by Piper Rayne
“Oh, honey, you didn’t hear,” she said.
“Hear what?”
Carol took a deep breath. “Bernie passed away. About two years ago now. Didn’t I tell you?”
Jenna shook her head, feeling strangely rattled by the news. He had been like a father to her. Or an uncle, or something.
“How did Nate take it?”
“Oh, he struggled with it a little,” Carol said. “But you should see what he did to the restaurant. It really is something spectacular now. We should go to dinner there one evening. Nate redid the entire menu and got a new chef. The food is amazing. And he expanded, too.”
Jenna nodded. “I’m sure it’s lovely, Mom. But tell me about you.”
She didn’t only want Carol to change the subject away from Nate. Jenna really wanted to know how she was doing.
Carol sniffed. “I’m fine, darling. I’m always fine, you know that. It was just a hiccup. Everyone is too worried. But it’s the only way Doctor Harris gets money, if he tells you that you’re sick enough that you need to go back. I guess I can’t blame him for trying. Don’t we all?”
Jenna pulled the kettle off the burner when it whistled. It was one of those old kettles that still whistled when the water was boiling and she loved it.
“I don’t think Doctor Harris is trying to get you to come back so he can take your money, Mom,” Jenna said, pouring hot water into each of the two cups. “I think he’s serious about your health. Maybe you should take it a little more seriously, too.”
Jenna handed her mom her cup with just a little sugar in it. Even with it being decaf, she refused milk because she said it was unhealthy. It was ironic that she cared so much about her health, and not at all.
Carol launched into another series of gossip and Jenna was glad that it had nothing to do with Nate.
After their tea, her mom dropped her head into her hand.
“Are you okay?” Jenna asked.
“I’m just a little tired,” Carol said. “If I was allowed caffeine, it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Why don’t you go take a nap?” Jenna asked.
“So soon after you arrived? I can’t do that!”
“You can,” Jenna said. “I need to rest, too. I’m exhausted from the flight.”
She wasn’t really, but Jenna wanted her mom to lie down. “If I get up before you, I’ll get dinner ready. How does that sound? Win-win.”
Carol smiled and nodded, pushing herself out of her chair. Jenna noticed how difficult it was for her.
“Sleep well, Mama,” she said.
Carol cupped Jenna’s cheek for a moment before she walked around the passage to the main bedroom.
Jenna waited until she was in her room before she walked back to hers. She sat down on the bed and looked around. God, there were so many memories in this room. She looked at the photos above her bed—photos of her in a cheerleading outfit, photos with her and Naomi. And a photo of her and Nate.
Jenna reached up for it and took it down.
Her phone rang and she grabbed it, silencing it before it woke her mom.
“So, rumor has it you’re back in town.”
“How? God, rumors fly fast here.”
Naomi giggled. “There’s nothing else to do in a place like this. You can’t really blame us. Can I come over?”
Jenna agreed, and, a moment later, Naomi knocked on the front door. Jenna opened it, and Naomi walked in before grabbing Jenna around the neck and squeezing her tightly.
“Seriously, FaceTime doesn’t do this justice. I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in six years.”
Naomi let go of Jenna, who shook her head. “It was wrong of me not to visit. An absolute sin.”
“I think I need to record that,” Naomi said. “One of the few times Jenna admits to being wrong.”
Jenna laughed, shaking her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
They walked to the living room and sat down. Naomi turned down Jenna’s offer for coffee.
“I’m not going to stay long, we have to hang out properly. But I had to see you. How are things?”
“She’s worse than I thought,” Jenna said, lowering her voice so her mom couldn’t hear, in case she had woken up from Naomi’s arrival.
Naomi nodded. “She’s got quite a few of us worried. I’m glad you’re here.”
“No one else was going to come,” Jenna said. “With Helen being overseas, there wasn’t really an option.” Helen was Jenna’s older sister. She had left years ago, but because she was overseas, no one seemed to think it was wrong that she never visited. They only berated Jenna.
Naomi frowned. “Do you hate it? Being back?”
Jenna shook her head. “It’s just strange.”
Naomi nodded. “And I suppose you’re not looking forward to running into him.”
They both knew who Naomi was talking about. Nate.
“If I’m lucky, I won’t.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “Since when don’t you run into someone in Smithville?”
She was right, of course. The population in town was under four thousand. It was very difficult to move a muscle without anyone knowing about it.
“How do you feel about this?” she asked.
“Being back in a small town?” Jenna asked. “Where my business isn’t my own?”
“Seeing Nate again,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Of course, Jenna had known that was what Naomi had meant. She was just being difficult.
She pulled up her shoulders. “Fine, I guess. I mean, it’s been so long, we’re just two people now.”
Naomi raised her eyebrows. “Is that really how you feel about it?”
Jenna nodded. “Why should I feel any different? I’ve moved on. And I hope he has, too.”
Naomi nodded. “Well, he’s definitely moved on,” she said.
Jenna didn’t know why Naomi’s words hit her in the chest like physical punches. What was it that she had hoped for? That he would still be pining after her? It was ridiculous. It had been a long time, and it made sense that they had both moved on with their lives. But somehow, thinking that he wasn’t thinking about her at all hurt more than Jenna thought it would.
Maybe it was because Jenna had actively fought against thinking about him for the past six years.
But she had made her choice. She had done what she’d needed to do. It was only right that he had done the same.
“Well, I’m glad that it won’t bug you then,” Naomi said brightly. “That means we can go out and it won’t be a thing. No drama. Just how we like it, right?”
Jenna forced a smile. “Right.”
4
Nate
The big thing about keeping a business running was making sure that people came through the doors. And the only way to do that was to give them a reason.
Since Nate had opened the bar, he’d started investing in live entertainment. There was nothing that got the crowd going as well as a guest celebrity, someone who would get them pumped up a little. It didn’t even have to be someone everyone knew about. It could be local talent.
If he made enough of a fuss, marketed the whole thing a week or two in advance, charged a little entrance fee at the door as if it was a big deal, suddenly the whole place was packed.
Which was why Nate had started doing it once a month. The last Friday of every month was guest celebrity day, and he hadn’t needed to promote the event as much anymore once everyone caught on. He had people coming in from towns all around the county. Smithville had never been so popular.
Nate stood behind the bar with Greg next to him. He’d been Nate’s best friend since kindergarten, and he was one of the best bartenders in the county.
“So, now that Amy is out of the picture, it’s time to find some fresh meat,” Greg said, pouring shooters for a customer. The music was so loud they couldn’t hear Nate and Greg talking—they had to lean in just to get the orders out, shouting over the music.
It was great for personal talks.
“Make it sound like I am hunting deer, why don’t you?” Nate said with a chuckle.
Greg pulled up his shoulders. “It’s pretty much what it is, it’s not like you’re planning on using them for anything other than your needs.”
Nate shook his head, still laughing. “Thanks for that. Make me sound like a complete asshole.”
“Well, you always been an asshole,” Greg said.
“Screw you,” Nate said, laughing. He slid the drinks across the bar, took the cash from the patron, and leaned over the bar so he could hear the next order over the music.
Nate loved it when his place was packed like this.
The guy that was singing was doing a pretty good job of it, too. Sometimes, they really didn’t know exactly what they were doing. But, far be it from Nate to judge talent. He couldn’t play an instrument or sing to save his life. If they could do a better job than he could, they could play.
“Oh, look at that,” Greg said, nudging Nate with his elbow and whistling. “I love these events of yours! It brings so many people from other towns.”
Nate craned his neck a little to see what Greg was pointing at, but he couldn’t see who had come through the door.
“Seriously, the blonde is hot.” Greg ogled a bit longer. Nate continued working. That was what he was here for, after all. Eventually, everyone was going to come through to the bar and then he would get a good look.
“You really bring in some hot chicks.”
Nate chuckled. “Sometimes, I think it’s the only reason you took this job.”
“Well, it is,” Greg said. “I thought you understood it when I applied.”
Nate laughed and shook his head. He leaned over the bar to listen to the next order.
“Two Long Island ice teas,” Naomi said and smiled at Nate. They’d all grown up together. It was good to see familiar faces along with the foreign ones. He smiled back, but when he took a look at her friend, his heart dropped to his stomach.
It was her. What the hell was she doing here? In his bar. In his town. In his fucking way.
Nate turned around and prepared the cocktails without acknowledging her, without saying anything.
“Is that Jenna?” Greg asked, standing right next to Nate, preparing cocktails of his own.
“I guess my events bring people from all over,” Nate said dryly.
Greg shook his head. “What the hell is she doing here? And might I add, she’s still fucking hot.”
“You might not add,” Nate snapped.
Greg pulled up his shoulders and continued making cocktails, mouthing the words to the song along with it.
Nate’s hands were trembling as he made the cocktails. Dammit, he had banked on never having to see her again. She had taken care of that, hadn’t she? He had been able to live his own life without her getting all up in his face and reminding him of…everything. What the hell was she doing back here?
Nate steeled himself, turned around, and slid the cocktails across the bar. Naomi handed him money. He could deal with her. He just wouldn’t look at Jenna.
Dammit, he couldn’t stop himself from looking. He glanced up at her, and, just as before, just like the first time he had seen her, she took his breath away.
What was it about her? Blonde hair, eyes the color the sky was named after. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way her eyes burrowed into Nate’s soul. It was the way her smile appeared just a moment after making eye contact, as if he was the sole reason why she was smiling.
He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t stand here and look into her face and not remember every single moment they had spent together that he had thought would stretch into eternity.
A moment later, Naomi and Jenna turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
Thank God.
“Are you going to talk to her?” Greg asked.
Nate shook his head. “I have nothing to say to her.”
“Oh, bullshit. We both know that’s a lie. And it’s perfect timing, too. What, with Amy being out of the picture and everything.”
Nate spun around and glared at Greg. “I am not getting involved with Jenna, ever.”
Greg lifted both his hands, a dishcloth pinched between his fingers. “Hey, I was just saying. Sorry, I didn’t mean to step on your toes.”
“Then move a little that way, the bar is full and so short.”
Nate felt bad for snapping at Greg, but he was completely unhinged. He hadn’t known she was coming to town. He’d been caught off guard. He hadn’t been able to prepare. Tonight was supposed to be his night of fun—and the events always were.
While Nate worked, he glanced into the crowds. He told himself he wasn’t looking for her. But he was. Who was he fooling? Now and then, he caught a flash of blonde hair as she and Naomi danced. Bright like the sun. And it was easy to find her, too. Next to Naomi, who was taller than most girls, with her auburn hair.
When were they going to come to the bar for another drink? Maybe Nate would refer them to Greg instead.
Suddenly, she was in front of him. It was as if he hadn’t just spotted her a moment before, on the other side of the room.
“What do you want?” Nate asked her.
“To order drinks,” she said innocently.
“Order from Greg,” Nate said coldly.
She glanced at Greg, who was already serving a lot of people.
“He looks busy.”
Nate groaned. He was being a coward. “What will it be?” he asked.
“A Screaming Orgasm,” she said.
Nate blinked at her, heat washing through him, his skin burning. “What?”
“The cocktail. Screaming Orgasm.”
She looked at him with those eyes and Nate felt like if he wasn’t careful, he was going to tumble into them.
“I know what a Screaming Orgasm is,” he said.
A smile played around her lips. “Do you?”
Nate was irritated. Because, dammit, she was sexy. She always had been. In an innocent way, like she couldn’t possibly do something wrong. But then she said something like that and there was so much he could read between the lines. He turned around and poured the cocktail. When he was finished, he slid it toward her.
“Did you want two of those, or was it just for you?”
She shook her head almost imperceptibly. “No, this one is just for me.”
They were still talking about the cocktail, right? The way she said it, even though she had to raise her voice a little to be heard over the music, was so loaded with innuendo. She was irresistible. She always had been. Nate’s throat was suddenly dry. He swallowed hard.
“Anything for Naomi?” he asked.
Another smile played around her lips.
“I am sure she can take care of herself.”
“Stop doing that,” Nate said.
She frowned a little, her brows knitting together. And damned if that wasn’t just as attractive as her smile and her sparkling eyes.
“What?”
“That thing you’re doing. Where you say one thing and mean another.”
She looked down at her cocktail. “Are we not talking about alcohol?” Dammit, she was so good at this game.
Nate wanted to say something back, but he didn’t know what to say. Because, after all, this was what she wanted. She was messing with him. It was exactly how she played it every time. It was what had been so intriguing about her from the start, the way she could make words into so much more.
But they were just words, right? It was as it had always been. Nate couldn’t read more into it, because what she said didn’t mean the same to her as it meant to him. He had been the idiot that had thought further than just a teenage romance.
She was still at the bar, and he felt like a fool because she had somehow outsmarted him.
“Why are you still here?” Nate asked. She was driving him crazy. He wanted her to disappear so that he could stare at her from a distance again, so that he didn’t have to interact with her.
It was safer. Because Jenna still had some kind of effect on him.
“This place is really great,” she said. “You’ve done great things.”
“Thanks,” Nate said tightly.
“And I’m sorry to hear about your dad.”
His ears started ringing a little. “Thanks,” he said in a gentle tone. Whatever it was she was doing here, she was more serious now. This part wasn’t a joke, and she was taking the proper tone.
“If you don’t have any other orders to place, I need to keep the line moving,” Nate finally said, gesturing at the people waiting behind her.
“Of course,” she said with a smile and moved away.
He glanced after her for a moment before he turned his attention to the next people. “What will it be?” he asked.
But he could answer that for himself. The trip down memory lane, maybe. Another conversation with her. An answer to all the stupid questions she’d left him with. He deserved that much, didn’t he?
Nate pushed it all away. He couldn’t focus on that now. He had to focus on work. He had to make sure that everything remained the same. He couldn’t let one person from his past come and tip everything on its head.
It was just Jenna. That was all.
Greg and Nate worked side-by-side in silence for a while before he was talking to Nate again.
“So, are you going to snap at me the entire time she’s in town, or…”
Nate shook his head. “Sorry, man. It was just unexpected.”
Greg nodded. “Yeah. I only heard about it from my mom before I arrived here.”
Nate frowned. “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”
Greg pulled up his shoulders. “I couldn’t be sure. You know my mom, spreading rumors from her perch in the grocery store, selling it like hotcakes.”
Nate snorted. Greg’s mother, Lisa, loved spreading stories. Whether they were true or not. She loved having an audience. Nate had said to Greg so many times that she should rather have become a writer.
“Next time, if you don’t know whether a story is worth telling or not, tell me and I’ll decide,” Nate said.
