Chapter 14
“Where are we going?” I ask Grant as I follow his instructions and turn onto the side street near Vanderbilt University.
“You’ll see,” he muses.
“A hint would be nice,” I mutter to myself, and he laughs at me, pointing to the next street to turn down.
“Park anywhere. We’ll walk from here.”
“Okay.” Pulling off to the side of the road, I parallel park on the narrow avenue and Grant jumps out of the car to come open the door for me.
“I’m taking you to one of my favorite spots.” He holds his hand out for me and when I slide my palm into his, it feels like coming home. He doesn’t let go as he guides us down the street and around the corner to the entrance of a bar.
Nodding at the bouncer, he leads me inside the dimly lit space and over to the bar that takes up the entire length of the wall where he greets the bartender with a chin tip and a wave.
TVs line the wall above the bar and various sports and local artist paraphernalia decorate the spaces between.
Behind us, tables litter the room and the general camaraderie of patrons has this feeling like a dive bar.
“Grant, my man.” The bartender reaches out to slap Grant’s hand with a familiar smile.
“How’s it going, Joe?”
“Oh, you know. It’s game day, so we’ve got a little crowd. Who’s this?” Joe tips his head to me and offers a hand.
“Taylor,” I introduce myself and shake his hand.
“You keeping this guy in line?” he asks.
“More like I’m the one keeping her in line,” Grant chuckles and wraps an arm around me. As his scent envelopes me, I feel the tension melt out of my shoulders and a calm washes over me.
“He’s not wrong about that. I’m a handful.” I shoot a wink at Joe before peeking up at Grant. His eyes are already on me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention and butterflies erupt in my belly.
“Usual for you?” Joe asks Grant as he picks up a pint glass and holds it under the tap.
“Yeah, man.”
Joe looks to me as he fills Grant’s glass. “What about you? What would you like?”
I rest my arms on the bar. “Got any local beers on tap?”
Joe shakes his head on a laugh and passes me the pint he just poured for Grant. “Sure do. This is it, but ladies first.” He pours another and hands it to Grant.
“How long have ya’ll been together? I’ve never seen you in here before.” Joe looks between us. I’m still pressed into Grant’s side. I know I should move, but it hasn’t been like this in so long and I’m lost in the feel of his hard chest against my arm.
“Tay travels for work a lot.” Grant studiously avoids the question. I can’t help but wonder if he’s ever brought anyone else to this bar. If he’s ever taken anyone home that he met here. All things I shouldn’t care or think about.
“Leave it open?” Joe asks, letting the topic drop.
“Yeah. We’ll be here a while.”
“Cheers,” I say, holding up my beer. Grant taps the glass to mine and takes a sip, his eyes never leaving mine.
Suddenly, I’m not in a bar in Nashville, I’m back in Brooklyn locking eyes with the hot pitcher and my brother’s friend across the room.
Looking at him now in only a T-shirt and dress pants, I can see the man I once knew.
His hair is slightly longer, a bit more unkempt.
Fine lines frame his eyes that didn’t used to be there.
His body has filled out now that he’s not on a strict training regimen, but he’s still hard and muscular in all the right places.
“There’s a dartboard in the corner,” he says, bringing me out of the memory.
I grab the peanuts from the bar and move further into the room like I already know where the dartboard is. “Oh, you’re going down.” Grant’s husky laugh chases after me and it feels like a full circle moment.
We met in a bar where I hustled him in darts, and now he brought me to his favorite bar in this new city where it feels a lot like we’re finding our way back to each other, and I’m about to hustle him again.
It may have been ten years since we met.
We may have not spoken for more than double the time we were together.
But we were still those same two people.
Last night was fun—more fun than I’ve had in a long time, but I’m feeling it today and I need all the caffeine to help get my morning started.
Stepping into the quaint brick coffee shop, my mouth waters in anticipation of the treat I’m about to devour.
Ivory discovered this place earlier this year, and we have been hooked ever since.
“Taylor!” The shop owner smiles widely when I reach the counter. Her apron is dusted in flour and she has her hair tied back with a ribbon to keep it out of her face.
“Jeni, how are you?”
“I’m doing well. It’s so good to see you.”
"You too. I’ve missed those croissants.” My stomach growls loudly, making Jeni laugh.
“We can’t have you going hungry. Anything else?” she asks, ringing in my food.
“Is it early enough for a cappuccino?” I tease her. When I first stopped in, it was the middle of the afternoon and I ordered a cappuccino. She kindly let me know that cappuccinos were not meant to be enjoyed after lunch. That simply wasn’t the Italian way.
Looking at the time, she rolls her eyes and adds the cappuccino to my order. I tap my card on the register and pull out some cash to drop into the tip jar on the counter.
“Are you going to sit with me for a while?” Jeni asks, her voice filled with hope. The cafe is mostly empty this time of morning.
“Yep. I’ve got time.” I make my way over to the small table at the window, setting my bag down and pulling out my phone. I have emails and some paperwork to get done today, but I don’t feel like doing any of it until I catch up with Jeni and consume at least one cup of coffee.
The whirring of the frother and the light jazz music filtering through the speakers are the only sounds to be heard. If I were in Manhattan or Hollywood, there’d be people shouting and cars honking. Instead, this place is blissfully quiet despite how close we are to downtown Nashville.
“Here you go,” Jeni sets the cappuccino and the small plate with a massive chocolate croissant in front of me.
“Come to mama,” I say, picking up the pastry and shoving it into my mouth.
Jeni returns with her own cup of coffee and grins as I moan about how delicious her food is.
“You’re a goddess in the kitchen, Jeni. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
She smiles at me over her coffee cup. “I’m glad you enjoy it.”
A customer walks in before we have a chance to catch up and Jeni disappears behind the counter, filling orders and chatting with guests as they come in. So much for it being empty today. Still, I don’t move from my spot. I watch the people come in and out while enjoying a little peace and quiet.
Looking up from my phone, I’m surprised to see a familiar face waiting for his brew.
“Landon Crue, as I live and breathe,” I say. The Hollywood heartthrob turns at hearing his name called.
“Ms. Baker.” He smiles at me and steps up to my table.
“Ew, gross. Call me Taylor.” I stand up to kiss his cheek in greeting, then gesture to the chair Jeni vacated. “Sit, sit.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You know me, I’m everywhere.” I laugh.
“That you are.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I have a meeting with the boss and I need a boost first.”
“She’s a tough one,” I say with a chuckle, knowing Ivory is anything but.
Landon is the male lead in her new Christmas movie this year.
We secured a deal with the largest streaming platform in the world for a Christmas Day release.
It’s huge for Ivory, Serentia Productions, and all the actors involved.
“Nah, she’s not so bad. Preston, though….” He jokes. We’re interrupted when Jeni comes back to the table, dropping off Landon’s coffee with a shy smile. “Thanks, Jeni,” he says, and she immediately blushes.
“What does Ivory have you doing?”
He groans. “Ugh, PR for this dating competition thing.”
“You don’t sound happy about it. I figured a guy your age would love the idea of girls lining up to date you.
” Landon just turned twenty-five and landed a movie deal that will change the entire trajectory of his career.
Before this, he’d done some modeling and had recurring roles in television, but nothing at this level.
The ladies are going to be lining up after this performance.
“Don’t get me wrong, I want to build up this movie as much as everyone else. This is my first big break. I get how lucky I am with that.”
“But?”
“But, a celebrity speed dating competition? Come on, Taylor.”
“It sells,” I shrug. “Listen, I know it sucks to be the guinea pig of a project and for the focus to be on your dating life and not your work, but it ties in really well with the theme of the movie.”
“Aren’t there enough crazies out there? This is like asking for a stalker.”
“I’m sure they’ll do all the background checks and make sure no actual psychopaths make it to the introductions.”
“I hope you’re right. Brad said the same thing, but you know how he is.”
“Are you ready to leave him yet?” I ask, referring to his agent. Brad replaced me at the LA office of the PR firm I was working at before I started my own agency.
“He’s been with me since the beginning. It doesn’t feel right to drop him when we’re seeing success.”
“I get that. The offer is always open. I’d love to have you, and I think we could do great things together.
” By the end of this movie, he’ll have offers pouring in, and he deserves an agent who will prioritize his career and capitalize on it at the right moment.
Timing is everything in this business and Brad has a track record of fumbling the ball.
“You’d be my first call,” he promises.
I grin at him. “Happy to hear it.”
“Well, I better get going. Don’t want to keep the boss waiting.” He winks and leans over to give me a hug.
“I’ll tell her to go easy on you.”
“My savior.” He palms his chest and leaves the coffee shop.