Page 37 of It Happened Again

I stared into my mug. “Because when I’m around him, I lose all sensibility. I forget what I’m supposed to be focused on.”

Chelsea smiled softly. “When I opened my heart to Rex, I was terrified. But I’m so glad I did. And I want the best for you, too. Even if it scares you a little.”

Her words landed like a warm weight on my chest. A lump rose in my throat before I could stop it. My sister—the one who used to double-knot my shoelaces and threaten boys who looked at me wrong—was looking at me now with nothing but pride. It disarmed me.

Part of me still clung to the idea that I had to choose—career or love, ambition or desire. But what if I didn’t? What if the true risk wasn’t chasing one or the other... but believing I could have both?

I looked between them—Sophie with her bold eyes, Chelsea with her calm maturity—and my chest loosened.

“We said we could be professional and keep away any emotions for eight weeks. We blew it. Now what?” I asked, shaking my head.

“Now you roll with it. Take your time with him. See where it leads. And no matter what, we got you, any time you need us,” Chelsea promised.

“Okay. Maybe Iamcurious to see where it leads. Besides, I wouldn’t have been able to resist him much longer, anyway.” I nodded.

“Yes,” Sophie said, already launching off the couch. “And you know what curious girls do?”

“Read scientific journals?” I offered.

“No. They go out for drinks. Now get changed. We’re hitting Holly Creek Hops Brewery. Archer told me they have a band tonight.”

“Oh, I wish I could go,” Chelsea whined. “But darn it. I have to stay back here and snuggle with my sweet little man, Max, and my gorgeous husband.”

“Bummer. You poor deprived thing,” I mocked her and threw a popcorn at her head. She caught it in her mouth, laughing.

Ten minutes later,we parked on the gravel lot outside Keaton Kingston’s brewery. The place buzzed with the Saturday night energy of a small town with nothing much else going on. Warm light spilled from the windows, and inside we could hear the low thrum of conversation and the early tuning of a band.

Ever since Vivian’s brother appeared on a wildly popular TV show “Brewed for Love,” the bar certainly had made a name for itself, drawing more visitors to the town.

Sophie hooked her arm in mine as we walked in. “Tell me again how Holly Creek has a dive bar with craft cocktails and beer, run by a hot internet reality TV sensation?”

“Holly Creek is full of surprises.”

“That Keaton is a one fine-looking man.”

“Really? You think so? And here I thought you were going for Archer.”

“Oh, he’s nice, too. But he’s not Keaton.”

As we stepped inside, I spotted the men immediately.

Brooks and Archer perched on two barstools near the end of the lacquered dark walnut bar top, laughing with Keaton, who was working behind the bar, sleeves rolled up and a bottle of bourbon at his elbow.

Brooks looked up—and locked eyes with me. Then those blue devils took a slow appraisal down my body and back up.

The grin that pulled at his mouth was devastating.

“Well,” Sophie murmured. “Looks like fate just invited us to the party. And I’d say your outfit gained the desired effect.”

We almost matched, wearing tight, low ride denims, cowboy boots, and tank tops tied at our wastes—mine white, hers black. Both of us showing off skin at our midsections.

The guys stood when we reached the bar, adjusting the seating arrangement to fit us in, Brooks to my left, Sophie, then Archer on the right.

“You made it,” Archer said. “What’ll you have, Sophie?”

Brooks’s voice was low and warm near my ear. “You look...” he sighed, “Very not-professional tonight.”

I teased and tucked my hair behind my ear. “That was exactly the look I was going for.”

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