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Hoping they’d forgotten about me, I turned and began to clean up behind the bar, which took only a few seconds. Then I worked on refilling the garnishes. As I began to pour olives into the container, they started talkingnumbers.
“I’d pay fifty thousand for the security a sobriety coach could provide,” Harrymumbled.
“Is that all our happiness is worth to you?” Laneysighed.
“Did I say fifty? I meant one hundred thousand.” Harry paused. Apparently, she didn’t look appeased. “Okay, one hundred andfifty?”
“I’ll match your price. We’ll pay someone three hundred thousand.” Mr. George nodded feverishly. “There is a price for sanity. That amount seems fair if it will enable us to relax and enjoy theevent.”
“Three hundred thousand dollars for a weekend of work,” Mrs. George marveled. “I’m in the wrongbusiness.”
My jaw dropped, the jar slipped from my grasp and clanked against the counter. All eyes were on me. There was only one way for me to salvage the moment. “Sold.” Ishrugged.
“Are you serious?” Mr. George asked with afrown.
I nodded. “Yes, Mr. George. Of course, you’ll have to change my schedulehere…”
“Consider it done.” He exhaled deeply. “And from now on, you should probably start calling meTy.”
3
Drew
“Just waiting on you, Drew,”Jackie announced the second she appeared beside my lounge chair. When I didn’t respond, she began tapping herfoot.
“Actually, Jackie,” I murmured while pushing my sunglasses up on my nose, “I’ve decided not to go to therapytoday.”
Her lips pursed as she stared at me. “Oh, did you? And what makes you think you can make that determination? You’re still here. You still have to play the game until we officially dischargeyou.”
I dropped my chin so I could stare up at her from over the rim of my glasses. “In case I was unclear, I’m notgoing.”
“Oh, you were clear. Now, let me make sure you understand my position. You go to therapy or you don’t go home.” Jackie shrugged, then turned on her heels and disappeared down the path to the mainbuilding.
Damn, I hated for her to win, but even more, I hated the idea of being stuck here a split second longer than absolutely necessary. Still, I didn’t have to rush after her like some freaking puppy dog, either. So, I leisurely stood and stretched. Then I yanked my towel off the lounger and wrapped it around the back of my neck. Finally, I took several long drinks from the iced water on the side table. With a sigh, I traipsed down the path on the way to the building. When I entered Jackie’s office, the receptionist waved me in and hid her face in some paperwork. That should’ve been my first indication all was not as it should be. I paused a few seconds so she would know I hadn’t rushed in after her, then I opened the door and strolled into theroom.
There was a gorgeous woman sitting in one of the chairs across from Jackie. Her legs were crossed; make that her beautiful, fit legs. Long, dark, straight hair cascaded down her back past her shoulders. When she heard the door open, she glanced my direction, and calmly stared at me with big brown eyes, even as I registered a hint ofrecognition.
“Wow.” I stared at her, suddenly shy. I’d never been shy before. I didn’t have to be, ever. See, in the past, I had alcohol and drugs. They made me so smart, so witty, so confident, I could talk to anyone. I’d been bold and fearless. Now, I had to swallow a few times and truly concentrate to see if I was still breathing. I felt like I was gasping for air. “I’m sorry for interrupting,” I mumbled. I started to back out of the room, but Jackie stoppedme.
“You’re in the right place.” She motioned for me to take the empty seat beside the woman I could barely take my eyes offof.
I swear it took every ounce of effort I had left to walk the few feet from the door to the chair. I think I even talked myself through it.One step. There you go, Drew. Just one foot in front of the other. No big deal. You’ve been doing it for years. Should be easier sober!By the time I sat down, I had broken out into a sweat. I dabbed at my forehead with my towel. “Okay, now what?” The words came out sounding far sharper than I intended. I glanced at the woman beside me to see herreaction.
“Now we talk.” Ty’s voice boomed from behindme.
I whipped around and saw him reclining on the couch a few feet away, his arms folded behind his head. “What are you doing here?” I scowled. Obviously, this was a set up. And whatever hopes I’d had for the woman beside me, they were now dashed. I turned to face Jackie again and slumped in thechair.
I could hear the leather couch groan, followed by footsteps, and I realized Ty was coming closer. When he walked around the desk and pulled a chair over to the end near Jackie, I glared at him. Seriously, this guy had abandoned me. The minute he had a woman in his life, he’d checked out on his friends. I studied the female beside me again. No rings. Clothes were off the rack. This was a natural beauty, no plastic surgery, yet sheerperfection.
“Are you married to this loser?” I asked cockily. “You know, if you’d have held out for me, you’d have snagged the richest guy in the group.” I shrugged. “Your loss,pussycat.”
“This isn’t my wife.” Tysighed.
In an instant, I sat up and leaned towards her. “And you’re back in the running. Hi, I’m Drew.” I grinned, knowing my tan and my pearly whites had enthralled many a female before, hoping they’d work this timetoo.
“Hi, I’m Talia.” She noddedseriously.
“Talia. That’s a great name. Let’s get to know one another.” I leaned on my elbow and stared at her. She was seriously the hottest chick I’d seen in well over ninetydays.
