Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brew
D amn it.
I should have had Dirk Tomberlin thrown out the moment I saw him sitting at the bar.
He’s an asshole, even on his best days. Audrey mentioned they’d had issues with him before and she had to cut him off, so I told Leonard to be cautious about serving him too much.
I also asked him to inform me if Dirk started causing trouble.
Whiskey Joe’s has a laid-back atmosphere most nights.
We have a solid group of regular customers, but due to our location near the island, we also attract unpredictable tourists.
Our staff is excellent at handling situations swiftly, but an occasional scuffle is bound to happen when you mix alcohol with testosterone.
Audrey enters my office and shuts the door behind her. “Fucking Dirk,” she says as she plops down in the seat across from my desk.
“He’s done. Inform the bouncer at the front and the cashiers. I can overlook someone getting drunk and rowdy now and then, but I won’t tolerate anyone assaulting women in here,” I respond as I take a seat.
“Already on it. I sent a message on the employee app.”
“I’m sorry your party got ruined,” I tell her.
She shrugs. “It didn’t. I mean, what’s a little bar fight? I’m used to it.”
I chuckle.
“I like Brandee,” she says after a few moments.
I bring my eyes to hers. “Yeah, I like her too.”
“I noticed.”
I sit back and fold my arms over my chest.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. She’s the first woman I’ve seen you this into in a long time. So, of course I’m going to befriend her.”
“Don’t get too attached. She’s only here for a little while longer, and then she’ll be going home,” I say.
“Yeah, yeah, and you’ll be back on the road. So what?”
“So what? It means a relationship between us would never work,” I reply.
Her brow furrows. “Why not?”
“I just told you.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Brew Cartwright, you’ve been doing the same job for years, which hasn’t stopped you from forming or keeping relationships with all of us. What makes you think you couldn’t maintain one with her?”
“Because romantic relationships are different. It’s no big deal if you guys don’t see or hear from me for weeks at a time, but a girlfriend wouldn’t be able to handle that.”
“How the hell would you know?” she asks.
“I’ve seen it play out before, Audrey. With members of our team, with drivers, with my own family.”
“Look, your grandfather has always been a skirt chaser—that’s just who he is.
You’re your own man—a good man—with the ability to be where you need or want to be at the drop of a hat.
Clearly, she also has some flexibility in her life; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to stay at her aunt’s house for months at a time.
Neither of you is young and stupid anymore, unable to be apart for five minutes without feeling jealous or moving on.
You’re adults, and there are telephones, video chats, and various ways to stay connected these days. ”
I scrub a hand over my face.
“I’m just saying, don’t write off something that could be more because of logistics. That’s an easy cop-out,” she says. “And for God’s sake, stop hiding your identity. You’re a beautiful, wealthy bastard. I think she’ll be okay with that.”
“You done?” I ask her as I bite back a laugh.
“Yeah, I guess,” she says as the door opens and Parker steps inside.
“Hey,” she says. “How’s Sebastian?”
“He’s gonna have a shiner,” Parker informs us.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Ah, he’ll live. I’m just glad he got a few good shots in before you broke it up. Dirk needs to lose some teeth.”
“I know. I just didn’t want anyone to end up in jail,” I say.
“Nah, Dirk’s not going to press charges, especially with all those girls out there claiming he put his hands under Avie’s dress,” he says.
I feel my anger rising. “He did what?”
“Yeah, he was grinding on her on the dance floor, but she kept trying to move away. Then he yanked her back against him, and his hands went under her dress. That’s when Eden ran to get us.”
“I should have let Seb beat the shit out of him,” I hiss.
“No. No, you shouldn’t have,” Audrey says. “It’s over now, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“We should probably get back out there,” Parker says.
“You two go ahead. I need a minute.”
After clearing my head, I went back out and spoke with Leonard before walking outside and having a conversation with Bruce, our head of security. He’d made sure that Dirk got into a taxi and left the premises, and he assured me the asshole wouldn’t enter again.
The bar crowd has thinned out after the altercation, and when I get back inside, I find all my friends seated at our table.
“I’m sorry about that, guys,” I say as I look at Sebastian. The cut above his eye has stopped bleeding, but the skin is starting to darken. “It won’t happen again.”
Sebastian lifts his chin and replies, “It wasn’t your fault, man.”
I catch Brandee’s eye; she’s wearing a confused expression.
“We really know how to throw a party, don’t we?” Anson exclaims, clapping Parker on the shoulder. “We’ll have to work hard to top this at your wedding.”
Parker flashes a tight smile. “Just remember, your wedding is first, jackass.”
The whole table erupts in laughter.
“I think we’re going to head out,” Sebastian says, and everyone agrees. Lennon raises his hand to flag down the server as they stand, but I wave him off.
“It’s already covered.”
He gives me a look, but doesn’t argue.
I follow them to the door and gently tug Brandee’s elbow to pull her back. “I’m going to stay and help close up.”
“But it’s your night off,” she replies.
“I know,” I respond. I don’t want to leave Leonard here alone in case Dirk comes back, looking for trouble , I think to myself, but don’t say aloud. “I just want to help.”
“Okay,” she says, and I can hear the disappointment in her voice.
“My truck is at Sebastian’s, so I’ll catch a ride,” I say, leaning in to kiss her cheek. I whisper, “Will you wait up for me?”
“I’ll try,” she replies, standing on her toes to kiss the tip of my nose.
I follow them to Seb’s Bronco, help her into the back seat, and wait for them to drive away before returning inside.