I downed it, the smooth golden liquid running through me. I almost got sentimental, having the three of them here like this to help me celebrate. Thankfully, the sight of Mae stopped me. It was hard to miss her. She was quite literally running through the bar toward me.
The guys turned to watch.
I barely made it to the bar opening when Mae was there, launching herself into my arms. If she hadn’t been smiling from ear to ear, I’d have thought something was wrong.
“I can’t believe you,” she said.
She smelled as good as she looked. I could have stayed like that all day, even with the whistles and hollers we were causing from my regulars. Unfortunately, Mae pulled back.
“Talked to your parents?” I guessed.
“Yes,” she said. “I was home getting ready when they called on the way home from the realtor’s office where they left a deposit on their dream vacation place. Thanks to you.”
“I’d say thanks to the hard work they put into this place.”
She tilted her head to the side. “I don’t know how you pulled it off—bartenders must make a hell of a lot more money than I thought to have that kind of cash at your disposal.”
A story for another time. Natives were getting restless.
“Come celebrate with us? Look who just got into town to celebrate.”
She leaned around me to where my buddies sat.
“Cole? Holy shit, how did he get here so quick? My dad said it only came together this afternoon.”
“Good question. He just surprised me too, about five minutes ago. Go say hello. I’ve got the bar.”
I grabbed a few drinks and rejoined the others, slinging my arm around Mae’s shoulders. I did it without thinking. But it was too late now to take back. Would just have to lean into it.
“Well, boys, you’re looking at the new owner of O’Malley’s and the woman who made it happen.”
Mae all but snorted. “How did I make it happen?”
“He’s a better man when you’re around, Mae,” Parker said. “You know that.”
“Uh huh.” She didn’t sound convinced. Unfortunately, Lou the mechanic was empty. I reluctantly let her go and refilled him, grudgingly admitting it was my job. One I usually loved but, at the moment, was taking a backseat to a particular beautiful blonde standing a few feet away from me.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
She came up from behind me, reached past me, snagged a bottle from the speed rail, and poured a perfect whiskey neat like she’d been behind this bar a hundred times.
“Not bad,” I said, watching her work.
She gave me a look over her shoulder. “You forgetting who taught you to pour without spilling?”
Fair point. And also… way hotter than it should’ve been.
“I’ll give you one guess,” I said, when she finished serving it.
“Your new bar?”
“Nope.”
“The three amigos?” She nodded to the laughter coming from my friends. They were looking over Cole’s shoulder at something on his phone.
“Try again.”
She slid the glass across the bar, wiped her hands on a bar towel, then tossed it in the bin like she owned the place.
