CHAPTER 5
Quinn
I’m unable to breathe, speak, or even remember my name because standing before me is the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen.
I can’t help but take in every single detail about him: the wavy brown hair that looks like he styled it by running his hands through it.
His sun-kissed skin that hints at hours outdoors and the beige button-up worn open over a simple white tee.
Paired with black jeans and boots, he looks slightly out of place in this fancy venue. Just like I do.
Relief floods me, and for the first time since we stepped inside this bar, I don’t feel underdressed. Still, my palms are damp against the hem of my dress, and I force myself not to fidget with it.
A shy smile tugs at the corners of his mouth and the blur of the world deepens, leaving us suspended in this moment.
Sophie clears her throat, the small sound slicing through the haze and jolting me back to reality.
“Hey, I’m Quinn,” I say quickly, voice thinner than I want it to be.
Cole’s mouth curves, his green eyes catching the ambient light as he leans in just a fraction. “Nice to meet you, Quinn.”
“This is my business partner,” Chad cuts in, his jaw tightening like I just derailed his carefully rehearsed attempt at charming my best friend.
Cole shifts his focus to Chad, the easy warmth fading from his expression as he finally addresses him. “I’ve been looking for you for the past fifteen minutes. If you want the new extension to open on time, that contract needs your signature. Until then, my hands are tied.”
“Fine, but let’s have a round of drinks first,” Chad says, leaning back into the cream cushions and stretching an arm around the booth at Sophie’s back. “I’d hate to leave these ladies alone when we were just getting started.”
Sophie flicks her gaze between Cole and me, eyes bright with curiosity. “Oh, we’d love that, wouldn’t we, Quinn?”
Realising I’m still staring, I glance away quickly, cheeks heating. “I’d love that. I mean, um, we’d love that.” My tongue feels clumsy in my mouth, every word a tripwire.
“See? The girls want you to stay,” Chad purrs, flicking his eyes up to Cole with a challenging look. “Get us some drinks while you’re up.”
“One round,” Cole agrees, his tone edged with calm authority. “But then I need to get back to work.”
“Sure. Jess, why don’t you go with Cole to get our drinks?” Chad suggests, glancing at me again. Of course, he wouldn’t remember my name. He just wants time alone with Sophie, which works for me. I need a break from sitting here, pretending not to see him trying to hook up with her.
“Um, I don’t mind going with,” I say, trying to mask the nerves buzzing in my veins. My fingers twist the strap of my purse like it might anchor me.
For a heartbeat, I wish I had Sophie’s ease, because being this close to Cole scrambles every coherent thought I have.
“I can grab them myself if you’d rather stay,” Cole offers easily.
“Quinn, just go with Cole.” Sophie widens her blue eyes, urging me to suck it up. “It’s too many drinks for him to carry back.”
Cole stands there, steady and patient, as if he’s waiting to see if I’ll rise to the moment or retreat into myself. The thrum of music and chatter presses in, but all I can hear is the quick beat of my own pulse.
“I’m coming,” I say brightly, clinging to the small triumph of proving to myself I can handle this one simple task. My throat is dry, but I force a smile anyway.
“All right then.” A spark of mischief flickers in his eyes. “What are we drinking tonight?”
“I’ll have a passionfruit margarita, please,” Sophie says. “And Quinn will have the strawberry one.”
“Whiskey on the rocks,” Chad adds with a dismissive wave. “And bring back a few rounds of whatever shots the ladies want.”
“Got it.” Cole extends his hand to help me out of the booth. I shuffle past the table, silently begging my clumsy feet not to betray me. Naturally, they do. My heel snags on the leg of the booth and I pitch forward, heart lurching into my throat.
A sharp jolt of panic shoots through me until a strong arm catches my waist, halting my fall. Cole’s grip is firm, radiating heat that seeps through the thin fabric of my dress and into my skin.
The world narrows as those green eyes lock on mine, steady and devastating, and the breath stalls in my chest.
“You sure you’re okay?” His voice drops low.
I swallow, forcing my brain to reboot. “Promise I’m not that drunk.” I manage a shaky breath. “My feet are killing me in these heels, but I’ll survive.”
“Then let’s make it quick.” His mouth tilts in the faintest smile, dimples carving either side. “And next venue I build, remind me to put your seat closer to the bar.”
I huff out a laugh, sliding my arm through his when he offers it. The move is practical, my feet ache, but the warmth of his arm against mine has me reacting in a way I don’t want to examine too closely.
“So,” I say, desperate to fill the silence, “you’re the face behind this makeover?”
“Yep,” he says, his tone carrying an assured confidence. “It’s almost finished now.”
“Well, it’s a huge improvement—no more gross floors, and somehow you even got rid of the musty beer smell.” My tone veers on playful, a smile tugging at my lips as I glance up at him.
“I’ll take it as a win.”
The crowd thickens as we near the bar, and instinctively I tense, but somehow, with his arm steadying me, I breathe easier.
“So, are you planning to stick around for a drink or two with us?” I say, a nervous laugh slipping out before I can stop it.
Cole considers this, eyes dipping toward the crowd before landing on me again. “Paperwork can wait. I could use a drink. Or two.” His smile tilts slightly. “It’s been a long week.”
“I feel that,” I say, leaning closer so he can hear my understatement of the year.
“Then it’s settled. We both deserve a drink.” His smile turns playful and unguarded, and my breath hitches again. If I don’t keep talking, I’ll lose myself in it.
“I like the sound of that.” I give him what I imagine is a lopsided grin, still a little tipsy from my earlier drinks.
I know I’ll need to keep the buzz going if I’m going to spend more time with Cole. I’m nervous enough as it is, and paired with a cute stranger, I’m already in over my head.
Instead of joining the line, Cole guides us down the side of the bar and through a large door covered with construction tape. “Thought we’d skip the wait,” he says easily.
I hesitate on the threshold, fingers tightening on my clutch. “If this is where you murder me, just… make sure someone waters my plants. They’ve been through enough.” My laugh comes out thin, and I wince.
“Murder you and get blood all over my new bar? Now that would be the real crime,” he teases, flicking on the lights.
“I heard it’s impossible to get out of grouting,” I throw back, earning a laugh from him. Relief loosens my shoulders a little.
The unfinished space gleams under the harsh, naked globes, all concrete floors and raw plaster, but somehow, it feels…
full of possibility. I take a few steps forward, imagining soft light fixtures, private booths, and a dark, earthy colour palette.
For the first time in forever, my mind is abuzz with design ideas instead of anxiety.
Cole walks me to the bar, and I take a seat on the only makeshift stool while he gets out the cocktail glasses.
Is it ridiculous that I already miss the steady heat of his arm?
“Is this the extension you were talking about?” I ask, taking in the dusty floor, scaffolding, and walls still covered in unfinished plasterboard.
“Yeah, this is it. The last piece of the puzzle,” he says, already measuring out tequila, sugar syrup, and fresh lime juice for the margaritas. “Once this is done, the place can fully open.”
“Well, I think the space you’ve built will look perfect with the same outdoor seating but with grey sheer curtains fixed to the ceiling for a little privacy,” I say before I realise he probably doesn’t want my opinion.
“You’ve got an eye for this,” he says, studying me with interest. “Most people just nod and throw me Pinterest boards that don’t match the brief.”
“Yeah, I studied interior design a while back.” I smile. “But why can’t your designers stick with the project? It doesn’t look too complicated.”
“Chad keeps running them off.” Cole shakes his head, sighing. “Let’s just say he mixes business with pleasure.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” I laugh. “I wish I could help, but I haven’t done design in a while.”
A part of me wants to jump in and offer, but I don’t trust my instincts right now. The last few months took more out of me than I want to admit.
I know it’s a silly excuse, but I don’t think I’m ready for something this big yet.
“Well, if you ever want back in, let me know. At this rate, I’ll have to hire the next designer myself. It’s turning into an HR nightmare.”
“I guess you wouldn’t have to worry with me—I’d never sleep with Chad.”
“Really?” Cole pauses with his metal shaker in midair, looking surprised.
“Yeah, um, girl code and all that.”
His smile falters, the warmth slipping a fraction from his eyes. God, I hope that didn’t come out sounding like I’d be into Chad had Sophie not gotten there first? Great. I’m making a real mess of this.
I clear my throat, eager to steer the moment somewhere safer. “I, um… love how the only thing finished in this room is the bar.”
“Yeah, it’s the heart of the place,” he says, seemingly unaffected by my misstep. “We’ve been using it for training, and it gives our bartenders a break from the chaos outside while we finish the expansion.”
“In that case, should we do a shot before we go back out there?” I leave out the part about needing more tequila to calm my nerves. “Only if you’ll do one with me, of course.”
I immediately regret suggesting it as I swear I can still taste the ghost of that shot from earlier. I hold my breath as he looks over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at his mouth.
“Deal.” He turns back with a bottle and two shot glasses. He pours and slides one over with a lemon wedge. As I reach out, his fingertips brush mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. “Haven’t had a night off since construction started six months ago. Might as well make this one count.”
Quietly relieved he’s poured us Honey Patron, I raise it to him in cheers and we down them simultaneously.
I suck the lemon wedge like my life depends on it and a drop of juice clings to my bottom lip. I catch it with my tongue, slow and unthinking, and notice Cole’s gaze fixed on the motion. Heat creeps up his neck as he looks away, busying himself with the rest of our drinks.
“I haven’t been out in years, so I’m ready to have some fun too,” I murmur.
“Why’s that?” he asks, pouring, garnishing, and placing the glasses on the round black tray before handing me my strawberry marg.
“Uh, long story short… I was in a not-so-great relationship, and he didn’t really want to go anywhere with me. But I’m over it. I left him a while ago, and my best friend made me come out to ‘dinner’ tonight.” I raise a brow and let out a wry laugh.
I immediately regret giving him my life story.
The last thing I want is for Cole to think I’m hung up on some deadbeat.
Which I’m not. It’s just that I hadn’t realised how much of myself I’d lost over the last five years with him—six, if you count this last year after of hell—until one day I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognise who I was anymore.
But like Sophie said, I’m getting there, one baby step at a time.
Coming out tonight was a big one, and I’m glad I did.
“No one should tell you what you can and can’t do,” Cole says, his tone firm but gentle as he walks around the bar to where I’m standing. “Tonight should make up for a few of those lost chances.”
“That’s really sweet of you.” I smile at him, giddy warmth bubbling in my chest. “Let’s head back. Sophie might need saving from what I’m assuming is Chad’s cryptocurrency TED Talk.”
Cole chuckles. “Then let’s not keep her waiting.” Balancing the tray of drinks in one hand, he offers his arm once more. And even though the tequila has eased the ache in my heels, I don’t waste the opportunity to be close to him again.