Page 1 of From the Start

Chapter 1

Harper – a woman with a thousand problems but no time to worry about any of them

Harper

The lights flicker before the bar goes dark. My stomach drops to the floor, and my hands shake as I grasp the pint glass to pour a beer. I’ve been tapping beer since I was old enough to stand behind the bar. I can do this in the dark. No problem.

You know what is a problem? The electricity bill I may have forgotten to pay.

I’ve been fooling around with which bill to pay when and stretching the due dates to the extreme. I don’t have much choice. Money is tight, which is an understatement to put it lightly. There never seems to be enough cash to go around.

The lights come back on, and I blow out a breath in relief. The electricity company is not cutting me off. I must have paid the bill on time after all.

I set the beer down on the bar in front of one of our regulars, Dick.

“Did you forget to pay your electricity bill, Harper?”

“Nope. I’m testing your night vision.”

He chuckles as he lifts his beer.

“Get off me! Get off me!”

I sigh. Why did I want to own a bar again? Oh, yeah, I thought it would provide financial security for me and Dad. Ha! Silly me.

I hurry across the room to the man who’s shouting. My brow wrinkles when I arrive at his table to discover he’s alone.

“Hi. I’m Harper. I own this bar. And you are?”

“I’m Devin.”

“Nice to meet you, Devin. What seems to be the problem?”

He points to the floor. “This beast won’t leave me alone.”

I kneel down and peek under the table to find a dog peering back at me. “Sloane!”

My bartender comes running. “There you are, Boozer.” She picks up the dog and cuddles him.

“Your dog!” Devin shakes his finger at Sloane. “Assaulted me when the lights were out.”

“Assaulted you? Boozer wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Sloane kisses the dog’s nose. “Would you, boy?”

“Boy? It’s a boy?”

Sloane glares at Devin. “Boozer isn’t an it.”

“Itlicked my face and humped my leg.”

I groan. This happens every time Sloane brings her dog to the bar. Boozer is leg-humping-happy. Which is why I banned her from bringing him any more. But does she listen?

“Your next round is on me.”

Devin grins at me before standing and sauntering to the bar. Probably to pick out the most expensive whiskey I stock.

“You.” I point to Sloane. “Follow me.”

I march to my office and usher her inside before slamming the door shut behind us.