“I’ll come with you,” Becket said, straightening. “I’m almost out.”
Jesse and his brother headed back through the crowd.
“You know her usual?” Becket asked when they reached the bar.
“Yeah, we’re friends. We went to the bar together a few times in Misty Peak.”
Becket smirked. “You’re not friends. You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me.”
The bartender stopped in front of them, a young woman with purple hair. “What can I get you guys?”
“An amaretto sour and two of any of your tap beers.”
“Sure.” One side of her mouth lifted as she gave both of them a quick once-over, obvious interest in her eyes.
When she turned away, Becket nudged him. “If you’re not interested in Aspen, you should give the bartender your number.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“We’re friends becauseAspenwants to be friends.”
Becket almost looked like he was biting back a laugh. “You lost your charm or something?”
“She just got out of a bad relationship.”
Their drinks were set in front of them, and Jesse paid before turning back to his brother, his voice lowering, anger cutting through his words. “Today, I moved quickly to grab a chopping board that she knocked off the island, and she flinched.”
The humor left Becket’s eyes. “The fuck? You’re thinking the ex?”
“Probably. Asshole’s still contacting her even though she moved to the other side of the country. She had to block his number today.”
Becket’s fingers tightened on his bottle. They’d both been raised the same. To protect those around them, particularly the women in their lives. “Well, if he ever shows his face here in Amber Ridge—”
“He’ll wish he hadn’t.”
CHAPTER 6
Aspen threw back her head and laughed at something his sister said, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The delicate curve of her neck. The lift of her lips.
She was beautiful. The kind of beauty he could stare at all day. And she was getting along really fucking well with his sister. It wasn’t a surprise. His sister was friendly, and he hadn’t met a single person who didn’t like Aspen.
The only problem was, he wanted to go. He felt pretty damn uneasy about Aspen drinking on an empty stomach. How many times had he asked if she was ready to leave yet? Two? Three? Each time, she’d distracted him with that smile of hers. With little touches on his chest.
“Do you enjoy your job as an acupuncturist?” Aspen asked.
Clara’s expression softened. “I love it. Being sick changed my perspective on everything. I wanted a slower lifestyle. A healing lifestyle. That’s how I found acupuncture. Now I’m a crazy needle person who thinks acupuncture heals everything. Give me a problem and I’ll tell you how needles can fix it. Got anxiety? Acupuncture can help. Fertility issues? Acupuncture.”
The small smile on Aspen’s face slipped. “I’m sorry you were sick.”
“It was five years ago. I’m okay now.”
“But you still need to rest,” Jesse cut in.
Clara gave him a pointed look. “I know. And acupuncture is great for forcing rest because you stick the needles in and lie still. See, the solver of all problems.”
Aspen laughed, but there wasn’t much humor behind it. “Can it solve a crazy mother and a stalker ex?”
