“She wants you to take your shoes off, boss.”
Theo hesitated, but Savvie didn’t. She took her purple sandals off and then pointed an imperious finger at Theo’s shoes. He sat down and tugged them off, lining them neatly next to the blanket.
Savvie shook her head. “Sockth.”
He knew when he was defeated. He peeled those off too and when Savvie scooted over and wiggled her chubby toes next to his in the cool grass, he even laughed. It felt slightly foolish, but it also reminded him of being a kid playing barefoot on these same fields.
Theo sat back and leaned his arms behind him, watching Amber settle her nieces on her lap when the movie started. She stroked the silky curls on the girls' heads, a soft look he had never seen on her face before, and the squeeze in his chest clamped tighter. She looked happier than he had ever seen her, which was funny because she wasn’t even smiling for once.
She said she could barely take care of herself, much less kids, pets, or even plants. But as Theo watched her with thelittle girls, he wondered what had given her that idea when it was obvious she had so much love to give. Who convinced her of that lie or, he brooded, why had she convinced herself?
Gradually, the twins fell asleep. Davis came to scoop the girls up and back onto their blanket to cuddle as the evening lost the heat and humidity of the day. Theo found a blanket in a bag next to them and spread it over Amber, who murmured her thanks. He turned his head slowly and found her looking at him.
The light from the screen flickered on her unsmiling face, putting her features in shadow except for her bright eyes, and the soft flutter at the hollow of her neck. Her white sundress reflected the flickering light of the screen. The thin straps were tied into bows over her small shoulders. They seemed too small to him to carry any weight at all, much less the stress and worry over Val, Holly, and Sandy. Who worried about Amber?
He had the surreal feeling of standing on the edge of a precipice, wanting to see what was on the other side of a place he had never explored before, but caution and reserve, his old standbys, kept him tethered to firm ground.
They were leaning back, their arms behind them on the blanket, when her hand found his later. He looked over in surprise at the heat of it, a warm, firm press of her skin that sent a bolt of pure lust through him as physical as if she had reached over and squeezed his cock.
His breath caught and then held.
He should go home. He knew he should.
“Ford’s meeting me for a drink at the pub later. Join us?” he murmured instead.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A waveof nostalgia hit Amber when she stepped into the pub. It was packed, along with the patio area, which Killian had strung with twinkling lights and speakers for the warm summer months. Eden’s sultry voice filled the bar, singing Amy Winehouse with her customary blend of soul and sex. Whew. Amber paused to admire the delivery. It wasn’t every day a small-town bar got to hear that much raw emotion.
It had been over a month since she’d stepped foot into the pub. Aside from her semesters away at college, that was the longest stretch she had gone since she had taken her first job as a hostess under the old owner. She missed the place. She missed Killian too. It had taken her a while to lick her wounds, but she was finally ready to see him. The familiar spicy scent of Miguel’s famous Buffalo wings mingled with the laughter and chatter around her while she scanned the room looking for Theo. Cap was the first one to see her and he made sure everyone else did too.
"Amber! There's our girl!” Cap’s voice thundered across the room. He beckoned her over, arms wide open to give her a massive bear hug. The rookies were next, with Jake scooping herup until her feet were kicking the air, and Ethan with a kiss on her cheek and another hug that made her ribs creak. She greeted more of her regulars and some new faces, and soon she was back in the middle of the fray as if she had never left, teasing and flirting with the guys while they exaggerated about who missed her the most.
It was familiar and flattering, slipping back into her old role, charming and teasing anyone around her. She didn’t have to rely on anything other than an easy smile here. Yet it occurred to her that she didn’t actually miss bartending as much as she thought.
She preferred the freedom of flirting and teasing much more when it was on her own terms. The performance, the constant need to be “on” to make more tips when sometimes she’d rather just go home and sew whatever she was working on, or God forbid, not smile at all unless she felt like it. Funny how stepping back into her old world gave her an appreciation for the new one she was making. The thought made her feel even lighter.
“What’s it like working for the mayor?” Jake asked. He threw a heavy arm over her shoulders and drew her closer to his barrel chest. “He better not be working you too hard.”
“Yeah, how come you never come in to visit?” Ethan wanted to know. “You were the best bartender the pub ever had. Now we have Simone, and she can’t do the cherry trick,” he said sadly.
Cap cuffed the rookie. “Because she’s married, you dumbass.” He looked at Amber and grinned. “He’s right. It’s not the same without you here, but you do seem happier now.”
Amber laughed lightly. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Cap.”
“You get enough flattery,” he said gruffly. “I’m just happy you landed on your feet again.” His grizzled white cheeks were ruddy from the heat and the beer, making him look like Santa Claus.
Amber leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’m so happy to see you,” she said, meaning it. Cap was one of the very few men in her life, aside from Davis, whom she genuinely thought the world of. How lucky they were both part of her family now.
"Glad to see you back, Amber," Killian said from behind her. Amber turned around and looked up at her old friend. He held out his arms with a silent question, and she walked into them. Killian hugged her tight, all of the awkwardness melting in the face of their long friendship.
“Don’t be mad at me anymore. I’ve missed you,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m not mad. I brought that on myself.” She smiled crookedly while he studied her. "I just needed time to figure some things out.”
Finally, as if he was satisfied with what he saw, he nodded. "You’ll always have a job here. I want you to know that.”
“Thanks,” she said, “but I think I’m actually doing okay.”
