“It’s very good,” Eve told her honestly. “Has it been popular?”
“Yeah,” Josie said, smile softening as she dropped the act. “It’s the most popular drink on the menu, by far. I may have to send Adam out for more lemons before the end of the night.”
“And how are things going tonight, compared to last night?” she asked, falling easily into her role as marketing consultant. It was a hell of a lot easier to pretend she’d stopped by to check on Josie for professional reasons than admitting she couldn’t get her out of her head no matter how hard she tried. And she’d tried pretty damn hard.
“It’s quieter than last night,” Josie said. “But we knew it would be. I think it’s a good crowd for a Saturday night. Don’t you?” Her voice slipped up in register at the end, doubt leaking into her tone.
“I do,” Eve told her. “You’re doing great.”
“I hope so,” Josie said. “Be right back.”
She moved down the bar, lavender hair gleaming as she mixed drinks, smiling and laughing, sharing jokes and conversation. So beautiful. Josie was always energetic and outgoing, but she really seemed to shine when she worked. Eve could watch her all night. In fact, she’d be perfectly content to do just that. She sipped her drink as she watched Josie mix cocktails for a couple a few seats down.
“She’s good, isn’t she?”
Eve turned her head to find Adam standing in front of her, a knowing smile on his face. “Yes, she is.”
“Can’t seem to keep you out of this place,” he said playfully.
“Well, I’m invested in its success,” Eve said with a shrug. She liked Adam well enough, despite her doubts about his skills as a bartender, but she had no desire to discuss her personal relationship with Josie with him.
“And in Josie,” he said, eyebrows rising for emphasis.
“Yes,” she answered evenly, holding his gaze.
His grin widened. “Good.” He slapped his palms against the bar, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and moved off to serve a couple of women who’d just come in.
Eve lifted her glass and drained it, savoring the warmth of liquor in her belly. She was going to need liquid courage to make it through the rest of the night, four hours until the bar closed…if she wanted to be here when Josie got off work.
“Want another?” Josie said, appearing in front of her.
“Sure.”
“Coming right up.” Josie turned to the counter behind her, deftly mixing ingredients. She gave the tin a shake before pouring its contents into a fresh glass, which she placed in front of Eve. She looked down at it, a wrinkle appearing between her eyes. “Does it still bother you to be here? You know, in a bar?”
Eve straightened reflexively. “No.”
“Honestly?” Josie looked up, her eyes searching Eve’s.
She hadn’t consciously thought about it, but her reasons for being uncomfortable tonight had nothing to do with the past and everything to do with the future. “Honestly. You’ve desensitized me to it, I guess.”
Josie flinched. “I’m not sure I want to be responsible for desensitizing you to anything.”
“It was a silly hang-up of mine, but I’m past it now.”
Josie rested a hand over Eve’s. “There was nothing silly about it.”
Eve sucked in a lungful of air and blew it out. “I hadn’t been in a bar since the night she died, and it brought back some very visceral memories. I’m sorry for letting it affect my judgment when it came to the show.”
“Don’t you dare apologize. I’m just…I’m really glad you’re here.” The alarm went off on Josie’s phone, and she swiped it from her pocket with a frown. She silenced it, glancing at the packed bar. Adam was here, but he mixed drinks at about half Josie’s usual speed.
“I’ll do it,” Eve said, sliding off her stool. “Just put my drink behind the bar so no one touches it.”
“Thank you,” Josie told her earnestly. “I appreciate it.”
She nodded, turning to weave her way through the people in the bar. It really was a good turnout for Josie’s second night and boded well for Dragonfly’s future success. Eve slipped out the back, punched in the code to the stairs, and headed up to Josie’s apartment. It was dark inside, lit only by the small lamp in the living room that she left on for the kittens.
Eve had come up countless times over the last two weeks to feed them, but suddenly, it felt strange to be here alone. Because now, she was thinking about kissing Josie against the kitchen counter, stripping her naked in the bedroom, sitting on the couch in her pink T-shirt as they shared muffins and coffee.
