding areas.
Their bar that night was hosting a 2000s cover band, so I was ready to dance and sing.
It was a little more crowded than I anticipated, but I spotted Noelle and her crew at a table by the stage. As expected, I saw Bennett almost immediately at the bar, too, so I walked over to say hello.
“My favorite Audra,” he said as he pulled me in for a classic Bennett Connelly hug.
The kind that engulfed you in the best of ways.
He had the special ability to make you feel like you were the only person in the room.
If I didn’t know him in the way that I did, I’m certain I would fall for his charms. As it stood, he was easily my best guy friend.
“What are you doing here, and what can I get you to drink?” He asked.
“I’m meeting Noelle and some of her friends. I would love a mule.”
“Ooh, yes. She’s at a table closer to the stage, and she’s got some real good-looking friends. Not as good looking as you though,” He winked at me. “Mule coming up. Hey, do you want to try a chai one? I’ve been working on a new cocktail. If you don’t like it, I can make you your regular pear one.”
“A chai mule? Um, yes! Sign me up! That sounds divine. Thanks, B.” I rested my hand on the stool in front of me as he ducked behind the bar.
“Hey, you, can I buy you a drink?” My least favorite voice in the world sounded from behind me.
I rolled my eyes to myself. It was my ex, Theo.
There was a long, not-so-hot history between us, and though things weren’t exactly hostile, there was no lost love for him anymore.
I was civil, and though I strived to remain mostly indifferent, I usually copped an attitude these days.
“Theo,” I said flatly as I nodded at him.
“You look hot.”
“Always such a way with words.” I rolled my eyes in annoyance and gave him a fake smile.
I used to be nice, and revel in his advances after we broke up, but now I found it more enjoyable to be just enough of a bitch to get under his skin.
Before he could reply, Bennett came to my side with my drink.
He made a big presentation of handing it over, then put his large body between Theo and me, cutting off the sightline.
The drink smelled amazing, and when I took a tentative sip, it was perfect.
“Bennett Connelly! At minimum, this ties my pear mule for first place. It might even be my favorite! This is so, so good!”
He beamed at me. “I’ll take it! After that praise, let’s go find your friends.” He held his elbow out for me to take, and he led me away from the bar. “See you around,” I shouted to Theo, and didn’t give him a second thought.
As the evening carried on, it was turning out to be even better than I expected.
I danced with Noelle and her friends, sang every lyric to every song, drank enough of those delicious mules to sustain a solid buzz, and just enjoyed the hell out of the night.
It was a great way to make up for the canceled plans.
Towards the end of the set, Noelle and her crew took off, while I happened upon a good-looking dancing partner who grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into him.
It was a risky move, and how I took that depended on the day, but tonight, it felt good to be swaying in a man’s arms, even if we hadn’t exchanged names.
I dressed for attention tonight, after all.
I mean, there was more than one of my chick-lit novels where two people meet and have an insane night of sex without knowing each other, why not me?
The kisses he stole didn’t suck, and if that was the preview, who knew what could happen?
“What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Audra, what’s yours?” I registered a micro-expression of surprise on his face before he answered back.
“Harry. The bands done after this song; want to head back to my place?”
“Um…” I hesitated. My theory of hooking up tonight was solid, but the application of going home with a stranger was a little less appealing.
Was I really thinking about heading home with this guy?
Eh … maybe? It’d been too long. “Isn’t that kind of forward?
” I nervously giggled, shocked I was even entertaining this.
Before he answered, he pulled me into him again and kissed me. “Maybe it is. But I’ve really enjoyed dancing with you tonight. Just a drink and then we’ll see where the night goes. What do you say?”
Fuck it, I thought. Why not? “Are you close?” I asked. If he were far out of town, that would be a no.
“Yeah, I’m just over on Chapel Hill.”
Chapel Hill? I thought to myself. That’s really close. How did I not know who this guy was?
Mystery man took my hand and led me outside. In the quiet night air, he stole another kiss, and I was letting myself fall into it … until Bennett interrupted.
“Audra,” a voice pulled me away from the kiss I was trying to get lost in. “Hey, you forgot something in the bar.” I looked at him, and if looks could kill, he’d be dead. “Come on, love, come grab it.” All three of us knew I had nothing in the bar.
“I got her, man,” my new friend said.
“Not tonight, buddy. Get her number.”
“What the hell is your problem, Bennett?” He postured at him. The mystery man knew Bennett?
“Take her out first.” Bennett suggested. But it didn’t really come out as a suggestion as much as a demand.
“Hi”—both guys turned to me as I waved—“I’m right here. Don’t talk about me like I’m not.”
That diffused the tension between the two of them, and my new friend reluctantly agreed.
“Hey, he’s right. I’d love to take you out, Audra.
” I could see the annoyance on his face.
But if he knew Bennett by name, he probably knew that Bennett held belts in two different martial arts, so a physical confrontation wasn’t in his best interest.
“Sounds like a plan,” I smiled at him. He took my phone, programmed his name and number, and came in to kiss me one more time as his Uber pulled up.
“Call me,” he said before the door closed.
I waved as he drove away, then spun to Bennett immediately.
My flirty demeanor changed on a dime. “What’s your problem, Bennett?
Since when do you get to cockblock me? YOU of all people.
How many people in this bar right now, including the band members, have you slept with?
” That wasn’t fair of me to say, and I knew it as soon as it left my mouth.
His face flashed a look of hurt, but he covered it quickly. “Look, King, I am always down for a fantastic hookup. Always. But that guy gets around, which I know I can’t speak ill of, but most importantly, he’s bad in bed.”
“How in the hell would you know that?”
“Word gets around, and part of my job besides having the best bars in town, is to know what’s happening in them,” he shrugged. “That guy spends a lot of time here. Do you even know his name?”
I looked at Bennett with both of my lips tucked into my teeth. He didn’t break his stare, only raised his eyebrows. I know he said it, but I couldn’t remember. “It started with an H,” I said, trying to discreetly check out what he programmed his name as.
Shrugging my shoulders because he had me, a smile slowly spread across his face, making me laugh.
“Oh, my favorite Audra, I didn’t think so.
If you’re going to let someone defile you, you need to know their name and be aware of any shoddy reputations.
Like if he’s a two-pump chump, which our friend, named Harold by the way, is. ”
“Harold? No, it’s Harry,” I looked at the name on my phone again to confirm. “Harold sounds like he’s an eighty-five-year-old grandpa. And you have no idea what he’s like in bed. You’re lying.” I laughed at the absurdity.
“But am I, though? Or is Harry his nickname, and he’s named after his granddaddy, Harold, who served in ‘Nam. Protip, he fucks like him, too.” We laughed, but I wasn’t completely sure if he was joking or not.
“Let’s go in and call you a ride if you want to head home.
” Holding his arm again, he led me inside, heroically saving me from two-pump chump Harold.