by R. E. Butler
“That’s a good idea.”
“I’m going to have Ivy come here and see the setup I did for recording her music. Are you going into the bar?”
Vaughn nodded as he stood. “Yeah.”
“I’ll come back with Ivy when we’re done here. You make any headway with Holly last night?”
“Not in getting her to see me as anything but an employee. But I did offer to work on the patio for her, so that’s something. She just needs to figure out how to move beyond the issues in the past and start fresh. New Year’s Eve seems like as good a time as any.”
“Agreed. I’ll see you later,” Jack said.
Vaughn headed to the bar, arriving just as it opened for the night.
“What are you doing here?” Holly asked.
“I came to help out,” he said as he hung up his coat.
She frowned as he joined her behind the bar. “I can’t really afford to pay you full time right now.”
“I didn’t ask for payment. I said I came to help.”
She gave him a curious look. “Why?”
“Because I want to.”
She didn’t say anything for a long moment, and then she smiled. “Wanna help me dust off the dartboards and get them hung up?”
“I’d love to.”
* * *
Vaughn spent the rest of the week helping Holly get the bar ready for the weekly dart tournaments, the first of the new ideas she was rolling out after January first. He’d started coming into the bar earlier in the afternoon to work on the patio. It appeared that the only thing the original contractor had done was hang up plastic sheeting to enclose the space. It was cold out there, but he didn’t mind the low temperatures because it was far colder in NPC. Besides, his body wasn’t as affected by cold because of his shifter nature.
He’d started off by clearing out the junk, leaving the area empty. Holly had wanted an open, airy space for outdoor dining, along with a small bar for specialty cocktails and wine.
After pricing out vinyl flooring that looked like well-worn hardwood, he purchased a roll and spent several days working on laying it. On Friday, he was finishing up the floor when he heard Holly calling him. He wished he’d been able to move things further with her romantically since their first night working together, but although she was happy to chat with him about anything related to the bar, every time he broached the subject of getting to know each other better or going out on a date, she clammed right up.
“Out here, Holly,” he called, sitting back on his heels and rolling his shoulders.
“Oh, wow,” she said as she pushed aside the plastic sheeting and walked onto the patio. She stopped in the middle of the newly laid floor and turned in a slow circle. “Vaughn, it’s amazing. You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I just cleaned it out and laid vinyl flooring.”
She swallowed audibly and turned to face him. “How much do I owe you?”
“I’ll put it on your tab.”
She made a face. “Is that your way of saying you don’t want me to pay you back?”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’ll really run you a tab but never collect. I didn’t ask for money because I have savings of my own. Once the bar’s back on its feet financially, then we can talk about repayment.”
She looked at him in silence. He stood and moved to her, closing the distance between them until there was only a bare foot separating them.
“Are you okay?”
She blinked her big blue eyes up at him. “Ivy and I used to make Christmas Eve wishes every year. It was a tradition our mother told us about. We followed her instructions to the letter every year, but I never did get the pony I wanted. We kept doing it, even after our parents died. It became as much a part of our Christmas as decorating the tree and giving presents to each other. Ivy told me that she didn’t make a Christmas wish this year. I was surprised, because we’ve been doing it so long. But I did.”
“What was your wish?”
“For someone to help me carry this burden. There are times I want to throw in the towel and do something else, but I don’t because if the bar goes under, we lose our home, too. I need it to succeed so Ivy doesn’t have to worry about the roof over our head. I feel like you’re the answer to my Christmas wish, and now I feel kind of silly for thinking that anyone ever even answers those sorts of things.”
He wished he could tell her that yes indeed, SC did answer Christmas wishes when the person making them honestly believed. Maybe a part of Holly really did believe in Christmas wishes and miracles, and that’s why Mrs. C came to the bar and sent him and Jack here.
“I don’t think Ivy even realizes how tied into the bar we are, not only financially but also just in living arrangements. I’ve spent a lot of time wallowing. You were right to push me earlier this week, so thank you for being blunt and honest enough to tell me.”
“Can I tell you a little secret?” He tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear and smiled inwardly when she shivered at his touch.
“Yes.”
“I believe in Christmas wishes, too.”
Chapter 3
New Year’s Eve turned out to be their most profitable night in months. She’d found a cocktail called the Fresh Start on a bartending website, and she and Vaughn had experimented until they’d been able to make them quickly. The sweet drink was peach-colored, and she’d been right in guessing that it would be a hit with the crowd.
When the clock ticked down to midnight, she found herself on the opposite side of the bar, nowhere near Vaughn. Which was probably a good thing. She was his boss, after all, and giving her employee a big old smooch, even at midnight on New Year’s Eve, was probably a bad idea.
A very tempting bad idea.
Instead of rushing to his side and breathlessly asking for a kiss, she’d smiled at him and waved like an idiot. He’d smiled and gone back to serving drinks. As the revelers left and the bar closed for the night, she sat down at her desk to tally up the receipts. Her desk drawer buzzed, and she pulled it open to retrieve her phone. The screen was filled with notifications from the bar’s website, where Jack had spent the better part of the week loading videos of her sister and advertising drink specials and the New Year’s Eve party.
She opened the browser to the bar’s website and saw hundreds of comments about Ivy. Very few of them were good, and most were so appallingly bad that it made angry tears sting Holly’s eyes. She checked Ivy’s personal social media pages, and they were swimming with negative comments as well.
She’d known something fishy was going on when Ivy’s ex-bandmates had shown up at the bar earlier in the evening. They’d watched Ivy sing and then confronted her. Fortunately, Jack had been there to kick them out of the bar. There was little doubt in her mind that they were behind the online attacks.
“Holy crap, Ivy!” Holly said when her sister answered the phone. “You have to check your social media pages.”
“Why?”
“A bunch of people are posting awful things about your performances tonight.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Maybe Jack can close the pages down or something. It’s awful, and I wish I didn’t have to be the bearer of bad news.”
“It’s… it’s okay. Thanks.”
“Ivy? Are you all right?”
“I’ll be fine. Bye.”
“Everything okay?” Vaughn asked from the doorway.
Holly gasped and jerked in the chair. “You scared me, geez.”
“Sorry.” He smiled and gestured to the phone. “I heard you apologizing to Ivy and wondered if something happened.”
“I think her former bandmates attacked her online tonight.” She checked the bar’s social media pages and saw the videos of her sister had already had the comments turned off, and all the negative ones had been deleted. Jack worked quickly. Not that Holly was surprised. The man clearly cared for her sister.
“Damn, that sucks.”
“Yeah. J
ack’s handling it.”
He hummed and leaned against the doorjamb. “Tonight was good.”
“It was excellent, actually. I’m still working through the receipts, but it’s the best night we’ve had in months. Thank you for all your hard work. It’s not easy handling a crowd by yourself. I wish I had the funds to hire a waitress or two. That would help a lot.”
“It was no problem. I’m getting the hang of working fast so people don’t have to wait too long. It helps that we were able to make pitchers of the Fresh Start ahead of time.”
She nodded. “I think anytime we have specialty drinks like that, we should look for ones that can be made ahead of time.”
“Sounds like a plan.” His phone buzzed, and he excused himself. She could hear him talking but wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, so she turned her attention back to the computer.
Vaughn stepped back into the room a few moments later. “Jack’s going to take Ivy up to a friend’s cabin for a few days. She’s very upset, and he wants to get her away from things for a while.”
Holly’s immediate reaction was one of dismay. How the hell would she manage without her sister? But the moment she had that thought, she realized she could and would get by just fine. She had Vaughn, after all, who’d proved himself extremely valuable in a short amount of time.
She sat back in the chair and looked at him. His eyes were serious, and the set of his jaw, dusted with stubble, told her she had his undivided attention.
“I’m going to need your help while they’re gone.”
“You have it.”
“Obviously I’ll pay you, and don’t you dare say I don’t need to. You’ve been very generous with your time getting the patio cleaned up. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
He chuckled. “Fine, I won’t argue with you. I’m happy to help.”
She swiveled in the seat and drummed her fingers on the desk. “I think Ivy’s going to tell me she wants to quit the bar entirely at some point.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just a feeling. Earlier this week, she told me she’d put her dream of owning a music studio aside in favor of helping me with the bar, and she thought it was time she focused on herself. I was mad at first, but mostly because I was embarrassed that I’d pushed her feelings aside without a second thought. Jack’s changed her focus and given her some perspective, and I think it’s wonderful.”
“You’re not upset?”
“I’m a little scared, but not upset.”
“What scares you?”
“That I might fail. I guess if she has Jack, then she doesn’t have to worry about her living arrangements, but I still don’t want to run the bar into bankruptcy, because then I’ll have to worry about where I’m going to live.”
She heard a growling sound and her gaze darted to Vaughn, who coughed as if clearing his throat. She could’ve sworn she saw his eyes flash from hazel to gold.
“I wouldn’t let you be homeless, Holly. You have to know that.”
Her heart clenched, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. “I’m not ready for anything right now, Vaughn. I’m 100 percent focused on the bar.”
“I know,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “I’m not pushing. I’m just here, and I’m going to look out for you. You can’t talk me out of it, so don’t try. You need me, I’m here. Twenty-four-seven.”
She pursed her lips to stop herself from telling him she really did need him, and not just at the bar. Every time they were together, every hour that passed, made her feel closer to him than any other man. Past boyfriends faded into her memory, all the good feelings focused on Vaughn. He wasn’t just sexy and interesting and kind, he was everything she’d ever wanted wrapped up in a head-to-toe package that made every feminine instinct within her cheer.
But she didn’t voice any of those thoughts.
They were dangerous to her plan to make the bar a success.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said finally. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You don’t have to find out,” he promised.
An hour later, Ivy and Jack stopped by the bar so she could tell Holly in person that she wanted to leave for a few days and take a break.
“You should totally do that,” Holly agreed. “Vaughn and I will be just fine. I don’t want you to worry about anything here. Go and get away from things, put all the bullshit out of your mind.”
“Thank you,” Ivy said, giving Holly a hug. “I was worried you’d be mad.”
“Never,” she promised. “I wish things hadn’t gone to hell for you tonight, but I understand why you want to get away for a while. Be safe and have fun.”
Ivy nodded and took Jack’s hand. Holly smiled and said goodbye, watching as the two left the bar. She stretched and yawned. “Time to call it a night.”
As he’d done every other night, Vaughn waited while she locked up and then walked her to the stairs of her apartment, watching as she headed up the metal steps and through the door.
“Good night, Vaughn,” she called from the door. “Happy new year.”
“It’s the first day of the new year,” he said, smiling up at her. “I’m glad I got to spend it with you.”
“You’re too sweet for your own good.”
He raised his brows. “I don’t think that’s possible. And I’m only sweet with you.”
* * *
Ivy and Jack were gone for three days. Business at the bar had picked up after New Year’s, which made Holly happy all the way to the center of her being. The nights were very busy, but Vaughn worked just as hard as she did, and they pulled it off.
By the time Ivy and Jack came back, Holly knew their relationship was different. Ivy said they were officially together, but it would’ve been difficult to miss how connected they were. When she’d asked how the mini vacation was, Ivy had only said it was magical, and she was happier than she’d ever been. Holly couldn’t help but be a little jealous; she wouldn’t mind getting away for a few days and coming back glowing like happiness had actually taken root inside her.
As she turned on the kitchen equipment and carried clean glasses to the bar, she found Ivy sitting behind the keyboard on the stage with Jack next to her, singing softly and playing. Holly set the glasses down and began to put them away, listening to her sister sing about forever not being long enough to hold someone in her arms. It was pretty clear that someone was Jack.
The front door opened and Vaughn walked in, hanging up his coat and joining her at the bar.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Good. Yours?”
“Not bad. Better now that I’m here, though.”
She smiled.
Vaughn joined her and helped put away the glasses. “Ready for tonight?”
She nodded. It was the first night of their new weekly darts tournament. She’d posted signups online and had several teams pay the ten-dollar fee, which went into a pot for the winning team, who would also get their drinks comped for the night.
“I’m going to set up the tables,” he said.
She watched him move tables and chairs around as if they weighed nothing, his muscles bunching under his black T-shirt. She’d honestly never met a sexier guy.
It took some effort, but she turned her attention back to the bar, cutting lemons and limes and prepping for the night.
Ivy called from the stage. “What do you think of the new song?”
“Sounds great!”
“Thanks. I was very inspired at the cabin. I wrote four songs.”
“That’s awesome. I’m glad you had a good time.”
“The best time.”
Holly made a face. “Please don’t give me any details.”
“I won’t, I promise.” Ivy giggled as Jack whispered something in her ear. Holly was decidedly thankful that she couldn’t hear what was being said, positive it was something she absolutely didn’t want to know.
The evening passed quickly, and the darts to
urnament was a huge success. The winning team was comprised of siblings who taunted each other as much as they did the other teams.
As she cleaned up the tournament area, Vaughn said from behind the bar, “That was a great idea.”
“Thanks. We already have more teams signed up for next week’s tournament.”
“That’s fantastic.”
Despite how busy she’d been all evening, Holly hadn’t missed that something was definitely different about the relationship between Jack and Ivy. It wasn’t just that they were closer now – it was as if they’d been together for years and not just days. They looked at each other as if no one else existed. That kind of closeness, very much on display, made Holly want to get closer to Vaughn. But she consistently pushed aside those feelings, because getting tangled up in a relationship wasn’t what she needed right now. The bar was finally doing well, slowly picking up thanks to Ivy, Jack, and Vaughn, and she wouldn’t dare do anything that might jeopardize it.
So it was no surprise to her when, two weeks later, Ivy asked to speak with Holly privately and explained that she and Jack were having a baby, and she wanted to stop working at the bar before she was visibly pregnant. She offered to stay on until June, which gave Holly five months to figure out what to do for the music.
“I’m so happy for you,” Holly said as she hugged her little sister.
“Thank you. There’s something else, though.”
“What?”
“Jack and I are going to move.”
Holly blinked in surprise. “Like buy a house?”
“No. Jack’s going to take his old job back, so we’re going to move up to the cabin where we stayed on our mini vacation.”
“Is the cabin close to his job?”
Ivy hesitated, and then said, “Yeah. It’s temporary, though, just for a few months. He’ll be telecommuting, and then we’ll move back to his old hometown at Christmas.”
Her heart hurt, but she smiled anyway. “You’re happy?”
“Very.” Ivy smiled sweetly and touched her stomach.
