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Colleen had worn that expression on several occasions herself. Like when Gregory asked her out for the first time. And when he'd proposed. Definitely on her wedding day. The album now collecting dust in her mother's attic was a testament to that.
She'd even worn that expression later, coming home from a long day at work to the house they'd bought and furnished together. She'd pour herself a glass of wine, sink onto her comfy sofa and reflect on how lucky she was to have such a wonderful husband with whom she was going to have a wonderful family.
"My own experience has yet to provide evidence to the contrary."
"Just give it time," Molly said, giving her hand a pat as she released it. "It doesn't seem like it now, but one day you may look back and see that his cheating on you was the best thing that ever happened to you. It kills me to admit it, but I never would have left Josh on my own. And look at me now." Molly's smile sparkled more than the diamond adorning her left hand that was splayed over her belly.
Colleen smiled and shrugged. "I'm not holding my breath."
JT held the door open for his sister, Paulina. As he stepped inside Adele's cafe, he was greeted by the savory aromas of cooked garlic and grilled meats. His stomach gave a loud rumble, reminding him that in the nearly twelve hours since breakfast he'd eaten little more than a protein bar chased by some Gatorade.
Now he was ready for some of Brady McManus's legendary rack of lamb. Or maybe one of their wood fired pizzas, piled high with sausage, pepperoni, and caramelized onions. Or maybe both, he thought as his stomach growled again.
"It'll be about a ten-minute wait," the hostess informed him.
"Told you we should have made a reservation," Paulina said under her breath.
"No big deal. We can get a drink while we wait," he said, nodding towards the bar.
And did a double take when he saw none other than Colleen Murphy pulling a lever on the built-in beer tap as she filled a pint glass with amber liquid. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail as it had been when he'd seen her in the emergency room a few days ago.
Tonight, instead of the baggy scrubs, she was wearing dark wash jeans that clung to every curve of her hips, butt, and toned legs. She topped it with a short sleeved blue shirt with some kind of lace pattern. Though it wasn't tight, it skimmed over the soft curves of her breasts and showed off the toned muscles of her arms as she worked the tap.
He excused himself as he squeezed himself between two couples and raised his hand to get her attention. It took him a minute as she turned to another customer first. He watched as she poured the makings of a margarita into a cocktail shaker, put the lid on and went to work.
Call him a perv, but he couldn't help but notice that the way she shook the container between two hands made some very interesting things happen underneath her shirt.
A quick glance down the bar told him he wasn't the only one who'd taken notice. Suddenly feeling like a dirty creep, he turned away to find his sister looking at him, one eyebrow cocked knowingly.
JT felt his cheeks heat as he once again tried to get Colleen's attention. This time she saw him, and the way her automatic smile widened in recognition sent a jolt of warmth through his gut. Damn she was pretty, with her big blue eyes, high cheekbones, and plump mouth slicked with gloss that made him wonder if she tasted like strawberries.
He was so caught up in looking at her he didn't realize she was talking to him until his sister's sharp elbow in his side jolted him from his stupor.
"What do you want?" Paulina asked sharply.
"Oh, sorry. Amber ale, please." Jesus, JT, get your shit together. What the hell is wrong with you that practically every time you see Colleen you revert to your teenage self, staring at her like a loser from across the cafeteria?
He composed himself while she got his beer and Paulina's glass of rosé. He was no longer that chubby, pimply faced misfit Colleen grew up with. He'd changed a lot over the years, and call him cocky, but the attention he'd received from women over the last decade or so told him those changes were for the better.
"What are you doing here, slinging drinks?" he asked, returning her smile.
"So Liam didn't tell you?"
He shook his head. "We've been trading messages all week."
She gave a little sigh and braced her hands against the bar. "Let's just say there's a bit of a financial situation, and since the hospital doesn't have the budget to hire me full-time, I'm working here to make some extra cash."
He wondered if her financial situation had to do with her divorce. Though they were pretty close, Liam had told JT very little about Colleen's divorce, other than to say her ex was an asshole and his sister deserved better.
JT had agreed wholeheartedly, and that was before Colleen had told him about the cheating.
In any case he knew—thankfully not from experience—that divorce could be hell on finances. "I hope you can get it all straightened out, whatever it is," he said and took a sip of his beer.
She thanked him with another smile. "How's the hand?" She gestured to his bandage.
He held it up and she took it in both of hers. "No swelling?" Her slim fingers traced along the edges of the bandage, sending heat sizzling through the callused skin and to every nerve ending in his body.
"Nope. Itches little bit though."
