Page 109 of Kiss and Tell

“If you don’t mind working for an old curmudgeon like me.” There was the barest hint of a smile on Walt’s grizzled face as he went back to his cleaning.

I turned to Connor with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

“Is he serious?” I hissed under my breath.

“Walt’s always serious.” Connor grinned and pressed a kiss to the side of my head. “Looks like we’re going to be working together for a while longer.”

“I’m not unemployed?” I asked again, still in shock.

“Not if you don’t want to be,” Connor replied. “You’re pretty much working for yourself now. Walt’s kind of hands off, if you hadn’t noticed.”

I let out a choked gasp of disbelief, unable to contain my rising euphoria.

“There’s going to be so much work to do!” I exclaimed.

Connor couldn’t contain his laughter.

“Only you would sound so excited about going back to work,” he said with a fond look. “Don’t forget, we still need to finish this bar first.”

“I thought I wouldn’t be working on it anymore,” I said. “I left my company. They’re the ones with the contact to do the work.”

“Contract’s canceled.” Walt cut in with a soft grunt. “Effective immediately. I don’t do work with the kind of guys who mistreat their people like yours did.”

My heart warmed at the protective note in his voice.

“Thank you,” I said earnestly. “I really appreciate this.”

“You just make sure this bar at the back stays secret,” he said. “Don’t want random weirdos stumbling in.”

“Aren’t random weirdos the exact people you like to serve?” Jessie laughed and threw her arm around my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re sticking around for a while,” she said. “I’d hate to do this grand opening alone without you.”

“Excuse me, but I’m here, too,” Connor protested.

“Yeah, but you’re next to useless,” Jessie teased.

“That reminds me…” I turned to Connor. “Can you stay away from the bar for the next week or so?”

“Won’t you need my help?” Connor asked.

“I don’t want you to see the bar until it’s completely finished,” I said. “There’s been a slight modification and I want it to be a surprise.”

His eyes softened as he stroked my hair away from my face. It was an intimate touch, almost too intimate considering we were in public, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

“I feel bad making you do all the work at the end by yourself,” he said.

“Trust me,” I said. “It’ll be worth it.”

Thirty-Six

I stood back,watching from the corner, as the bar filled with people. Jessie was at the door to greet them, and I should have been too, but I wanted to take a moment and admire all my hard work.

The lighting was low but not dim, lending itself to a cozy atmosphere. The bar counter and tables were all dark wood but with accents of light oak. Every chair and stool was cushioned with soft filling and covered in a light tan leather. On the walls above every table hung art from local artists with price tags on a small placard underneath. The craft beer flowed as our guests chatted amongst themselves, the soft murmurs punctuated with cheers and laughter.

The whole place looked like the inside of someone’s living room. Casual. Warm. Inviting.

And there, at the far end of the bar, was a small raised platform with a single microphone stand, a stage of sorts. It looked like it could have been set up for a poetry night, or for the announcer at a bar trivia contest.

Or it might have been for a single musician to bring out his acoustic guitar and play a short set.