Page 29 of Finding Redemption

“Come over and join me,” she offers to my amazement.

“I’m here to support my friend. He’s performing.”

“All right, the offer stands.”

Geez, here I go. “I have a booth if you want to join me.” Glutton.

“You don’t mind?” Eyes wide, she offers a crooked smile.

“Not at all.”

“I’ll tell them and grab a few drinks. What do you want?” Ava asks.

“Bahama Mama.” I return her smile.

I sit, chewing my lip for my ridiculous notion that being this close to Walker won’t affect me. It’s absurd to be jealous. I have no relationship with him. Well, except for the admiring him from afar. I need to get over my infatuation with him and get down to business.

“Excuse me.” The deep, rough voice startles me as he places a glass in front of me.

I look up to find Walker standing to the side of the booth. “Walker, please.” I motion toward the other side for him to sit when I realize someone’s standing behind him.

Ava steps around. Sitting down, she scoots around the bench, followed by a man. He’s taller than Walker but looks so much like him, I do a double take. “Reese, my fiancé Riley.” She points at him, then to Walker. “And this guy is my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Walker.”

My mouth hangs open as Walker slides in next to me. “Sorry, I thought you knew.”

“How? I mean, how would I know?” I stutter.

“Wait a second. Do you know each other?” Ava’s eyes are wide.

“This is the attorney from The Historical Society.” Walker grimaces.

Riley slowly nods, his smile growing wider. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Walker hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I swallow hard, trying to coat my ever-drying mouth. I chew the inside of my lip, trying to think of something clever to say. But when I open my mouth, this is all that falls out: “He’s suing me.”

Walker tilts his head. “I’m suing you?”

I fumble over my words. “I mean, I’m the opposition.”

“And we work together at the crisis center,” he says, spinning his glass on the table.

I straighten my hair. “Yeah, we work together.”

“Something like that.” He frowns.

“When does your boyfriend go on?” Riley asks, to my surprise. Walker takes a long drink from his glass as he glares at his brother.

I glance at my phone to find the time. “Should be right about now.”

“I hear he’s on the brink of a contract,” Ava inserts.

“He is.” I smile at Alden from across the room. “He’s amazing.”

And as if on cue, Alden dedicates a song to me. “This is for my favorite girl, Reesie Cup. I love you.”

“Come on. I wanna watch you shake your fine ass.” Riley slips his hand around Ava’s.

“If you think that’s gonna get you a piece of ass after today, you might be right.” She kisses him before leading him to the dance floor.