by Susan Ward
No, Willow. Don’t think about that. Think of something else.
Inside my head, I thumb through my ever-growing worry list. I need to get the bar making more money or I could lose the building. The loan payments aren’t massive or anything, but with what the bar makes I barely have anything left to cover my personal expenses.
I’d hate to have to give up my small house and go back to living above a bar like I did as a child. No way do I want to do that.
My brother-in-law is right. It’s time to box up Dad’s things, clean and paint his apartment, then rent it out. That would bring in a nice chunk of money every month to take off the heat financially until I can figure out how Dad made a profit on the bar…
“What ya thinking, girly-girl?”
I stop staring at the floor to find I’m at the front of the line and Boomer’s grinning at me. I step forward and make a face. “Don’t call me that. That nickname needs to fade away like my childhood did.”
“You’ll always be girly-girl to me.” Boomer chortles.
“But that doesn’t even make sense. I wasn’t girly. Jade was the one all pink dressed and makeup faced.”
He smirks. “And yet you were prettier and the one more popular with the boys, as I remember.”
“No, you’re not remembering correctly. It was and still is Jade who turns heads.” Then I make my dopey-happy face. “But I like being your favorite.”
He taps his cheek and I obediently give him a kiss on his leathery, aged skin. I rummage in my purse for my wallet. “No, no,” he protests, waving off my attempt to pay him. “You don’t pay here. Not ever.”
“You’re impossible. I don’t feel right not paying.”
His bushy brows lower a tad as he stares at me intently. “Every small bit helps, Willow. Don’t be stubborn or proud like your father was. We’re all family on this block.”
My insides warm almost as much as my cheeks do. Crap, does he know I’m only a handful of dollars from bankruptcy and that I’m terrible at running a business? Is it that obvious I’m in way over my head?
The color creeps from my face down my neck. “I don’t need a handout, Boomer. I’m doing fine.”
“Don’t get all prideful,” he admonishes, reaching for my order. “In this part of town, we still help each other out. Give me a drink later on the house if you must to feel better about this. But I’m not taking your money. Not again until you’re in the black with that broken-down pit you’re trying to turn into a viable enterprise. It wasn’t easy for your dad to make ends meet with the bar, and it can’t be easy for you.”
I shove my wallet back into my tote. “Fine. I’ll swap you a drink for my breakfast. And Boomer?”
“Yes?”
The edges of my mouth lift. “Thank you.”
“Any time you want to run some ideas by me on how to improve the bottom line on the bar, I’ll listen.”
He sets down my cup and bag.
“I will. Once I’ve got a handle on what changes I want to make. I’m not one hundred percent clear what I’ve gotten myself into.”
“Hard. Back-breaking. Work.” He says each word staccato with a tilt of his head. “That’s what owning a business is, but I’d rather work hard for me than work hard for someone else to do nothing.”
“You’re right on that one, Boomer. Even as hard as it is, it’s better than it was working at the law firm as an assistant.”
“You’re a smart girl, Willow. You’ll figure it out and turn the bar into a success. And try to remember it’s all right to ask for help from a friend when you need it.”
I’ve almost got my fingers closed around the bag when his people in this part of town still help each other line bites me in the butt.
Every morning I walk past my flirty street musician and never give him more than a handful of change. Hearing him sing outside while I tally the prior night’s receipts and eat my breakfast is one of the bright spots during my work hours.
First thing in the morning for weeks he’s been there. I realize I look forward to it and have never so much as asked him how he is. It’s gotta be cold sitting on the street, playing music. He’s probably hungry as well.
“Boomer, can you get me another coffee and breakfast sandwich?”
His salt and pepper brows hitch up. “You want two today?”
I nod. “I thought it would be nice to do something nice for a”—I pause for a moment, not sure what to call the handsome guitarist parked outside my front door every day— “a friend.”
The End For Now
Continue with Book 6 of the Sand & Fog Series with Willow & Eric in Return to Us.
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The Parker Series Books:
Lost In Him
Caught In Him
Found In Him
Only Him
Broken Crown
The Girl of Sand & Fog
The Girl in the Mirror
Ethan
Gone Guy
The Last Girl (Releasing 2018)
One Last Kiss
One More Kiss
One Long Kiss
One Forever Kiss
The Locked & Loaded Series: Get to know those hot and brave bodyguards who protect Alan Manzone and his family:
Dillon Warrick books (M/F Romance):
Pistol Whipped
Take Down (Winter 2018)
Graham Carson books (M/M Romance):
The Manny
His Man
All In
Skyler Mathews (M/M Romance):
Skyler
About The Author
Susan Ward is an award-winning and #1 bestselling author in the Gay Fiction, LGBT Erotica, and Rock genre, and top 50 bestselling author in Erotica Humorous, Coming-of-age, Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Women’s Fiction, and Romance Sagas.
Her hometown is the inspiration for the Parker Series. The mother of grown daughters, she lives a quiet life with her husband and her dog, Emma.
