“Something like that.”
I wait for him to say more, but he turns his back and wipes down the counter behind him, which was clean to begin with. When he turns back, he slaps a glass of water on the bar next to my drink.
“Thanks. Seriously, what’s up with those two? I haven’t seen them since the town council meeting, when they were trying to rally folks against the new shops on Second Street.”
“Yet you got them built anyway.”
I nod. “Because it’s good for the community.”
“I’m not arguing, but those two look for reasons to say no. You know.”
“Do I?”
Anthony leans close. “Listen, you know I don’t tell tales out of school, but I’d watch your back. More lawsuits are likely coming your way.”
It’s no secret that with the drought in California, everyone around here is fighting over water rights, suing each other out of desperation for the resource we all need. It’s liable to take the whole town of Willow Springs down if we don’t come up with a solution that benefits everyone.
A chill rolls down my spine at the implication of a threat. “You wanna be more specific?”
He washes a martini glass in the sink and starts drying it with a clean bar towel. “Can’t.”
“Come on, man.”
He holds up his hands. “I can’t because I don’t know more than that. Those guys know we’re friends. They didn’t tell me squat. It’s just a vibe I get when they talk about crop rotation like it’s a dirty joke. If I hear anything more, you know I’ll come to you first.”
Nodding, I watch him carefully replace the glass in the overhead rack, spacing it evenly so nothing clinks together. “Fine, but I have more fight in me, even if I have to overpay someone for water rights.”
“Only a temporary solution,” he says.
“Yeah. Tell me something I don’t know. So what got them all jolly, laughing it up back there?”
Anthony shrugs. “They asked me if I’d heard any good jokes lately. I gave ’em the one you told me last week about the sailor and the nun.”
I press my lips together, still amused by the humor. “Did you nail the delivery?”
“What the hell do you think? You heard ’em laughing.”
I nod. “Good.” Sneaking a glance at the guys, I notice they’ve picked up all the bills Anthony returned from their twenties and left a fifty-cent tip between them. Douchebags.
The heat of another body sliding onto the stool next to mine tells me this conversation is over, if it wasn’t already. Airing my dirty laundry isn’t a favorite pastime. Everyone in this town talks, and the less they talk about me, the better.
I cast a side-eye to see who’s taken up residence next to me, though it’s really unnecessary the minute I get a whiff of Axe body spray.
“Joe,” I say, knowing he’s chewing gum and scrolling his phone before I make eye contact. Sure enough, I hear the snapof a pink bubble. The fruity smell doesn’t go well with the musky body spray.
“Hey, Fitz.” We fist-bump, and Joe orders a beer, seeming more interested in whatever’s on his phone than in talking to me. Just as well.
Turning my attention back to the women at the table, I try to snag the eye of the one in the tiara, whose gaze has turned glassy, as though she wants to be anywhere but here.
Join the club.
CHAPTER 4
Tessa
“That cowboy’sbeen eye fucking you all night.” Callie elbows me and tilts her head subtly toward where the guy is chatting with the bartender. His Stetson sits next to him, and based on his rugged, casual look, he very well could have ridden here on a horse.
“He is not,” I insist.
