“Depends on how adventurous you are,” he teased, dark brown eyes sparkling as they crinkled in the corners.
“Well, barkeep, order me whatever you think is the best thing on the menu. I’m the most adventurous person you’re ever gonna meet,” Lark flirted then patted a gentle hand on Tabitha’s forearm. “This one not so much. My guess is she’ll get the exact same thing she did last night.”
Tabitha jerked her arm away, slightly offended. “And what’s wrong with that?”
Kendrick shook his head. “Absolutely nothing. You’re a woman who knows what she wants. I respect that.” He winked then looked to Frankie. “The usual?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll be back shortly with your drinks after I put in your food. IPA, draft root beer, and . . .” He pointed from Frankie, to Lark, then stalled on Tabitha.
“Water, please.”
“My pleasure. Be right back.” He circled back behind the bar and set to work.
Lark leaned in. “That man’s a snack. What’s his red flag?”
Frankie laughed. “He’s married to this place. I’ve only ever seen him outside of these walls for weddings, funerals, and the random grocery run.”
Lark glanced behind her, lingering on the bar owner as he hauled a keg over his shoulder. The veins in his biceps bulged beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his worn black shirt.
Tabitha handed her a napkin. “You’re drooling.”
Lark turned back around. “I’m shocked you aren’t. Is that because you’re preoccupied with a certain hottie climbing guide?”
Tabitha scoffed. “What? No. No. Absolutely not. Nu-uh.”
“What do they say again about protesting too much?”
“Since Lark brought it up,” Frankie chimed in, “whatisthe deal with you and Zac?”
“Nothing. There is nothing going on with us.” Tabitha tried to cool her defensiveness, but her words came out too robotic. Scripted. If she heard it in her own voice, surely they could too.
“But there’s history there.” Frankie wasn’t asking. And she wasn’t wrong.
An ex was the last thing Tabitha needed to be focusing on, not with her career hanging on the execution of a single article. A lot was at stake, and spending her energy on an old flame was a waste of resources. She looked across the little bistro table at her dining companions. Both leaned in expectantly, eager to hear her side of whatever happened.
A couple of ruthless bulldogs with blonde hair and breasts.
“So tense,” Kendrick chuckled uncomfortably as he set down the drink order. “Do I need to separate you three?”
Neither inquisitor flinched.
Tabitha relented with a sigh and smiled at the bartender. “No. I can handle them.”
“Food’ll be out in fifteen.” He patted the table and moved on to the next group.
“Hear that?” Tabitha asked. “Fifteen minutes until dinner. You have exactly until the plates hit the table to ask your questions. I may or may not answer them—depending on how personal they get. But I promise to be honest. After that I’m a closed book. Got it?”
“Did you two date?” Lark launched first.
“Was it a hookup?” Frankie overlapped.
“Was it long-term?”
“How long ago was it?”
“Who ended things?”
