Page 45 of Wildflower and Whiskey
Asher groaned, “Dad, that’s not living.”
“It’s called wanting to see my grandchildren one day,” Dad deadpanned.
The table broke into laughter.
“You think with four single sons you have a chance?” Asher deadpanned.
“I’m relying on Izzy at this point,” Dad retorted since my little sister was in a relationship now with her childhood best friend.
I headed back to the bar, and that’s when I felt all their eyes on me. Dominic stopped by their table with a jug of beer and aplate of fries. My brothers were regulars and, besides that, they were family so they got special treatment.
All three of my brothers were watching. Not the menu, not the baseball game on TV. Me. And when Elyna passed behind the bar with a tray of glasses, their gazes followed mine.
I huffed out a breath, knowing what they must be thinking.
Eric smirked first. “Well, well. Guess our little whiskey talk wasn’t wasted.”
Asher whooped. “Knew it! He’s staring like he’s sixteen again.”
“Should we clap?” Becket teased, lifting his glass of coke.
“You all need to shut the hell up,” I said, trying to focus on the taps.
“No, seriously,” Asher said, pointing at me with a fry. “We give you one pep talk, and suddenly you’re all soft eyes at the single mom. Adorable.”
“Adorable,” I repeated flatly. I really didn’t like that word. I wasn’t adorable. “This coming from three guys who couldn’t commit to a gym membership, let alone a relationship.”
Eric snorted. “Fair.”
Becket smirked. “Still doesn’t change the fact you’ve got it bad.”
I flipped them off, which only made them laugh harder.
As if my day wasn’t dramatic enough, a blast from my past sauntered into the brewery with her young rich friends from town. Patricia with her short white skirt, glossy blond hair, and bright smile. She bounced right up to the bar, leaning forward just enough to know she was doing it. Her top dipped low but I kept my gaze at eye level.
“Phoenix!” she sang. “Haven’t seen you in forever. The girls and I wanted a nice quiet day in the country.”
“Afternoon, Patricia,” I said, keeping it neutral. “What can I get you?”
“A flight. And maybe a one-on-one tour? I hear you give the best.” She winked, her words dripping with insinuation.
I kept my face flat. “Tours are Saturdays. Group only.” I knew what she was after, but those days were over for me the second Elyna walked through those doors.
“Boring,” she pouted. “Don’t you ever bend the rules?”
“Nope.”
She leaned closer. “Shame. What happened to your fun side?”
I set the flight down and stepped back. “Tab for the table?”
She flicked her hair, but the message landed. She spun around with as much attitude as she walked in here with and headed back to her group of friends. I looked over at them and some of them waved at me. It made me think of how shallow all of my interactions with women had been until Elyna came back. It made me kind of sad. There was never any feelings or intimacy. I was new at all of it, but being with Elyna made me feel alive for the first time in my life. Sharing things with her felt meaningful in a way I couldn’t describe.
My gaze landed on Elyna from across the room. Her shoulders looked stiff. She slipped through the swinging door into the back before anyone else could notice.
My gut clenched. I didn’t hesitate. I went after her. I could tell that interaction with Patricia made her feel jealous. On some stupid level it made me feel good that she cared, but I was also not a fool. Things between us were very new, and I needed to reassure her because she was full of doubts. I was going to make her realize I wasn’t like the other men in her life.
The stockroom was cool and dim, and Elyna stood with her hands braced on the prep table, breathing like she’d run a mile.
