I wokeup on Sunday morning on the wrong side of the bed, agitated for a reason I didn’t want to pinpoint, so I tried my hardest to ignore it. Whatever I’d had with Caterina, if it was actually anything, was over. Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about her and rewound the past few days over and over in my head, searching for a reason for my insane, but unshakable fixation on a woman I hardly knew. It was driving me batshit crazy as I tried to stay as busy as possible behind the bar.
“If it isn’t my little bro.”
I turned toward a familiar Southern twang. My brother-in-law strolled through the door, scanning the area around the bar before mimicking a whistle. “Nice to see my investment doing well!” He strode up to me and slapped my back. “You’redoing well, Joseph.”
“Thanks, Owen.” I smiled before he scooped me into a hug. Owen had always had a booming presence that couldn’t be ignored, whether he tried to be noticed or not. Under all that swagger, he was full of heart.
“Financials look great, too, even though you don’t have to send them. I believe I told you that.” He frowned and slid onto a seat at the bar.
“You won’t let me pay you back. If you really want to be a silent partner, then yes, you need to look. I’d appreciate you not sharing with my sister, but—”
“Joe, come on now.” He frowned and shoved my shoulder. “Your father and your sister are nothing but proud of you. They like the financial side of life. It’s not for everyone. Fuck knows it’s not for me.” His mouth twisted in disgust. “And, I hate to break it to you, but judging by the way you handle the books, your dad’s numbers gene didn’t miss you completely.”
“The great OT is here!” Dominic grinned before marching up to where Owen sat and extended his hand. “Good to see you.”
Owen rolled his eyes before he took it. “Dom, like I always tell you, I haven’t been OT for a very long time. Good to see you, too.”
“What does OT mean?” Jordan fluttered out of the kitchen, crinkling her nose at all of us.
“His name is Owen Thompson, but back when he was a college hockey star, he’d always force games into overtime. Then he became OT, the legend.”
“Why does this fascinate him so much?” Owen asked me as he nodded in Dominic’s direction.
“Because you’re the closest he’ll ever get to being friends with a famous athlete.” I shook my head. “If anyone brings up hockey in here, he mentions how he knows an NHL scouting agent in two-point-five seconds.”
“I’m better known for finding great hockey players than being one for a hot minute once upon a time,” he explained to Jordan as she hung on his every word. Women of all ages fell at his feet, but he only had eyes for my sister. “Could one of y’all get me a cup of coffee?” He cupped his forehead and pressed his temples. “I drove straight through from Manhattan early this morning, and I’m running out of conversation.”
Jordan darted into the kitchen with Dominic snickering at her exit.
“You still got it, OT.” He jerked his head to Jordan’s quick departure.
“Is that why you name-drop me? To get laid? Does it work?”
“Maybe once or twice. So, what brings you to the shore? Trailing a potential new sign on vacation again?”
“I went on a run with a new prospect on the beach this morning a couple of towns over in Wildwood. I thought when I quit sports, I’d be able to stop training like an athlete. This was the only free time this prospect had on vacation. With the numbers this kid has, I had to meet with him on his terms. It’s the fun of scouting. Tell me,” Owen dropped a hand on my shoulder, “do you name-drop me in front of women, too?”
“He doesn’t need to,” Dom answered for me. “One has him pretty riled up at the moment.”
“What’s this?” Owen’s brow jumped. “You holding out on me? Nice to hear you’re stepping away from the spreadsheets every once in a while.”
“Nothing to tell.” I grabbed a towel and wiped down the top of the bar and feigned interest in anything I found to be out of place.
I caught Owen shooting Dominic a puzzled glance.
“Ask your brother-in-law on that one,” Dom said. “I know the highlights, but he’s not exactly the sharing type.”
“What’s going on?” Owen rested his elbows on the bar as he studied me.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the register. “I met a woman. She came in one night, and she was…” How did I explain Caterina? She was gorgeous, sexy, smart, and didn’t want anything to do with me. I tried to give Owen the shortened version of what had been eating away at me the past few days. “We…had something. I can’t explain it. She said she’s coming off a breakup and didn’t want to start anything, but it feels unfinished. Which is totally insane. I’ve only known her for three days. That’s not enough time to have any actual feelings. Besides, I don’t have time for that shit. You know that.”
And I didn’t, yet Caterina still raced through my brain since I’d dropped her off at the Anchor yesterday. We hadn’t exchanged any information. No phone numbers or addresses. Running into her was a good possibility, but I doubted she’d come looking for me. Clean break—as if we’d never met.
But we had, and, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t forget her.
“You seem pissed off enough about it for some kind of feelings, though. What’s eating you about this woman?”
“We spent the night together, and I wasn’t planning on taking it further than that, but I couldn’t stay away from her. I ran into her the next day and thought maybe we had a chance, but she told me she’s not ready for any of that. In fact, she told me twice. But I can’t get her out of my head, and it makes no goddamn sense.”
