Page 39 of Firecracker

Or maybe the guy had been the love of her life and she’dneverget over him. Fuck.

All these questions backed up in his brain.

He looked up at her as she said good night to more customers with that luminous smile. The bar was empty now, other than Liam, Sorcha, and Arden, and whoever was left cleaning up in the kitchen. And him.

“Okay, gorgeous, you can head on home,” Liam said.

“Thanks,” Sorcha said with a smirk.

Liam snorted. “I was talking to Arden.”

“I know.” Sorcha rolled her eyes. “When have you ever calledmegorgeous?”

Arden came back a few minutes later with her purse and a sweater over her white shirt, tucking her tips into her purse.

“I’ll walk home with you.” Tyler slid off the stool.

She gave him a look, then said good night to Liam and Sorcha.

Outside the bar, in the soft summer darkness, they turned toward home.

“Is this why you came here tonight?” Arden asked.

She was a smart woman. She might have fretted over not being as smart as Jamie, but there was no doubt she was bright. He lied anyway. “No.”

“Bullshit.” She sighed. “Tyler. You didn’t need to do this.”

“I wanted a beer.”

“And you have none at home?”

He grinned. “Okay, fine. I don’t like you walking home alone late at night.”

“I told you, I’ll be fine.”

“Humor me.”

She shook her head but didn’t protest.

“Did tonight go better? It looked like the customers all love you.”

“It did go better. But not all the customers love me. There was a couple in tonight who apparently hated everything, including their food, their drinks, and possibly each other.”

Tyler laughed.

“They even hated Sorcha. But she got back at them.”

“Uh-oh…did she spit in their food?”

“No. She told the man his credit card was declined.” Arden laughed softly. “I thought his head was going to explode.”

“Guess they won’t be back.”

“Nope. I think Liam will be okay though.”

“Yeah. Also, I don’t know how worried Liam is about making money.”

“He should be worried about it! Isn’t that why you have a business?”

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