Page 9 of Love Is Ale You Need

“No. You’re right. I would have asked for fifty.” She smirks.

“Thanks guys. Glad to know you can all be bought.” My attention jumps back to Trey. “You got your info. Can I get you anything else?”

“Yes. Dinner?”

Before I can respond, a woman with long, perfectly styled, blonde hair and runway ready, airbrushed makeup strolls up to the bar. “Hey, Trey.” His name rolls off her tongue as she brushes her hand over his bicep. “A few friends and I have a spot in the corner with an extra seat if you want to join us.”

He glances over his shoulder at the table before shifting his concentration back to the woman on his left. “Maybe next time.”

“The invitation is always open,” she purrs, dragging her flame red fingernail down his arm.

I choke down the bile that rises in my throat. “Desperate isn’t a good look on anyone,” I mutter under my breath. The woman doesn’t pay attention to me, but Trey's gaze lifts to meet mine. I offer him a snarky smile and shrug. His throat resonates with a low laugh as he shakes his head and he sends the woman on her way.

Trey swings his focus to me and rests his elbows on the bar, a full-fledged smirk on his face. “Jealous?”

I scoff. “Of what? Her? If anything, I’m embarrassed for her.”

"If you say so."

The way his gaze bores into me sends a rush of heat coursing through my entire body. It’s like he’s trying to read every dirty thought floating through my mind right now and that would be terrible. I need him out of my space before I grab his tie and haul him over the bar to slam my lips to his. “You better not keep your fan club waiting.”

“Which one?”

“All of them.”

His lips tip up into a half-smile. “I’ll talk to you later, Rylee.” He taps the bar before sauntering away and into the backroom.

My gaze never wavers from his retreating frame. When he’s in a room, he commands attention and people give it to him. How could you not? He’s tall, broad shouldered with a tapered waist, and an ass that fills out a pair of slacks perfectly. Mentally, I slap myself across the cheek. No dirty thoughts about Trey.

“Did I hear you correctly?” Nora’s voice startles me, causing my heart to jump to my throat. “You turned down dinner with that Greek God. Do you think I can take your place?”

“Go right ahead. I’ve been with guys just like him. It’s nothing but a rollercoaster and by the end you’re left sad, empty, and disappointed.” I walk away, mostly because I need to clear my head and Nora going on and on about Trey isn’t helping.

“But the ride is at least fun, right?” she yells.

It’s always fun until you end up pregnant and dropping out of college, only to wind up as a single mom. Been there, done that, and I have the daughter to prove it.

FIVE

THE UNEXPECTED TINGLES

Rylee

When I arrive home from work, I shove the key into the lock and twist. The TV is blaring the latest episode of whatever bachelor farmer seeking love with a rose dating reality show Marcie, my sixty-five-year-old neighbor, likes to binge watch.

Fifteen years ago, she lost her husband, Marcus, in a car accident and never wanted to find love again because he was her swan. From the stories she’s told me, his shoes would be hard to fill. Their love is one every couple aspires to and a far cry from my last. So instead of finding love again, she watches others do it on TV. I've warned her it's all scripted, but she threatened to stop babysitting if I told her any more lies. Since she lives in the apartment next to mine, doesn’t charge me, and adores Abby, I keep my mouth shut and nod and smile.

I lean over the couch and gently shake her shoulder.

She startles awake, mumbling, “DJ better not have given a rose to that bitch Tonya.”

“Hi Marcie. I’m not sure, but why are you hating on Tonya?”

She ambles to her feet and neatly folds the blanket that was covering her. “I don’t trust her. She’s too... nice.” Her lip curls on the last word.

“Well, you’ve always been extremely perceptive of people. Like when George was stealing packages. You knew right away it was him.”

“His eyes were always too shifty.”

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