“I’ll take a beer.” Or possibly four. “And, yeah, gimme two of the usual burgers.”
“You got it. Let me put this in, and I’ll be right back.” Drew knocked twice on the bar top before sauntering over to their computer system and plugging in Nash’s order.
The bar was still full for a weekday, even well past supper time. He loved coming in here. There was nothing better than seeing the culmination of his hard work. His and Rory’s. As he glanced around, there was no denying how well they meshed. His builds and her designs went together flawlessly, and he was damn proud of what they’d been able to accomplish.
“Haven’t seen you in here much lately. You been goin’ to Ropers?” Drew placed a beer in front of Nash and leaned one elbow on the bar top.
Nope. What he’d been doing was spending most of his time off in the company of a woman he couldn’t get out of his mind.
“Nah, just busy with work. Tryin’ to get this partnership off and runnin’. Gain a little traction with it.”
“The stuff with Rory? That’s been the talk of the town. Heard a couple people say you’re booked out a few months? That’s great, man.”
“Yeah, we’re pretty excited about it. Rory and I are just finishin’ up a—”
“You’re aimin’ pretty high there, Little Nash, aren’t ya?”
Nash turned to the right to see Grant Hill—a guy who’d been a few years older than him in school—sitting a couple stools over. “Aimin’ high for what?”
Grant shrugged. “Landin’ a Haven girl. We both know that ‘working’ relationship is nothing but a farce.” He snorted and took a long pull of his beer.
“Grant…” Drew said, a warning clear in his tone. “I haven’t had to kick you out all week, but that doesn’t mean I won’t start tonight.”
Nash was sure as hell glad Drew’d said something, because he was too stunned to do anything but stare. He’d figured people were talking—it was Havenbrook, after all—but he hadn’t yet been confronted with it. And he sure as hell hoped Rory hadn’t, especially after her reaction tonight.
Grant held up his mug in a salute to Nash. “Just wanted to give you props is all. But I gotta tell you… If I was gonna fuck one of ’em, it sure as hell wouldn’t be the ice queen.”
Nash wasn’t too stunned anymore. He slid off his stool and stepped right into Grant’s space. “You better watch yourself, Hill.”
Grant held up his hands and leaned back, laughter on his lips. Too drunk or too stupid—or both—to realize he was about five seconds away from getting up close and personal with Nash’s fist. The guy was a buck twenty soaking wet, which meant Nash had him beat by a good eighty pounds.
“All right, all right,” Grant said. “No disrespect intended. I didn’t know it was likethatbetween y’all.”
“It’s not like anything, asshole. She’s my business partner and a decent human being, and you’re a piece of trash. How’d you like for me to talk about your sister like that? Get the fuck outta here.”
“You heard the man,” Drew said, pulling Grant’s mug out of his hand and dumping out the remainder of the beer. He jerked his head toward the front door. “Time to leave. And I better not catch your ass drivin’ home again. You know I’ve got Darcy on speed dial.”
“Aw, c’mon, don’t call my sister. I’m goin’, I’m goin’.” The drunk asshole threw some cash on the counter before he ambled off, stumbling into chairs as he went.
Nash could only shake his head, his hands curling into fists at the overwhelming urge he had to punch something. Or someone.
“I hate that fucking guy,” he said as he slid back onto his stool.
Drew nodded. “He’s pretty much the worst.” He gathered the wad of bills Grant had left behind and held it up between them. “But he tips great, so we let him keep comin’ back.”
“Who’re y’all talkin’ about?” Nola asked as she stepped behind the bar, carrying a plate full of food. “Grant?”
“Yep,” Drew said. “Was runnin’ his mouth tonight about Nash and Rory.”
Nola’s brows lifted, and she shot Drew a look out of the corner of her eye before meeting Nash’s gaze. “He talks outta his ass more than his mouth, that’s for sure. But…you know he’s not the only one talkin’, right?”
“About Rory?” Nash asked, his muscles bunched again.
“Aboutyouand Rory. And what kind of ‘working’ relationship y’all have.”
Nash blew out a long breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, I sort of figured that was comin’ since this is Havenbrook. You can’t shit in the woods without someone talkin’ about it.”
Drew snorted. “Pretty much. Just ignore ’em, man. Y’all know what’s goin’ on between you, and that’s all that matters.”
