Kelsey grinned and his heart shifted in his chest. “I’ll see if Julian can cover me. Give me a sec.”
While she bustled around, Davis turned and leaned against the bar, taking a swig of his beer. Scanning the crowd, he tried not to make eye contact with any of the locals. He spotted a couple people from high school, some of the older women from his church, and when he saw Norah and Maddie walk in through the door, he ducked.
“Okay, ready?” Kelsey said, smiling brightly.
His fingers ached and he stroked his throat.
He nodded and followed her through the swinging door with theEmployees Onlysign on it, averting his eyes from focusing on her backside in the black leather leggings. These were new. He’d never seen her wear the pants before. He would’ve noticed how much they accentuated her shapely ass.
But then, no, he wouldn’t have noticed. Because he hadn’t checked her out in years.
Passing the kitchen, Davis followed Kelsey into the office, his body hot and feeling the perspiration worsening. He remained quiet as she approached the desk and slid a drawer open. His heart beat harder in his chest with each passing moment. His throat went dry.
As she turned slowly to face him, he caught the uneasiness on her face and the uncertainty in her eyes. On instinct, he wanted to bolt from the office. Somehow, he needed to put their friendship back together, because he wasn’t a fan of this uncharted territory.
But then he noticed the iPad gripped in her hand and coming to life.
He frowned, even more confused and rubbed at the back of his neck. “What’s going on? You’re worrying me.”
Kelsey sighed so heavily he could’ve sworn he felt it rattle in his bones. “Tapp’s Brewery came to make their usual weekly delivery until they discovered my payment didn’t go through.” She hesitated before continuing, her hand trembling as she clung to the iPad. He wanted to be relieved that he was off the hook from having an awkward conversation he wasn’t ready to have—about them and their relationship—but she had him worried. “How am I supposed to sell beer if I don’t have any?”
He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Davis,” his name expelled from her lungs with such exhaustion, such desperation it did something in his chest. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Until you have a plan, let’s first figure out how to keep your connections with the vendors. Let me talk to the owner at Tapp’s and see if we can make a deal.” He was positive she wouldn’t agree, and yet, she might’ve been just desperate enough to take him up on his offer.
“And what about after that? I have less than forty days.”
“I mean, I don’t know anything about legal stuff. That’s not my area of expertise. But we’ll figure something out. And then…I don’t know…” He hated to say it out loud, but couldn’t restrain the words. “You might have to sell the bar.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I won’t. Ricky would never forgive me.”
The mention of Ricky was like a sucker punch to the gut. They’d talked about Ricky plenty over the last ten months since his accident. But it felt different now. Suddenly he felt like a dick for checking her out, for thinking of her sexually.
“Then don’t. Then ask the O’Henrys to become a partner or…find someone else.”
“Like who? I mean, O’Henry’s is the busiest bar and grill in town, but it’s not a goldmine.” She looked at him expectantly.
Sure, he’d tossed the idea around in his head about helping her out, possibly paying off the debt and maybe even buy the place from her, but he was scared to mention it to her. Besides that, though, he didn’t know what to tell her. All he did know was seeing her like this, looking helpless and desperate, made him want to help.
“Besides the O’Henrys, maybe someone else in town would think of it as a good investment. I don’t know.” He shook his head and pulled her hand into his, he ran his thumb against her smooth skin.
“I just don’t know what to do.” Her eyes glossed over.
Seeing her weak sent a pang into his heart and on impulse, he dragged her into him for a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her cheek against his chest. Her shaky breathing rumbled against him as he held her closer, but he couldn’t bear to find out if she was crying.
“I can’t lose this place,” she whispered.
“I know.” He rested his chin on top of her head.
Kelsey gripped his back and his heart raced faster.
“Tell me how I can help.”
Help was like a curse word to her. Somehow consumed by negativity.
“Just hug me for a minute longer,” she muttered against his chest.
