Page 9 of Faking Romance

“What’ll it be?” Al asks as he tosses a dish towel on his shoulder.

“I didn’t know you were a bartender,” I tease.

He laughs. “My wife, Edith, and I always loved any excuse to host friends.”

Cam leans toward me. “Try his apple martini.”

“OK, I’ll have an apple martini,” I state as I lean on the countertop of the bar.

“Coming right up,” Al replies as he gets to work making my drink. He sets two martini glasses down and splits the drink between them.

“Thanks, Al,” Cam says as she takes the one closest to her.

He nods and hands me mine. “Enjoy. I’m glad Carly grabbed you. I completely forgot to remind you about happy hour.”

“No worries,” I assure him as Cam motions for me to follow her. We walk over to the table with what I assume are more neighbors.

“Everyone, this is Roxy,” she says as she motions to me like I’m a letter on the board ofWheel of Fortune.

“This is Margie and Cornelia. They live on the fourth floor in number seven. And this is Jessa and Troy Fletcher. They help Al run the building,” she says with a wave of her hand.

“Hi, Troy and Jessa.” I turn to Carly. “We’ve met. Troy has helped get the store fixed up.” Turning back to the older women, I add, “Nice to meet you all.”

“Lovely to meet you, dear,” Cornelia says.

“Everything OK in the apartment?” Troy asks.

“Oh, uh, yes. Everything is great.” I smile before taking a sip of the martini. “Damn, that is good,” I add.

“Told you,” Cam says.

Drew pulls over a chair and pats it. “Have a seat and tell us all about you. We love gossip.”

I nearly choke on my drink. “I—I’m sorry, what?”

Cam laughs. “What Drew means is that we don’t get new tenants very often, so he’s excited to meet you. Right, Drew?” She glares at him.

Drew shrugs and fingers the rim of his glass. “Something like that. A romance bookstore, huh?” His eyes meet mine.

“Do you like romance novels?” I ask him.

“Oh, honey, Drew reads books that makeFifty Shades of Greylook tame,” Margie says with a giggle.

“Fuck off, Marge, you practically devoured the last series I gave you,” he teases.

And just like that, I start to fall in love with my new neighbors.

CHAPTERFOUR

Grayson

“Make it a generous pour,” I say to Al as he grabs the bottle of whiskey from beneath the bar top.

“Rough day?” he asks, raising one bushy white eyebrow.

“Did you hear anything yet about the film?” Brayden asks.

Hutch leans forward to look around Brayden. “I heard you working on it. The guy’s an idiot if he turns it down.”

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