“Nana would’ve loved it.” Her voice grew thick with emotion and she blinked several times. “These people and their stories. I didn’t know half of them. She really lived, didn’t she?”
“She did. Lots of people think small towns are easy. Comfortable. She liked that, but she sure loved causing a stir too.” I traced the rim of my glass, fighting the urge to touch her hand where it rested on the table. “She lived more in this town than most people could ever imagine.”
Bree turned her head, her green eyes landing on mine. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.” She stopped and color spread across her cheeks. “Thanks for the other night.”
Which part? For kissing her and making her forget her worries? I kept my mouth shut and waited.
“You made me laugh. I needed that.”
Right. Of course. Not exactly the acknowledgement I’d been hoping for, but I’d take it. “Anytime, love.”
We sat in silence for a moment, keeping tabs on the remaining guests saying their goodbyes.
Declan wiped down tables and turned off the music. Glasses clinked when he gathered up a trayful and carried them toward the kitchen.
“Have you made any headway on your decision about the will?” I regretted the question when she heaved a sigh but it was too late to take it back.
“I have.” She swept a hand toward the bar. “This place was Nana’s life. I can’t walk away from that. I’m going to do the renovations to honor her memory.”
Her words cracked my chest wide open.
Gods knew I wanted her to stay, but hearing why she wouldn’t leave–not because of money or her inheritance but because she loved Maeve–broke me. “Even though it’s tough being back here?”
“Because it is.” She ran her thumb along a grain line in the table. “Walking away would be easy, but Nana never did easy things. Why should I?”
Fuck. This woman. Why did she have to come into my life now? Why her and the complications that came with my feelings?
“If there’s anything I can do to make your time easier, let me know.” I picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles, winking at her in the process. “Anything at all.”
The air between us thickened.
She glanced down at our joined hands, her exhale feathering over my knuckles before she laughed and pulled her hand back. “You’re already making it better with all that humor and charm.”
There it was again. Humor and charm. I’d become the entertainment. A distraction.
Not once had she mentioned what happened upstairs the other night. Not the kiss or the way she’d pulled me into the room and begged me to fuck her.
Nothing.
My stomach sank. She didn’t remember.
She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand. “I should call it a night. Big day tomorrow.”
“Right. Course.” I stood and held out a hand, offering to help her from the booth.
She took it and rose, the scent of Bailey’s and coffee rising with her. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
A slight grin and she released my hand, hooked her thumbs into her shoes, and crossed to the stairs without inviting me to join her.
I hadn’t expected her too. Declan was right.
She was grieving and I wasn’t a complete asshole.
But I hadn’t expected her to be so drunk she didn’t remember.
I’d spent two days feeling guilty about crossing a line, worrying I’d taken advantage and convincing myself I was a bastard who didn’t deserve forgiveness.
