“Isn’t that cool?” Josie said, pulling out a cloth to wipe down the bar. “I hope it works out for her to adopt them.”
“Yes.” Eve drummed her fingers against the smooth wood, not particularly thrilled by the idea of the kittens going home with Jules or about Jules giving Josie her number, however petty that was of her.
“Want something to drink?”
“Just water,” Eve said. “I’m working.”
“Gotcha.” Josie grabbed a glass and filled it, plunking it down in front of her. “How do you think things are going so far?”
“Really well.” She swallowed some water and set down the glass. “Turnout has been good, and your guests all seem to be enjoying themselves.”
“Areyou?” Josie asked, leaning closer. “Enjoying yourself?”
“I’m working.”
Josie rolled her eyes playfully. “Yes, I can tell. Are you guys going to be filming all night?”
“No. When the crew gets back from their break, I want to get some footage on the rooftop, and then I’ll interview you if you’re not too busy. That should pretty much do it. We’ll get out of your hair.”
“Or,” Josie said, eyes narrowing. “You could stick around, drink something stronger than water, and have some fun.”
“I could,” Eve agreed, meeting her eyes. “We’ll see how the evening goes.”
Josie leaned even closer. “Anything I can do to help sway your decision?”
Don’t take that woman’s number.But she’d never say it out loud, because it was a ridiculous request. A ridiculous thought, even. She wasn’t interested in more than a night with Josie, if they even made it that far. Which meant Josie was free to get anyone’s number that she wanted to. Eve darted a glance toward the far wall to see Jules deep in conversation with her friends.
“Oh my God,” Josie whispered. “Are you jealous?”
“What?” Eve picked up her glass and took another swallow. “Of course not. I don’t care if you take her number.”
“It’s so I can contact her about adopting the kittens,” Josie said, grinning. “Not for me to ask her out.”
“I don’t care what you do with it,” Eve insisted.
“Yes, you do.” Josie looked delighted. “You’re jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“If you only knew,” Josie said quietly, biting her lip as her gaze raked over Eve’s body. She felt it like a physical touch, heat blazing everywhere Josie looked, burning her beneath her dress.
“I’ll come back in a little while with the camera crew for your interview,” Eve said, turning away before things got any more out of hand. “Thanks for the water.”
* * *
“Oh my God,I’m so tired.” Josie resisted the urge to rub at her stinging eyes.
“No kidding,” Adam agreed, resting his elbows on the bar. “I feel like I just ran a marathon, or at least what I imagine that feels like.”
She laughed quietly. It was past three, and the crowd had finally thinned. TheDo Overcrew had gone home hours ago, except for Eve, who lingered at the end of the bar, sipping whiskey and talking with a couple of men Josie didn’t recognize. The camera seekers were long gone, as well as her Aunt Cecily, leaving behind a crowd that felt more like the one Josie hoped to attract after tonight.
“Can you hold down the fort for me for a few minutes while I go upstairs and feed the kittens?” she asked Adam.
“You bet.” He waved her off, turning his attention to their remaining customers.
Josie went upstairs and let herself into her apartment. Working a long shift was nothing new, but she hadn’t served a packed house in a long time. And it was even more draining, having the camera crew around. Her cheeks hurt from so much smiling. A few minutes alone with her theater kittens was exactly what she needed.
She stopped in the kitchen to prepare their bottles before settling herself on the floor beside their playpen. Eve had done their last feeding while Josie was busy downstairs, and there was her neat handwriting on the feeding chart, indicating how much each kitten had eaten. Kaia’s swirly script was above Eve’s, and Josie was so grateful to them both for stepping in to help her tonight. It took a village to raise these tiny creatures.
