Page 45 of Forbidden Kisses
He pulled away and the women headed inside the bar. It was always packed on Thursday nights.
The women walked toward the back and sat at what Grace realized was their usual spot. A waitress came to the table.
“What can I get you ladies?”
Grace’s mouth fell open. “Tina! What are you doing here?”
Her ex-coworker at Dewy’s shrugged. “I told Dewy I couldn’t work there anymore after what he did to you. I also told him he was a lowlife and a creep.”
Grace shook her head. “You left your job on account of me? I feel terrible.”
“Don’t. The tips are better here.” She leaned in closer. “And the guys are hotter.”
All the women at the table laughed.
“Guys, this is Tina. We worked at Dewy’s together.”
Abby and Krista waved.
“Hi! Glad you’re here!” Krista said.
“Thanks.” Tina pulled out a notepad. “So what’ll it be? Dollar drinks on tap?”
“Perfect,” Grace said, beyond thrilled to know she’d be seeing her friend here regularly.
“You got it.” Tina headed behind the bar. As she did, Grace caught the sight of a familiar face. “Hey, look. There’s Noah.” She pointed at the youngest Sawyer crossing the room.
Krista whipped around to watch. Her crush was obvious to the whole Blushing Bay world, except to Krista and Noah themselves.
Noah sat down at a table, pulling his chair up close to a beautiful woman with long blond hair.
Grace’s heart did a free fall in her gut.Oh no.She looked at Krista just in time to catch the momentary look of devastation on her friend’s face. It was quickly replaced with indifference.
“Looks like he’s found a new Barbie to keep him company for the night,” she said.
Grace pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “Sorry for pointing it out.”
Krista waved a hand and looked between Abby and Grace. “Why is it so hard for you two to believe that Noah and I are just friends?”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve been wearing that twisted fishing hook he gave you when you were ten around your neck for decades.”
Krista’s hand immediately went to the charm on her necklace. “It’s cute. And it’s not just a fishing hook. I paid good money to have it plated in gold. It’s valuable.”
“The question is why did you spend good money to plate an old fishing hook?” Abby lifted a strawberry blonde brow.
“Because I like it,” Krista huffed.
Tina returned with their drinks and placed them on the table in front of them. “Holler when you need more.”
“Oh, just keep ’em coming,” Krista said, pulling hers to her.
Grace grabbed her drink and took a healthy sip, too. A little pang of regret ran through her for her friend. Unrequited love was the worst. Not that she would know. She’d never been in love.
Jack crossed her mind.No, she wasn’t falling for him.With their family history, it would never work. Even if his family had warmed back up to her, he would never warm to her family—her mother.
“Excuse me.” A handsome, clean-cut man approached the table, his gaze solidly on Krista. “I’ve been watching you across the room since you walked in.”
Krista smiled back up at him. “Oh yeah? If you weren’t so handsome, that would be kind of a creepy thing to say.”
