I shivered. “Fuck no. People’s financial affairs are best managed away from me. Anyway, can I get you something to drink?”
“Whatever you have on tap is good.”
My practiced moves behind the bar felt stiff under his watchful eye. I was known for flirting with customers from barely legal twinks to silver foxes, but Jax was a whole different category. One I had never encountered in the past until now. The one who got away.
“Fucking bastarding fucks,” I said as the beer ran over the rim of the glass and onto my hand because I’d gotten distracted by my thoughts. I wiped my hand on a rag and grabbed a clean glass, restarting the process.
“You swear more now,” he said, a tinge of amusement in his voice.
I placed the beer on a coaster in front of him. “There are a lot of things I do now that I didn’t do when you knew me.”
“Like men.”
I spluttered a half cough, half choke.
“The Jax I knew would never have been so direct.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I’ve changed too.”
I hoped he hadn’t changed too much.
“How was it?”
“The Army?”
I nodded.
“It was tough. There were many times I thought about quitting, but there were also days when me being there meant someone could go home to their family.”
“You saved a lot of lives.”
He sighed. “I’m proud to have served the country, but I’m happy to be back. I was lucky Cliffborough General had an opening come up at the time I was considering moving back.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Maybe now Jodie will actually come visit.”
He smiled at the mention of his sister. “You guys are still close, huh?”
“She’s my only girl. Shame I never get to see her.”
“When was the last time she visited?”
“A couple of years ago, maybe a little longer. Since her interior design business took off, she hasn’t had much time to travel.”
“Speaking of which, can you recommend a few places I can get good furniture and home stuff? At this rate, even the hospital feels more like a home than my apartment.”
I chuckled. “I can do better and take you to my favorite places.” I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote my number down. “Here. Save it and call me. Next time you’re off-shift, I’ll give you the Jodie experience.”
He made a face. “Please don’t make me buy ten throw blankets and dozens of pillows.”
“Nothing wrong with a well-placed throw blanket framing a nice couch,” I said in my best imitation of Jodie’s voice, which got another smile out of him.
He drank his beer and looked around the bar.
“How did all this come about? I would have never placed you as a bar owner.”
“Easy. I took a bartending job in college to cover my living expenses. Never expected to enjoy it more than the degree I was meant to study for. My parents wouldn’t let me drop out in case I needed something to fall back on. My grandmother left me some money in her will, so as soon as I graduated, I began looking for a place to start a business.”
“Cliffborough isn’t exactly around the corner from home. How did you end up here?”
