Page 202 of Screwged for Christmas

“Mind your own business, Cougar, and stop bothering the young lady. What would your wife say?” She jumped, startled as Damon joined them and with much disappointment from the crowd at the end of the bar. Sassy brown eyes connected with hers from several stools down, and she knew a challenge when she saw it.

Sorry, ladies.She had no intention of messing someone’s game up.

The patron remained where he was, propped up against the brass pole lining the customer’s side of the bar, a big toothy grin in place. “That I need glasses and a mirror, but that never stopped me before,” he cackled.

As they talked, Ivy pulled down a bottle from the back shelf.

“Here. Your wife ought to like the works of this by the end of the night.” She tipped the bottle and poured a double shot of whiskey and watched the old-timer’s eyes sparkle. He tossed her a wink and slipped a twenty into her hand before standing.

“No, that’s okay. It’s on the house tonight.”

“It’s not for the drink, miss, but thanks for the refill anyway.”

“Everybody. Your attention please.” Ivy brought her gaze around to the back of the bar. Zahara rose above the crowd and caught everyone’s attention with a light tap of a fork against her glass of orange juice.

Oh no.Groaning, Ivy palmed her face.

“Everybody. I have an announcement to make.”

Please don’t let this be happening.

“My sister is here with us tonight all the way from Texas. I think you all know who she is by now.” Zahara pointed her way where she stood beside Damon. All one hundred sets of eyes zeroed in on her.

Ice cold panic forced the last of heat from her and her heart skipped every other beat. Oh God, please don’t let this be going where she thought it would go.

“I’ve been waiting almost four years to shout this from any soapbox I could find. For a while I thought I would have to do it alone, but now we have all of you to join in on the celebration. My baby sister, Ivy Kennedy, will be graduating medical school in another five months, and I predict with summa cum laude honors.”

Oh, this just keeps getting better.

Ivy tried to draw some air into her lungs but nothing seemed to work. If her supervisor had anything to say about it, Ivy would never see the inside of a hospital again.

“Help me give her a rousing welcome and some Alaskan woots!”

Damon joined the crowd in clapping and raising their fists in a raucous cheer. Her name raised from everyone’s lips and drowned out Elvis on the jukebox.

Please let the floor open up and swallow me whole.Silver dots filled her vision and the crowd became blurry.

A warm arm wrapped around her, and she wanted to push it off and run from the room but couldn’t manage even that. All she could do was stand there like an idiot with tears in her eyes. Close to her ear, Damon whispered, “You okay? Whoa there. Take it easy. Breathe. Get some air in your lungs before you pass out.”

he took more of her weight into his arms.

“I…uhu…I, yeah.” She clasped a hand to her forehead and slammed her eyes shut as many of the patrons clapped her on the back in congratulations. Many thought she probably was embarrassed and they were right, but not for the reason they thought.

Fingers shaking and her knees weaker than noodles, she forced a smile to her lips but it felt so fake when everyone looked at her with such genuine happiness for her.

“Thanks, guys,” she managed in a shaky voice.

Still on her makeshift soapbox, Zahara caught her eye and Ivy looked up at her, unable to feel angry or mad at her sister but furious at herself. “We’re proud of you, little sis. I’m proud of you.”

And there went the last piece of resolve she had. Steamy puddles of tears slipped past her defenses and she felt the drops hit her sleeves. Damon silently passed her a hanky. First, she stripped in front of the whole town and now this. Could this day really get any worse? She patted at her tears as she gathered herself. Green lettering on his hanky caught her eye, and she smoothed over the cotton edges as she read the Savage name embroidered in a pretty script. Alaskan men were such a different breed.

The ones she knew were egotistical assholes anxious to play God. She’d almost fallen into that and someone died for her thinking she could save them. That she could somehow play God for them. How stupid. The weight of how disappointed Zahara would be settled on her chest. Ivy raised her chin and flashed her sister a grateful smile. “Enough of the sappy stuff, who wants drinks?” Clutching the neck of a whiskey bottle in her right and Vodka in her left, she poured shots as fast as glasses scooted down the polished wood.

Nothing would get the attention off her quicker than tossing booze around.

Damon turned with his back to the crowd and dipped lower for only her to hear. “I don’t know what is going on, but I know something is bothering you. If you need to talk...” He trailed off with a tilt of his head.

With half her attention on the patrons, she almost missed the sincere look in his eye. As if he wanted her to trust him. Lured deeper, she spent a second too long looking into the depths of his eyes. That second almost cost her. She opened her mouth to tell him but quickly shut it. People earned trust. Trust didn’t come freely or fast. She smiled up at him. “Thanks,” she offered and shrugged him off, “but I’m fine. Just caught me off guard is all.”

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