Page 6 of Risk It All
I froze mid-step as my brain tried to catch up to Wes’s words. Eliza had recommended me for the job?
I cleared my throat, forcing a casual shrug that I hoped hid the flicker of surprise that crossed my face. “Oh, no, she didn’t,” I said as we started walking again. “We haven’t talked much”—orat all—“since I left for Portland.”
If Wes picked up on any awkwardness or tension, he didn’t show it. “Well, plenty of time for you both to catch up. I assumed things between you two are okay given that she still talks with your brother?”
The toe of my boot caught on a crack in the sidewalk, but I managed to continue walking, even as my mind whirled at the fact that Eliza and Colin had kept in touch. Nope. It didn’t matter that they still talked.
Except then my mind flashed to my last moment with Eliza.
How close she’d been. How her lips parted. How my hands gripped her hips to pull her closer.
That didn’t matter either.
Eliza was my brother’s ex and was off-limits.
“Things between us are fine. Great, even.” I hoped my smile was convincing. Thegreatmight’ve been pushing it, but I didn’t want to give Wes any reason to be concerned.
He grunted in response, but I couldn’t figure out if that was a good or bad sign.
I changed the subject and got Wes talking about the bar instead. He told me how his dad Mark opened Lake Ridge after buying and renovating an industrial building. One of the first people Mark had hired was his future wife Laura. Together, they turned Lake Ridge into a favorite spot in town.
Wes bought Lake Ridge a few years ago, allowing his parents to step back and enjoy retirement. He’d developed Lake Ridge into its next phase by adding fire pits, a custom-built woodenbar, dance floor, and expanded liquor selection. The next addition would be the food menu.
“And this is it during the off-season?” I asked as Wes pushed the door open, revealing a packed space buzzing with energy.
People were playing pool or darts, swaying on the dance floor, and hanging out by the bar.
The bar.
My chest squeezed as I did a double take, because this moment felt so damn similar to four years ago. Eliza was busy making drinks, her hips swaying to the music as she mouthed the lyrics. Her hair was about the same length as I remembered, and she still had her nose ring. She had on a cropped band T-shirt and pair of distressed jeans with a black belt. More tattoos—new ones that I didn’t recognize—were scattered across her arms and fingers.
She still had that intoxicating smile and laugh. A laugh that nearly knocked the wind out of me when I heard it again.
Nearly everyone here saw us walk in—nothing like a new person in a small town to get people curious—except Eliza. She leaned over the bar in conversation with some guy. A local, probably.
I’d taken a few steps toward the bar without even realizing it before Wes said, “Looks like Cooper and Gabe got us a spot already.” He tipped his chin toward a booth in the back.
My eyes flicked toward the booth but immediately returned to Eliza behind the bar. I’d been in her presence for a few seconds and was already under her spell. Like a moth to a fucking flame.
I took a deliberate step back and cleared my throat. I turned to Wes with what I hoped was a relaxed smile, and we walked toward the back of the bar.
As we got closer, we heard, “C’mon, Cooper. This isn’t fair.” The guy on the right, who I assumed was Gabe, groaned as heflipped his cards over. He leaned back in the booth, running a hand through his wavy brown hair.
“Just the luck of the draw, my friend,” Cooper said, his broad shoulders shaking as he laughed. He gathered the cards and shuffled. “And skill…and talent…and good looks.”
“I don’t think that last one has anything to do with poker,” Gabe muttered before looking up to greet us. “Hey, guys. Perfect timing, because I can’t handle losing another game. Leo, good to meet you.”
“I lose to Hal. You lose to me. It’s just how it works.” Cooper shrugged before turning to me with an easygoing smile. “Hey, Leo.”
Gabe gave Cooper a look. “Well, no, because you beat both of us.”
“Huh, yeah.” Cooper grinned. “I guess I do.”
Wes slid in next to Cooper, while I took the spot next to Gabe.
“New guy is already turning heads,” Cooper playfully commented, sliding the cards back into their box.
“You’re getting a warmer welcome than I did, that’s for sure,” Gabe said. “I was only getting glares for the first couple of weeks. And there was the whole bet on what would happen when I got to town.”
