She tucked her hair behind her ear with glossy, pointed nails and nodded. “I tried to recruit him before he started his own gig. He turned me down...” There was a slight pause, and then she added, “For the job. But we’ve stayed, um, close.”
Was she trying to tell me something about their relationship? I’d never heard Jonah talk about anyone named Logan before, so they couldn’t be that close. Unless he had mentioned Logan’s name and I’d assumed it was a guy friend...
Fishing for something to say to her implication, I decided to change the subject. “Do you know my brother, then? Will English? He worked with Jonah at Benton Brothers before we opened Craft.”
Her eyes brightened. “Oh, for sure. I know Will. I haven’t seen him in a while though. How’s he doing?”
“Great. He’s doing great. The bar is... doing great.” Oh my gosh, why was talking so hard? I didn’t usually struggle quite this much. But the whole “Jonah and I are having a secret love affair” connotation was throwing me for a loop. I couldn’t seem to move past my own feelings of wanting to run away. Who was this woman? And why was she throwing her weight around like she owned my best friend?
I wasn’t a violent person by nature. Not since my adolescent years when I lived in the same house as my brothers. But if she wanted to fight me, I was getting more comfortable with the idea.
I discreetly pinched the inside of my bicep to get ahold of myself. I wasn’t a jealous person by nature either, but clearly, I’d left my sanity back in Durham.
“That’s... great,” she said with a sheepish smile, apparently caught in the same difficult trap that I was in.
What was taking Jonah so long? I cleared my throat for the second time. Or the fiftieth time? It was hard to tell at this point, and now my food was getting cold. And I could really use another drink. “What do you think of Galliger’s rebrand?”
Her eyes refocused on a question she finally wanted to talk about. “Actually, I’m impressed. Not many spirits companies are brave enough to fix their mistakes. They didn’t just make their product better. They’re launching an entire experience. I can’t speak for the glamping yet, but this building is beautiful. One of their reps told me they’re planning to host weekly tastings and tours, weddings, corporate events, and however else they can rent the space. The glamping will be available seasonally and comes with a tasting and tour night. Plus, they’re opening a restaurant on premises that will be ready early summer.”
“Oh, wow, a restaurant? That’s really cool.”
“I think I heard someone say there will be a golf course as well. Not sure if it’s a traditional eighteen holes or putt-putt though.” She laughed at her own joke.
I could tell she was schmoozing me. It wasn’t necessarily her fault. I’d learned that most distributors had a salesman default. But it was strange to see it on someone Jonah would call a friend. He wasn’t salesman-y at all. Couldn’t be even if he tried. He was honest, respectful, and always charming. But he didn’t turn plastic. Not like this.
“This is more than just vodka, then. It’s like, a whole getaway.”
She smiled, and it was all teeth. “I believe that’s the plan.”
“Well, hopefully, the glamping is great. I’d definitely come back for a weekend if it really promises all that.”
The light behind her eyes dimmed a bit. “So are you and Jonah staying together... or do you have your own spot?”
Honestly, I was shocked she was fishing. And so obviously. This woman was stunning. Like so pretty, everything else in comparison felt dull and less than. Including me, and I didn’t normally struggle with low self-esteem. But then again, this was Jonah. He was worth fishing for, I supposed.
From her perspective at least.
But here was the problem... I should be honest with Logan. I should tell her that Jonah and I were just friends. I should be a better wingman and help him out with this woman who was so clearly interested in him. Whether they’d been together before or not wasn’t my business. But she was obviously hoping for something more than just a working friendship with him. And if I was a good friend who remembered how jealous of Will he’d been lately, I would get out of her damn way.
I just couldn’t bring myself to do that though. I tried. Kind of. But the words felt bitter and sour on my tongue. It wasn’tonlythat I was jealous... it was that I was overprotective too. I didn’t know anything about this woman except that she was smarmy and pretty. And usually, those two qualities did not a good girlfriend make.
Or at least that was what I told myself so I felt less bad about what I actually said.
With the cockiest hair toss over my shoulder ever, I said, “Yes, we are. Jonah surprised me at the last minute. But it’s been a really fun night so far. I’m so glad he asked me to join him.”
Ugh, if I were her, I’d probably punch me in the face right about now. But being the classy lady she was, she simply narrowed her eyes instead. “That’s so sweet of him.”
“He’s the sweetest.”
“The sweetest,” she echoed in a flat voice.
Jonah chose that moment to rescue us both. “You weren’t kidding about those lines.” His smile was warm, familiar, and so perfectly Jonah.
I smiled back, and it was the first time it had been real since he left. “Everyone’s fueling up for the long night of drinking ahead of us.”
He laughed at my joke, prompting a fake-ish laugh from Logan too. But he only had eyes for me. “Well, should we find a place to sit down? Your food is probably cold by now.”
“That’s okay. I was fully planning to steal from you.” Okay, maybe I was overplaying my flirtatious card, but I wanted to make my half-lie believable.
