by M. Ullrich
“A lot of what you just said was judgey and made you sound shallow.”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “I’m not judging anyone, but you’re right. Bartending is a grownup job and should be respected as such, but what’s her future? She’s probably twenty-five and going with the flow.” Lauren watched how the woman in question laughed freely, her smile never dimming. Life hadn’t squashed her spirits yet.
* * *
Berit grabbed three shot glasses and lined them up perfectly. She shifted the pint glass she had secured in the shaker and started to pour ruby red liquid into the glasses. She filled each to the brim, placing them carefully in front of two waiting women.
“Only two are for us,” one of the women said while folding a five dollar bill in half and placing the third shot atop it. “The other is for you.”
Berit smiled politely. “Thank you, but my boss doesn’t like us drinking on the job. She’s pretty strict about it.”
“Your boss is a party pooper.”
“I know, the staff keeps telling her that. Enjoy the shots.” Berit leaned in and added quietly, “I only charged you for the two.” She walked toward Lou, stopping along the way to adjust bottles so their labels were facing out. “I just got called a party pooper for not letting the staff drink while they’re working.”
Lou chuckled. “You are a party pooper, but not for that reason.” Lou wiped down a stack of tumblers fresh out of the dishwasher. Water spots drove Berit crazy. “Speaking of staff, what’s going on between you and Bellamy?”
“What do you mean?” Berit feigned cluelessness. She knew trying to hide her social life from her sister was pointless, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t try.
“You know exactly what I mean. Leaving together, the looks and the exchanges. And don’t think for a moment I didn’t catch you leaning into her window last night. You’re many things, Berit, but subtle isn’t one of them.”
Berit looked across at the woman in question. Bellamy was wearing tight black pants and another low-cut top. “We’re friends with benefits.”
“Another friend and more benefits. Just what you need.”
“You’re starting to sound like Mom, again,” Berit said, whipping Lou with her towel.
“I know. I’ve been dying to tell you to get a haircut, too.” Berit laughed heartily and ran her fingers through her floppy waves. “In all seriousness, I understand not wanting to get attached. Relationships are hard and scary, but I want you to meet someone that makes you as happy as this bar makes you.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to get attached. I’m completely open to falling head over heels in love with someone. I just haven’t met that woman yet.”
“And what about sweet, stunning, hilarious Bellamy?”
Berit looked around to check on patrons and make sure no other staff members were nearby. “Can you keep a secret?” Lou gave her an offended look, as if she hadn’t kept her every secret since they were five. “Bellamy is crazy about someone, but her crush is going through a tough breakup right now, and Bellamy thinks it’s best to wait for the dust to clear.”
“Really? Who is it?”
Berit shook her head. She could speculate, but she refused to be the conductor on the Dollhouse’s gossip train. “She refuses to tell me,” Berit said. She was looking for the waitress in question, but she got distracted by the brunette at the end of the bar. She and the sadness in her dark eyes piqued Berit’s curiosity. “Have you ever seen her before?” Berit nodded slightly for Lou to look.
Lou craned her neck. “Which one? There’s a crowd of women down there.”
“All the way at the end.” Berit bit at her thumbnail and stared in the opposite direction, trying to play it cool.
“I’ve seen her a few times, but only recently.”
A new line formed at the bar, pulling Berit away from Lou, but that didn’t deter her from learning more. “Is she usually with someone?” she said loudly. Berit started taking orders.
Lou shook her head and stepped in to help. “Only the woman next to her, and sometimes they’re in a large group.”
“How come I don’t recognize her?” Berit stopped pouring a drink at Lou’s bellowing laughter.
“No offense, Berit, but you’re more likely to remember a drink order than a name or face.” Lou patted Berit on the back as she passed behind the bar.
“That’s not true. I know my regulars.”
“At the bar, yes, but she usually sits at a table. Maybe tonight’s your lucky night,” Lou said with an elbow to Berit’s side. “Maybe she’s the woman you’ve been looking for.”
It was Berit’s turn to laugh.
“That’s highly unlikely.” Berit looked back to the sullen woman and noticed her glass was half full. “I’m going to talk to her.”
“Atta girl, Berit, go talk to your soul mate.”
“Shut up,” Berit grumbled. She walked the length of the bar, her confidence building with each step. The two women at the end of the bar looked at Berit the moment she arrived in front of them. “Can I get you another drink?” Berit wore her most charming smile, the one that had landed her more phone numbers than she could count. Both her charm and smile faltered when the woman shot a sour look at her.
“My glass is half empty. Why would I need a refill so soon? You barely gave me time to drink this one.”
An unhappy customer was new territory for Berit, and she stood in silent shock. She looked to the other woman for help.
“Lauren, she’s just doing her job.” Berit perked up at the use of a name. “I’m pretty sure they’re required to check on everyone in a timely manner.”
Berit’s bravado came rushing back. “You are correct, but I also wanted to make sure Lauren was having a good time.” Berit looked directly into Lauren’s dark eyes and waited for a reaction. A smile, maybe a small giggle drawn out by unexpected attention, but Berit didn’t expect a negative reaction from Lauren.
She stood and threw her purse on her shoulder. “I’m out of here. Call me later.” Lauren walked right out of the Dollhouse without a backward glance.
Lauren’s friend turned back to Berit with a grimace. “I apologize for her. She had a tough week.”
“I work at a bar,” Berit said with a shrug. “I see it all the time.”
“Somehow, I find that very hard to believe. Amber,” she said, extending her hand for Berit to shake.
“I’m Berit, and it’s very nice to meet you. Can I get you anything else?”
“No. I should get going and follow up with Lauren.” Amber stood and placed a fifty dollar bill on the bar.
“I hope I didn’t scare her away from the Dollhouse for good.”
“There’s not a single lesbian in New Jersey that’d willingly stay away from this place. It’s amazing.”
Berit beamed with pride. “Thank you.”
Amber stood and pulled on her light jacket. “Please pass the message along to the owner. She did a great job with this place. Have a good night.”
Berit watched Amber leave. She took their glasses from the bar top and went about the quick routine of rinsing and wiping the rim with a soapy sponge before loading them into the dishwasher. Some teased her for being a clean freak, but she had been served too many drinks in dirty glasses to take a chance on being anything less than thorough.
Lou came over soon after. “How’d it go?”
“She left.”
“Before you had a chance to talk to her?”
“No. I talked to her, then she got up and left,” Berit said, motioning from the barstool to the door. Lou stifled a laugh. “Laugh all you want, but I think you were right.”
“About?”
“I think she’s my soul mate,” Berit said with a wry smile.
Lou’s expression fell, and she blew a wayward strand of hair from her face. “The one woman who won’t give you the time of day is your soul mate?”
Berit watched Dee as she approached and smiled. She handed Berit a list of orders.
After looking over the slip of paper, Berit looked to Lou again. “I really think she may be.”
“I love you because you’re my sister, but I really hate you sometimes.”
Berit chuckled. She grabbed top-shelf whiskey in one hand and sour mix in the other. She thought of what to say the next time Lauren stepped foot in her bar as she tossed a bottle into the air and caught it after two full spins. Berit hoped Lauren was prepared for the full-on Berit Matthews wooing experience.
Chapter Four
Memorial Day weekend was the start of summer, the busiest season for every bar in the area. Berit and her crew had spent most of the week prepping the Dollhouse for what was sure to be a hectic weekend. Berit sat at her small desk and reviewed several orders she was placing. With the recent spike in the popularity of craft rum drinks, Berit wanted to make sure she had an adequate amount on hand. Maybe she’d even come up with a new theme drink during the heart of the season. Lou knocked at the door and leaned against it with her arms folded across her chest.
“The patio is ready to go. We strung the lights, and Matt spent all day yesterday pulling weeds and power-washing the deck. I paid him with a six-pack of that fancy beer he loves but can’t afford.”
“Most brothers would do it for free,” Berit said. She sat back in her cheap office chair and threw her pencil onto her order book.
“No, they wouldn’t.”
“You’re right. I’ll bring another six-pack to the next family dinner since I missed him yesterday.” Berit stretched her neck and her shoulders. She’d rather be behind the bar, but paperwork had to get done.
“Where were you all day yesterday?”
“I went to a wine tasting in Pennsylvania. A winery in Glen Mills has been reaching out to small businesses in the area. I figured it was worth the drive, and I was right. I ordered a case of their cabernet. The depth of the flavor was amazing.” Berit looked pointedly at Lou and added, “Why don’t you do any of the paperwork around here?”
“Because I only own a third of the business and you don’t trust me enough to do it right. Control freak.” Lou turned around and started out the office door. “Your soul mate is here, by the way.” Her last words were thrown over her shoulder.
Berit nearly fell out of her chair. “She’s here? Where? Table or bar?” She felt dizzy from standing too quickly. “How do I look?” Berit looked down at her outfit of comfortable fitted jeans, a black short-sleeved button up, and her favored black Doc Martens.
Lauren peeked her head back into the office. “She’s at a table, and you look fine. But you may want to hurry before Dee gets to her table.”
Berit casually rushed from her office into the lounge area of the Dollhouse. She scanned the space for Lauren. Jovial groups of women were on every couch and most of the small, round tables. Berit spotted Lauren at one of the few tables tucked in a corner, but she was alone—much to Berit’s delight. Lauren’s face still hung with melancholy, but she seemed more approachable this time around. Berit thought she looked as comfortable as ever in a plain blouse and jeans. The simplicity of Lauren’s style was wildly attractive. She approached Lauren’s table just as she would any other, but admittedly, she felt nervous.
“Hello again, Lauren. What can I get you this evening? Another Dolly?” Berit watched as Lauren’s eyes faded from surprised to disinterested, and she worried that Lauren might leave again. Berit was relieved when she sat farther back into the tall bar table chair.
“Are they so short-staffed today that they thought letting you out from behind the bar was a good idea?”
Berit wasn’t taken aback this time. “When I saw you, I knew I had to be the one to serve you. I’m surprised you came back after running out of here last week.”
“I wasn’t about to let one staff member ruin my favorite bar for me.” Berit’s heart beat in the prideful way it always did when someone said her bar was a favorite. “Even if that staff member won’t leave me alone.”
“I’m just trying to do my job and make you smile while I’m at it,” Berit said, leaning onto Lauren’s table. “What’ll it be tonight? I can give you a Climax.” At Lauren’s unamused and stern glare, Berit said, “Guess not. You look more in the mood for a Dark ’N’ Stormy.”
Lauren stared at Berit for a moment before ordering. “I’ll take your cheapest beer, thanks.”
Berit was crestfallen. There’s no fun in a cheap beer, no chance of flirty and sexy innuendo. “Are you sure that’s all you want?” she said with a frown. Lauren nodded. Berit walked away in a stupor. When she got to the bar, she pulled a beer from the cooler but stopped just before popping the cap. Berit looked again to Lauren, who was counting her money. Berit smiled and pulled a few bottles of liquor from the shelves and mixed a drink. Berit placed a full glass in front of Lauren when she returned to her table.
Lauren looked from the glass to Berit. “This isn’t a beer.”
“No, but it is on the house.”
“Don’t try to—”
Berit held up her hand. “I’m not trying anything. Take it as an apology for driving you out of here the other night.” Berit inched the drink closer to Lauren. “I can get you the beer if that’s what you’d prefer.”
Lauren bit her lip and narrowed her eyes. “I’ll take the drink.”
Berit basked in the small smile Lauren had after her first sip. “I’ve noticed you’re alone tonight.”
“And I’ve noticed you have other tables to wait on.”
“They’re all covered,” Berit said dismissively. “What brought you in so early on a Friday?”
Lauren’s sigh didn’t sound like one of annoyance, and Berit’s hopes of getting her to open up shot sky high. “My choices were here or home, and there’s nothing worthwhile at home.”
Berit grinned. “Take me home with you later, and I promise to make it worthwhile.”
Lauren almost choked on her drink. “That’s a bit forward.”
“Sorry, again. I should at least introduce myself first. My name is Berit, and it’s very nice to get a chance to talk to you, Lauren.”
“What kind of name is Berit?” Lauren said with obvious skepticism in her eyes and took another drink.
“A strange one, apparently.” Berit studied the way Lauren’s throat flexed while she gulped her drink. Her skin looked sinfully soft to the touch.
“Is Berit your real name?”
“Yes.”
Lauren placed her drink down with a loud thud. “Tell me this, Berit—why won’t you go away?”
“Truthfully, I was struck by how sad you looked the other night. You’re much too beautiful to look so sad.”
“I’m sure you say that to a lot of women.”
“Only the sad ones. Otherwise it’d be weird.” Lauren laughed loudly and Berit was struck by the beautiful sight. Lauren’s full mouth turned exquisite when smiling. “Listen, Lauren, I’m not going to force my company on you—”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Berit stifled a smile. “If you find yourself feeling lonely or like you’d enjoy continuing our conversation, come sit at the bar. I’ll be there all night.”
Lauren tapped her fingertip to her lips as if thinking. “We’ll see, but it’s unlikely. Especially if another woman approaches to tell me I look sad. That’s such an irresistible line.” Lauren sat back and sipped at her drink.
Berit backed away wordlessly with her hands up in surrender.
Lauren waited for Berit to get back behind the bar before pulling her phone out and messaging an SOS to Amber.
I’m getting ready for a date. What’s up?
Lauren’s eyes went wide. A date? With who? Oh please, oh please tell me it’s the dermatologist. Amber had been working at a marketing firm specializing in medical marketing for over a year and had been pining after a client of hers for most of that time. Lauren waited impatiently.
We’re not talking about me right now. You’re the one with the emergency. Amber’s message deflated Lauren, but another one
came through. It’s not the dermatologist. I’m going out with someone I met at a networking function, and I’ll tell you all about it another time.
“Damn,” Lauren said under her breath. She started to type again, deleting and retyping the message several times before hitting Send. She’s talking to me again.
She who?
The bartender.
The hot bartender? You’re at the Dollhouse without me?
Lauren rolled her eyes. Like Amber wasn’t dolling herself up for a more interesting night than watching Lauren wallow. Her name is Berit, and I came here because I didn’t want to go home. Lauren’s phone rang. She laughed when Amber’s photo lit up the screen. “You didn’t have to call,” Lauren said the moment the phone was to her ear.
“You got her name, so conversation must’ve gone okay.”
“That was after she told me I look sad and recommended I take her home with me to make my home life worthwhile.” Lauren picked the cherry out of her drink and chewed it slowly. She wore a small, cocky smile. She wasn’t a fan of pickup lines, but Berit’s words did bolster her ego slightly.
“I hope your SOS is because you’re taking her home.”
Lauren made a sound of disgust and said, “Definitely not.”
“Why not? After Rebecca, you should try to have fun and relax a little.”
“I can relax and have fun in a hammock or on the beach while reading a murder mystery, not with some strange woman in bed.” Lauren craned her neck to get an unobstructed view of the bar. She watched Berit pour two drinks and hand them to a waitress, who leaned in to whisper something into Berit’s ear. “Besides, I doubt a woman like Berit will miss me. I’ll be replaced in a heartbeat.” Lauren finished the rest of her drink in a long gulp. As delicious as the drink was, Lauren would limit herself to one. She had driven to the Dollhouse, and she also wanted to avoid a drunken depression. “Thanks for calling. Enjoy your date and remember every detail for when you tell me all about it.” Lauren could hear Amber’s sigh, picturing her friend rolling her eyes at her.
