“Came to see you.” Her eyes dart to Lacey and then back to me. “Didn’t realize you had company. Though it doesn’t surprise me. I knew you were a man who couldn’t be tamed.”
“Enough,” I say, my jaw tight as I remove her hand from my chest. “Whatever you think this is, it’s not happening. I’m with Monroe.”
“I think I should go,” Lacey says, and Indy and I both answer simultaneously.
“No,” I say as Indy agrees with her.
Indy’s face twists, annoyance flashing across her features. “Monroe Bishop? Really? She’s nothing like?—”
“Don’t,” I cut in, my tone now sharp as a blade. “You don’t get to talk about her.”
Lacey, to her credit, continues to sip her bourbon, her gaze flicking back and forth like she’s watching a soap opera unfold before her. That’s what my life has become now that Indy refuses to leave.
Indy leans back against the table, her long nails tapping on the wood. “You’ll get bored, Jase. Monroe won’t fit into your life, and when you realize it, you’ll come crawling back.”
I step closer to her, lowering my voice so there’s no mistaking how serious I am. “I’m not interested in anything with you. I don’t want you here, and I’m sure as hell not crawling back. I’vegot what I want, Indy. I’m starting a family, so it’s about time you got used to it.”
Her lips form a thin line, and I know I’ve struck a nerve. She reaches for me, her hand a mere inch from my face, but the look I give her warns her not to fucking touch me again. She lets out a low chuckle.
“We’ll see about that, Jase. Mark my words, you will be mine.” Her eyes narrow like she wants to claw her way under my skin one last time, but after a beat, she turns on her heel and stalks out, the bells ringing hard behind her.
It’s silent for a moment until Lacey lets out a low whistle. “Well,” she drawls, “if I wasn’t already sold on this partnership, that little show just sealed it. A man who knows what he wants is good in business. Besides,” she says, patting me on the shoulder. “I like a family man.”
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. Monroe’s name still lingers on my tongue, and the truth of what I said settles deep within me. She and I are starting a family, and we may pretend we’re together for everyone else, but I won’t be pretending between us. This is real, and now all I need is to prove it to her.
Despite everything that’s happened—the years of rivalry between our families, the pretending, the fear in her eyes when she pulled away—Monroe Bishop is the one. For the first time in a long time, I’m not afraid to say it.
The bells over the door jingle once more, and just as I’m about to turn and tell her to get the hell out of here, Beau walks into the bar. His dark gaze finds me, and with a raised brow, he stalks toward me. “Mind telling me what the hell your ex-girlfriend's doing here?”
Great. Just what I needed—a goddamn audience. Beau’s eyes stay on me, waiting for my response, and not even realizing I’ve got company. How fucking embarrassing that the woman I’mgoing into business with is the one witnessing the drama in my life unfold.
My half-brother and future brother-in-law just witnessed my ex-girlfriend walk out of my bar, when I'm supposed to be dating his pregnant sister. Fuck me.
I lean against the table, trying to drag a breath into my lungs, but Indy’s perfume still lingers like poison in the air. I want it gone, want her gone, want the part of me that ever thought she was good for me gone too.
Just as I’m about to answer Beau, the door opens yet again, and for a second my heart sinks, but then I see her.
Her dark hair is tucked into her light blue sweater, cheeks flushed from the cold. Bailey trails in behind her, carrying a bag from the boutique down the street, and just like that, the air shifts. The bar doesn’t smell like Indy anymore. It’s all Monroe’s. Vanilla and cherry blossoms.
“Jase,” Monroe says softly, her eyes narrowing a little as she glances toward the door Indy has just stormed out of. “Was that?—”
“Yeah,” I say quickly, cutting her off with a kiss. My lips crash to hers, my hands falling to her waist, aching to feel her beneath them, and I internally scream in triumph when her arms wrap around my neck. She deepens the kiss, and I’m not sure how much time goes by until Beau clears his throat. I pull away to breathe, but don’t let go. “She stopped by uninvited. It’s handled.”
Bailey slides onto a stool, setting her purse down with a sigh. “Well, that explains the red face, pout, and smoke coming out of her ears as she passed us on the street.” She looks over at Monroe, one brow arched. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” Monroe mutters, but her gaze lingers on me, searching for a lie.
“Oh, she tried to stir things up, but Jase shut her down,” Lacey says, and suddenly it’s like everyone’s just realized she’s in the room.
Monroe’s lips part, surprise flickering over her face. “And you are?”
Lacey stands, extending her hand out to Monroe. “Lacey Lane from Lane & Co.”
“You’re here for the bourbon,” Bailey says excitedly. “Jase, we got the contract?” She practically squeals as she turns to me.
“Lacey stopped by to bring me a few samples. You need to try it B, it’s fucking amazing.”
“Monroe, you sure you’re okay?” Beau asks, placing a hand on Monroe’s shoulder.
