“I don’t like bars.” Beneath the desk, her fingernails pressed painfully into her thighs, an outlet for her emotions that allowed her expression to remain impassive.
Greta stared at her like she’d started speaking in tongues. “Since when do you care if you like a client’s business?”
“I’ve always cared,” Eve snapped. “I can’t remake a business I don’t believe in.”
“Well, I’m going to run it past Bruce and the rest of the guys upstairs, and if they sign off on it, you’d better find a way to get enthused about this girl and her bar, because you’re out of time. The final decision is yours, but if you want a season three, you’ll take this job.”
* * *
Josie swepther gaze over the mostly empty bar in front of her, trying to see it with new eyes. The furniture was worn, the paint chipped. Everything in here looked somewhat dated, but it also had that classic vibe that never really went out of style. Now that Eve had rejected heragain, Josie had decided to save the damn bar herself. If nothing else, these last few days had shaken her out of the fog of denial she’d been living in lately.
If she didn’t do something drastic, and soon, she really was going to lose Swanson’s, and she wasn’t willing to let that happen. She glanced down at the list of ideas she’d typed into the notes app on her phone and added “Fresh paint?”
The problem was, if she had any friggin’ clue how to save the bar herself, she’d have done it a long time ago…
“Hey, Jo!”
Josie turned to see her friends Lori and Tamsen heading toward one of the high-topped tables along the back wall. She ducked out from behind the bar and walked over to them. “This is a happy surprise, ladies.”
“I got a promotion, so we’re here to celebrate,” Tamsen told her as she hopped up on a stool.
“That’s great,” Josie said. “Congratulations.”
“You’re looking at a senior account manager,” Tamsen said with a smile.
“And I thought the moment called for champagne,” Lori added, giving her girlfriend’s hand a squeeze.
“It does, and you’ve come to the right place,” Josie told her. “I’ll be right back.”
She went behind the bar and pulled a bottle of Veuve Clicquot out of the fridge. After popping it open, she grabbed two champagne flutes and filled them. She turned around just as the door opened and a slim figure slipped through, backlit by the setting sun behind her, but even so, Josie felt her presence in the pit of her stomach.
What was Eve doing here?
Tossing her a sharp glance, Josie made her way back to Tamsen and Lori with their champagne. She got them settled before turning her attention to the woman still lingering in the doorway, eyes following her every move.
“Where are the kittens?” Josie asked as she ducked behind the bar, placing it as a barrier between them. She hadn’t expected to see Eve again so soon, and the sight of her now had Josie’s skin flushing with residual hurt feelings. She didn’t want to do this, whateverthiswas.
Eve followed her to the bar, glancing over her shoulder at Lori and Tamsen, who had leaned in to seal their toast with a kiss. “One of the interns has fallen in love with the kittens, and she’s watching them for me for a bit.”
“Lucky you.” Josie rested her palms on the bar, waiting for Eve to make the first move.
She stood between two empty barstools, clearly not intending to make herself comfortable. She still wore the black sheath dress she’d had on earlier, and Josie was trying really damn hard not to notice the swell of her breasts beneath it or the hint of cleavage peeking out of the neckline.
For a long moment, they just stared at each other. Josie’s heart was racing, her nerves tingling, and seriously, what was the matter with her? It wasn’t like her to go all weak-kneed over a woman, certainly not a woman like Eve. Her fingers drummed against the lacquered wood beneath them.
Eve’s gaze dropped to Josie’s restless hands before returning to her face. “As it turns out, we have some business to discuss after all.”
“About the kittens?” Josie asked, because she had no idea what the hell was going on.
“No.”
“Eve—”
Eve lifted a hand to interrupt. “Look, due to legal reasons, we can’t air one of the episodes we previously filmed for season two, which leaves us with a hole in the schedule that needs filling, and my producer thinks you and Swanson’s will be the perfect fit.”
“I…don’t understand.”
Eve gave her a tight smile. “You get your wish. We’ll feature Swanson’s on the show, and because it’s a last-minute reshoot, it’ll happen immediately instead of waiting until next year when season three would begin filming.”
