Chapter 10
Ten
By the time April and I close the shop on Friday night and leave Emerley, it is past seven p.m. I was tired after a busy day and seriously questioned my decision to go out tonight. But now that we are at the hotel, I have gotten my second wind and I’m ready to have some fun.
“Wow! You look amazing,” April says, slowly circling around me, whistling her approval.
I’m wearing a red backless lace-up corset with black skinny jeans and high-heeled boots.
The boning lifts and separates my boobs perfectly.
I need all the help I can get in that department.
My many tattoos are on full display. I’m wearing my long hair straight down my back, and I have layered a variety of lengths of necklaces around my neck to complete the look.
I brought a short, black leather jacket with me, but the bar is so close to the hotel that I don’t think I will take it.
“Thanks, babe, you look stunning.”
She slowly spins, showing off her knee-length, black, fit and flare skirt, white V-neck halter top, and heels. With her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail and colourful curls framing her face, she could easily pass for a modern-day pinup model. I’m not at all jealous.
“Thank you.” She grins. “I’m ready to go whenever you are,” she says, picking up her clutch.
“Ready.” I skip the purse—that I would probably set down and forget about—and slide my room key into my pocket with my phone instead. I pray that April’s friend comes through with the free drinks, or I’ll be sipping water all evening.
It takes only a minute for us to reach the lobby by elevator. I never noticed how beautiful it was when we arrived. We were in too much of a hurry to check in, get upstairs, and change for me to take it all in.
Soft light casts from vintage wall sconces.
The reception desk is a slab of live-edge wood; its roughness makes it look like the forest was brought indoors.
Across the room, brown leather club chairs circle a giant stone fireplace, where a low fire crackles.
Indigo-and-rust accents make the room warm and inviting.
Hardwood floors and heavy timbers give it a rustic charm.
Somewhere, faint music plays—something slow and acoustic.
“Wow, this place is incredible. Have you been here before?” I ask April as we exit the building onto the sidewalk.
“I have.” She smirks, leaning her shoulder into mine.
“Let me guess. With your friend?” I say knowingly.
“Yep.” She links her arm through mine as we cross the street towards the entrance of the bar. “He owns the hotel as well.”
“Of course he does. Remind me why you needed me to come. I think your friend will keep you company.”
Cars and trucks fill the parking lot and line the street. We follow a steady stream of people walking casually towards the entrance. It’s going to be a busy opening night.
“We are celebrating small wins, remember?” She laughs.
“Oh, right? How could I forget?” I say, rolling my eyes dramatically.
The man ahead of us in line opens the heavy wooden door and gestures to let us go first.
“Thank you.” I smile up at him. Woah. I’m met with dark brown eyes and hair that reaches the collar of his black concert T-shirt. Bold black lines and vibrant colours cover both of his arms. The type of classic tattoos that never go out of style. Nice.
“Enjoy your evening, ladies,” he says with a wink as we pass. Peering down at me, he says, “Maybe I’ll see you inside and buy you a drink later.”
“Maybe,” I laugh, dipping my head and tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
“Come on, you hussy.” Shaking her head, April takes me by the hand and leads me through the entrance.
“What? I thought we were celebrating small wins. He looks like he knows how to celebrate,” I say in mock protest. As fun as it would be to flirt and have fun this evening, I have no desire to hook up with a random stranger tonight. Tempting, but no.
Like a wave, music crashes over us as we walk farther into the room.
I can hear the low hum of conversation mingling with the beat as people lean close to talk at high-top tables and around the busy bar.
Warm light glows overhead, casting a golden haze across the room.
Servers weave through the crowd balancing trays of drinks up high.
People are gathered in front of the stage.
Some are dancing close together, moving to the rhythm, lost in one another.
Others are in small circles of friends, dancing as they laugh and sing along with the band.
“Wow, this place is amazing,” I say in awe, looking around the room, forgetting all about the man from the door.
“I know, right? It’s beautiful.”
I can’t help but notice the sharp contrast between Emerley’s favourite dive bar and this.
Bob’s Bar and Grill welcomes the locals.
Little has changed in the aesthetics since it opened in the eighties.
The floor always feels a little sticky, multiple neon signs hum and glow, and the old jukebox doesn’t always work.
People have tacked Polaroid pictures to the walls to document the passing of time.
But the beer is cold, there are amazing theme nights, and you can always be sure to recognize the person sitting next to you at the bar.
It’s easy to tell that The Riff’s goal is to attract seasonal residents and tourists and all their money. Big-city amenities nestled in beautiful cottage country. I’m sure it’s a smart business move, but if I’m honest, I hope this kind of nightlife never makes it as far north as Emerley.
“So, when are we going to meet up with your friend?” I ask, swaying to a familiar ballad from the nineties.
As April looks around the room, I watch as her eyes brighten and smile widens as she points at the man confidently striding towards us with a smirk on his handsome face.
“Seriously? That’s your friend?” I lean in to whisper in her ear.
He appears to be at least six three and spends a good part of each day in a gym.
His wine-coloured shirt stretches across his broad chest, and his collar is unbuttoned, showing a thick gold chain.
His dark hair has prominent streaks of grey—he is well on his way to becoming a silver fox.
“He sure is,” she sighs dreamily as he approaches.
“You have no plans to come back to our hotel room, do you?” She has totally played me.
“Nope,” she says, giving my hand a squeeze. “Can you blame me?”
No, I can’t say that I do.
“Hello, Sugar. I’m so glad you could make it tonight,” he says, pulling her hips forward and dipping his head to give her a searing kiss. Breaking away, he gives her one more brief kiss on her lips.
Why am I here again?
Looping his arm around her shoulder, he turns to me and extends his other hand to shake mine. “Hi, I’m Vaughan. You must be April’s friend Beck. She has told me so much about you.”
“Nice to meet you. Thank you for having me.” Glancing around the room, I say, “The bar is beautiful.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you could make it. Come with me. I have a private table for us over here.”
He’s leading us across the busy room when a patron stops to congratulate him.
I use this opportunity to grab April’s attention and say, “Really, you have told him so much about me? I didn’t know he existed until yesterday.
And I didn’t know his name until two minutes ago.
Where did you meet him, and just how good friends are you? ”
“Very good friends—for a few months now.” She bites her lip and dips her head. “Actually, his son introduced us.”
“April!” I gasp with wide eyes. “Are you kidding me?” I rush out.
“It’s fine. Stop being so shocked; he’s great.” She laughs, dismissing my surprise. “Anyway, when Vaughan invited me to the opening tonight, he suggested I bring a friend. Of course I wanted it to be you. He asked one of his friends if they could come as well.”
“Great,” I mumble as we continue towards a large booth nestled in the shadows. Designed for privacy, the high-back seating curves around a polished wooden table. There is a clear view of the bar and dance floor, but the light above is deliberately low.
As we get closer, I can see the silhouette of a man leaning back casually in his seat.
A tumbler of amber liquid rests in his hand on the table.
Then I notice the large gold watch I have seen every day for the past four as he grips the steering wheel of his truck.
My eyes travel up his arm until I meet his stormy grey-blue eyes.
“Beck, I believe you know my friend Ryan,” Vaughan says from behind me.
“I do,” I say slowly, watching him. His hair, always perfectly styled, is now tousled.
Short stubble dusts his always clean-shaven face.
He has rolled up his shirtsleeves to his elbows, revealing his corded forearms. And just like that, my attraction to him steps up another notch. That’s very inconvenient.
“And how do you know Ryan, Vaughan?” I ask, turning towards him.
April, who has tucked herself under his arm, is trying to suppress her giggle. “Hi, Ryan. What a surprise.”
There is no doubt in my mind that she knew all along he would be here. She couldn’t resist the urge to meddle in my nonexistent love life.
Ryan clearing his throat grabs my attention. He slightly shakes his head at his friend before shooting back what remains in his glass.
“Hi,” I say quietly as I slide into the seat beside Ryan as the happy couple sit closely together across from us.
As soon as we sit down, a server arrives at the table.
“Good evening, welcome to The Riff. My name is Farrah, and I will be taking care of you this evening,” she says, smiling.
“Mr. Sinclair has already ordered for the table. If you would like anything else, please let me know, and I will get it straightaway.”